Picking the right POS system for your restaurant can feel like a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The key is to focus on what makes your day-to-day easier and keeps your customers happy—whether that’s managing tables, tracking inventory or speeding up service. Here’s what to look for and a few examples to guide you.
Essential Restaurant POS Features
The best restaurant POS systems come with features that make life easier for you, your staff and your customers. Here are the ones you really don’t want to skip.
- Table Management: If you run a sit-down restaurant, you’ll need tools to assign tables, keep track of seating and manage reservations. Toast and TouchBistro are great here—they let you see which tables are open, track orders and even split checks without any stress.
- Order Customization and Modifiers: Let’s say someone wants a “no onion, extra cheese” pizza. Your POS should make it easy to customize orders without confusing the kitchen. Systems such as TouchBistro handle modifiers beautifully—perfect for pizzerias or restaurants with a lot of special requests.
- Inventory Management: Running out of ingredients during a dinner rush? Nightmare. Systems such as Lightspeed can track your inventory in real time, monitor food costs and even warn you before you’re out of stock. It’s a lifesaver for restaurants that need tight control over supplies.
- Contactless Ordering and Payments: Customers love convenience these days. With systems such as Toast, diners can scan a QR code at their table, order from their phones and pay without waiting for the check. It’s a game-changer for speed and customer satisfaction.
- Kitchen Display Systems (KDS): Instead of juggling paper tickets, a KDS sends orders straight to a digital display in the kitchen. It’s faster, cleaner and more accurate. Systems such as Lightspeed offer reliable KDS options that help kitchens stay organized.
- Customer Loyalty Programs: Want to reward your best customers? Look for built-in loyalty tools such as the ones Clover POS offers. It’s an easy way to keep people coming back—and they’ll love earning free food or discounts along the way.
When it comes to features that stand out, Lightspeed and Toast really deliver. Lightspeed is a pro at inventory tracking, and Toast’s off-line tools are perfect for fine dining spots that can’t afford to miss a beat when the Wi-Fi goes down.
Value
When it comes to choosing a POS system, value isn’t about finding the cheapest option—it’s about finding a system that pays off in the long run. Ask yourself: What am I getting for my money? A slightly higher investment might save you time, reduce stress and increase profits.
If you’re running a small café or food truck, you’ll want a system that’s affordable without skimping on features. Square POS shines here. Square gives you a free plan with mobile card readers to get you started.
For restaurants ready to invest a bit more, Toast and Lightspeed deliver exceptional value. Toast, for example, offers tools such as tableside ordering and off-line functionality that can make a huge difference in a busy, full-service restaurant. Lightspeed’s inventory management tools help you track every single ingredient, saving you money on wasted supplies over time.
Ease of Use
No matter how many features a POS system has, it’s useless if your staff can’t figure out how to use it. Restaurants move fast—especially during lunch rushes—so you need a POS system that’s intuitive, easy to train on and ready to go right out of the box.
Square POS is one of the easiest systems to use. Setup takes minutes, and your team can start taking orders with minimal training.
For full-service restaurants that need more features, TouchBistro is a great example. Its interface is easy for servers to navigate, and tools such as table management and order customization are built right in, so staff don’t have to dig through complicated menus.
Hardware Flexibility
The type of hardware you need depends on your restaurant’s style. Are you running a food truck where space is limited? Or a full-service restaurant with dozens of tables? The right POS system should offer hardware that fits seamlessly into your operations.
For quick-service restaurants, lightweight hardware such as handheld devices and mobile card readers are a must. Square POS and Clover are perfect here—they offer handheld tools that let you take orders and payments on the go.
If you’re in full-service dining, you’ll need countertop terminals for central order management, kitchen display systems (KDS) to keep the back-of-house running smoothly and tableside ordering devices to speed up service. Systems such as Toast offer a full range of hardware options, including self-service kiosks and handheld tools.
Off-Line Capabilities
Let’s face it—Wi-Fi isn’t always reliable, and you can’t afford downtime during a busy dinner rush. That’s where off-line functionality comes in. A good POS system will keep your restaurant running smoothly, even if your internet connection drops.
Toast is one of the best systems for off-line capabilities. You can keep taking orders, process payments and print tickets without skipping a beat. Once the internet is back up, everything syncs automatically.
TouchBistro also handles off-line mode well, making it a smart choice for restaurants in areas with spotty internet. For fine dining spots or restaurants with complex operations, off-line functionality can be a lifesaver.
Customer Support
When something goes wrong (and it will), having reliable customer support can make all the difference. During peak hours, you don’t have time to troubleshoot a POS issue on your own—you need help, and you need it fast.
Seek ot providers with 24/7 assistance, dedicated onboarding and resources to make sure you’re set up for success. Whether you need to resolve a technical issue or customize your system, support teams should have your back.
Good customer support isn’t just about fixing problems. It’s also about helping you get the most out of your POS system. Look for providers that offer onboarding, training tools and easy access to support whenever you need it.
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