9 Best POS Systems for Quick-Service Restaurants to Streamline Operations
December 15, 2024
Written by: The POS Exchange Team
Quick-service restaurants need to have the luxury of time. Customers want their food fast and to place their orders quickly, too. However, as a quick-service restaurant owner, you know that fast food is not about rushing. Instead, it’s about having efficient operations that enable you to serve customers quickly without sacrificing quality.
One of the best ways to enhance your efficiency is by investing in reliable restaurant technology, such as a point of sale (POS) system. This guide will explore the best POS system for quick-service restaurants. This guide will help you find a robust POS system that enhances efficiency, simplifies operations, and boosts customer satisfaction in your quick-service restaurant.
The restaurant POS integration can help you achieve the goals outlined above. We offer reliable, affordable, and feature-rich POS systems that help quick-service restaurant operators keep their customers happy.
What is a Quick Service Restaurant POS System?
A Quick-Service POS (Point of Sale) system is a sophisticated software solution designed specifically for quick-service restaurants (QSRs) to enhance operational efficiency. This advanced restaurant technology enables QSRs to swiftly take customer orders, process payments, and streamline their overall management processes.
With a Quick-Service POS system, restaurants can optimize workflow, reduce wait times, and ensure accurate order processing. This system plays a pivotal role in enhancing customer satisfaction by facilitating faster transactions and minimizing errors, ultimately leading to improved customer service and increased revenue for the restaurant.
Top Features to Look for in a Quick Service Restaurant POS
In the quest for the perfect Quick Service POS System, it's crucial to focus on specific features that can elevate your restaurant's performance. Here's a breakdown of the essential features every Quick Service POS System should have:
Payment Processing
Seamless payment processing is non-negotiable. Look for a Quick Service POS system that supports various payment methods, including credit/debit cards, mobile payments, and contactless payments. Fast and secure payment processing enhances customer convenience and ensures timely transactions.
Durable & Efficient Touch Screen POS Terminals
Quick Service restaurants demand robust hardware. Look for durable touchscreen POS terminals designed for the rigors of fast-paced environments. These terminals should be intuitive, responsive, and capable of handling high transaction volumes seamlessly.
Integrated Online Ordering
Embrace the digital age by choosing a POS system that smoothly integrates online ordering. This feature enables customers to place orders from the convenience of their smartphones or computers, expanding your reach beyond the physical confines of your restaurant.
Mobile Ordering, Self-Service Kiosks, and Tablet Ordering
Empower your customers with the freedom to place orders through mobile devices or tablets. Quick Service POS systems equipped with mobile ordering, self-service kiosks, and tablet ordering options enhance customer experience, reduce wait times, and streamline the order flow.
QSR Kitchen Display Systems (KDS)
Streamline kitchen operations with Kitchen Display Systems. KDS ensures that orders are sent directly to the kitchen, minimizing communication errors and expediting food preparation.
Mobile Dining Solutions and QR Code Capabilities
Offer mobile dining solutions and QR code capabilities to optimize the dining experience. Customers can scan QR codes to view digital menus, place orders, and even pay, reducing physical contact and promoting a safer dining environment.
Inventory Management
Effectively manage your inventory, reducing waste and ensuring that popular items are always in stock. Real-time inventory tracking helps optimize supply chain management and reduce costs.
Retention: Loyalty, CRM
Build customer loyalty with integrated loyalty programs and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools. Keep track of customer preferences, offer personalized rewards, and send targeted promotions to enhance customer retention and boost sales.
Multi-Language Selection
In diverse communities, offering a multi-language selection option on your POS system ensures inclusivity. This feature caters to customers who prefer interacting in their native language, enhancing their overall dining experience.
Integrations with Your Favorite Restaurant Tools
Choose a Quick Service POS system that integrates seamlessly with your preferred restaurant tools, such as accounting software, marketing platforms, and reservation systems. These integrations simplify your workflow and enhance overall efficiency.
Restaurant Management: Menu Management, Order Management, and Staff Management
Effortlessly manage your menu, orders, and staff with comprehensive restaurant management features. Update menu items, track orders in real-time, and streamline staff scheduling and communication, ensuring your restaurant operates smoothly at all times.
Reporting and Analytics
Data-driven insights are invaluable for making informed business decisions. A Quick Service POS system with advanced reporting and analytics tools provides in-depth insights into sales trends, customer behavior, and employee performance, enabling you to optimize your operations for maximum profitability.
Why It’s a Top Choice for Quick-Service Restaurants
Toast is excellent for any QSR type but shines specifically for those managing multiple locations or those requiring diversity in payment/order taking (handhelds, self-serve kiosks, etc.)
Why I picked it
Toast delivers three key functions that make it the best QSR POS software on the market: industry-grade hardware, robust multi-location management, and intuitive modifiers to almost all POS functions. With all of these features in mind, Toast also provides a very affordable base plan, a wealth of support/resources, and an ecosystem that allows for the growth of your QSR business.
This POS offers an overwhelming suite of tools to QSR owners, which can suit a standalone business or a business with 30+ locations across a region. Toast does lack payment processing flexibility and hides some key features behind extra fees, but it delivers the most comprehensive QSR POS offering in 2024.
Standout Features
Pay-as-you-go hardware: Toast is the only provider on this list that offers its proprietary POS hardware at no upfront cost. This can be a game-changer for small QSRs that must expand their operations.
Toast Go 2 handheld terminal: Toast also supports a fully featured handheld terminal, the Toast Go 2, to help line busting and curbside or tableside orders and payments. The Toast Go 2, which fits in an apron pocket and can be operated with one hand, is best-in-class.
New Benchmarking Tool: Toast has introduced a new Benchmarking Tool, a feature no other POS offers in this guide. Toast uses its system-wide metrics to track your sales and operational data to give you a sense of how your business is performing. They allow you to compare the overall progress of your company against similar ones in your region and even break down specific food and drink sales to see how your menu is performing against the market norm.
Advanced combo building: Toast’s combo builder operates slightly differently than the others on this list. Rather than relying on nested modifiers, Toast combos operate as a discount type. Discounts are applied automatically to possible combos once added to a check.
Drive-thru management: Toast offers a detailed, built-in drive-thru order stream. Configuration instructions are on Toast Central, Toast’s online knowledge database. Once configured, your drive-thru tickets will be color-coded on your KDS screens. You can display order status for customers on an order-ready digital display while alerting customers to their order status via automated text messages.
Delivery tools: With Toast, you can manage a team of in-house drivers with GPS mapping integrations or send your in-house orders to local third-party drivers for a flat per-delivery fee.
Handheld and QR code ordering: Toast’s handheld POS devices make it easy to take orders, especially in busy restaurants. This speed-specific focus allows QSR models to use Toast to expedite lines and get more orders to customers on time.
Pros
Rugged, industry-grade hardware withstands high-volume use
Specialty screened built for quick employee onboarding and efficient order-takin
Dedicated hub for tracking delivery and takeout orders
The wealth of integrated hardware peripherals: kitchen display system (KDS), handheld terminals, customer-facing displays, and self-ordering kiosks
Cons
2-year contract
Toast is the only payment processor
Online ordering and customer loyalty feature an extra fee.
2. SpotOn
Why It’s a Top Choice for Quick-Service Restaurants
Growing QSRs, those needing an industry-leading but easy-to-use POS system, and those with multiple locations are suited to the robust suite of features SpotOn offers.
Why I picked it
SpotOn’s tools are seamlessly fine-tuned for QSRs with many locations: marketing AI tools, a robust mobile reporting app, and the ability to grow customer loyalty across multiple sites. It also offers in-depth employee management features, making scheduling staff, executing payroll, and viewing hours worked across your locations easy.
The entirety of SpotOn’s software is customizable, which allows your SpotOn experience to be unique to your business. The most successful QSRs can build personalized POS systems, and SpotOn gives you this opportunity. This system’s robust QSR features and comprehensive support make it especially ideal when it needs to be set up multiple times in new locations.
Standout Features
Robust workforce management: SpotOn Teamwork is SpotOn’s built-in employee management tool. Teamwork includes a scheduling app that tracks employee availability, organizes time-off requests and handles shift swaps. The tool is so popular that it integrates with the Toast, Square, Clover, Lightspeed, and Revel POS systems. Users claim the Teamwork system saves them up to 20 hours per week on labor-management tasks.
Customizable workflows: The SpotOn team custom-builds the POS for every new customer. If you want your order screens to appear in a specific layout, want to offer dynamic pricing that supports cash discounting, or need multiple revenue categories to support granular reporting, you can get any customization you need. This customization level can mean onboarding with SpotOn will take longer than with a self-installable system like Square. But the lead time likely won’t bother you if you have complex needs.
Online ordering and delivery management: SpotOn’s built-in online ordering tools start with an eye-catching website. Orders are sent directly to your POS order stream. You can manage self-delivery or takeout orders in-house with built-in two-way SMS text messaging (most other POS systems on our list only support one-way text messaging).
Dynamic hardware: Like Toast, SpotOn operates on industry-grade hardware. However, SpotOn’s hardware is slightly sleeker and more flexible than Toast’s. You can choose standard or low-profile countertop terminals set up in multiple configurations with built-in card readers and customer-facing displays. SpotOn’s kitchen display system (KDS) screens are dynamic and user-friendly, and the handheld POS devices include a QR code reader so your team can quickly scan promotional coupons tableside.
QSR time-efficient tools: SpotOn’s many different POS tools deliver speed and efficiency in many aspects of the restaurant. Instant digital receipts, one-tap tipping, and an all-day view all help keep the product moving. Prep timers communicated through the KDS ensure food gets out on time and will change colors depending on the situation's urgency.
CRM and loyalty tools: SpotOn delivers excellent loyalty rewards and keeps you connected to guests with automated marketing features and website tools. The focus on loyalty and rewards tracking keeps customers wanting to return, which is key for QSR growth.
Pros
Best-in-class workforce management tools with enforced schedules
Robust multi-location management features
Thoroughly customizable order screens and order flows
Excellent combo-building functions
Cons
Locked into proprietary terminals
Locked into SpotOn Payments
Customizability can lead to longer installation times
3. Square for Restaurants
Why It’s a Top Choice for Quick-Service Restaurants
Square for Restaurants is great for QSR businesses that offer online ordering, want a cost-effective POS, and do not have to manage a drive-thru.
Why I picked it
Square for Restaurants continues to be a great, low-cost option for QSR business owners. It offers an excellent online ordering platform and encourages customer growth through an online ordering app tailored to your business. Square’s online ordering app also features conversational modifiers and repeat order buttons. The system is so efficient that customers can re-order online with just three taps. Square’s ability to sync menus and inventory in real-time helps ensure all your stations are ready to go during a busy service. It is also very user-friendly, claiming staff can be trained on the system in less than 15 minutes. While it lacks drive-thru management tools and locks some features behind fees, Square is a great economical option for QSR businesses.
Standout Features
Pocket-sized Square Terminal: Square’s Terminal is a handheld order and payment device that fits in a pocket. Square Terminal also includes a built-in receipt printer, unlike other handheld devices on this list. It is excellent for line-busting in busy QSRs.
Free basic POS: Square for Restaurants’ entry-level POS subscription is available for no monthly fees. If you have a compatible iPad, you can start with Square for Restaurants at no upfront cost. Most QSRs only need this level, making it an affordable yet functional option.
Free online ordering site: Via the integrated Square Online Store, Square for Restaurants users can add an online ordering site for free. If your restaurant does not have a website, you can host your online ordering page on a Square web address for no additional cost. Square’s free POS operates on the equipment you already have, which gives it the edge in free online ordering.
No long-term contracts: Square for Restaurants does not require a long-term service contract. You can use the POS for months or years and leave anytime. You can also quickly shift to a different subscription tier as your business grows or your needs change.
Integrated KDS: Square for Restaurants recently added an integrated KDS (it formerly relied on FreshKDS). This new function is an excellent option for QSRs that need a cost-effective solution. Like the rest of the Square for Restaurants system, the Square KDS operates on iPads. You can download the software for the KDS from the Apple App Store.
Great user reviews: While not a feature, Square enjoys great user reviews across many reputable sites, including Trustpilot and Capterra. Square has become one of the industry's most popular POS systems, and user reviews showcase why it has been widely adopted.
Pros
Baseline POS subscription is free
Free online ordering site
User-friendly KDS, handheld terminal, and multiple options for self-service kiosks
Real-time menu updates
Cons
No drive-thru management tools
Square is the only available payment processor
Minimal mobile reporting data
4. Revel Systems
Why It’s a Top Choice for Quick-Service Restaurants
Revel Systems is excellent for QSR concepts wanting iPad-based POS software for multiple locations. Additionally, users who want flexibility in payment processing will find value in Revel.
Why I picked it
Revel Systems is native to iPads and is designed to run on these devices. This makes the system easy to learn, with many being used to the Apple ecosystem. What helps Revel in the QSR space is that it delivers many great QSR options in a package that makes it easy to implement into your business. With features such as drive-thru management and complex order modifiers, it is a robust offering on one of the most popular devices in which a POS system can exist.
The system’s biggest drawback is its historically expensive POS subscription. All tiers are now custom-quoted, and this lack of pricing transparency holds Revel back on our list. If pricing is not a significant concern and you want intuitive POS software for new staff members, Revel Systems is an excellent option for your QSR concept. While Square is also iPad-intuitive, Revel delivers drive-thru management, which makes it quintessential for this technology type.
Standout Features
Digital order flow: Revel systems emphasize a streamlined digital experience, capturing customer orders and routing them to their KDS screens in your kitchen. You can customize how your kitchen display appears and even set up digital notification boards for order status at your expo station.
Delivery XT: Revel offers its in-house delivery system, helping you avoid third-party fees and consolidating this aspect of your business into your existing software. This software is excellent for concepts with a lot of delivery orders or those looking to introduce delivery into their repertoire.
Customer engagement: Revel offers excellent customer loyalty and engagement opportunities for QSRs. Growing a customer base is vital for QSRs, and Revel has dedicated programs to help grow your base and deliver vital reward programs for QSRs to leverage.
Driver management: Revel includes the Delivery XT Dispatch app's live, maps-based driver management. If you manage a team of in-house delivery drivers, Revel shows you their live locations on a dispatch map. You can directly assign orders based on proximity from the map and manage driver reimbursements based on mileage.
Driver smartphone app: Revel includes a free driver app, Revel Delivery XT Agent, that syncs with your dispatch system. Drivers are notified in their app about new delivery assignments, updated delivery information, and real-time turn-by-turn directions. This driver app gives you Uber-like control over your delivery fleet. It is an excellent fit for restaurants like pizzerias with a high volume of deliveries.
Pros
Intuitive iPad design can be great for training staff across QSR businesses.
Dynamic menu modifiers can streamline complex orders for a quicker customer experience.s
Multiple payment processing options
Cons
3-year contract
Best pricing requires enrollment in Revel Payments
Pricey for smaller QSR concepts
5. Lightspeed Restaurant
Why It’s a Top Choice for Quick-Service Restaurants
QSR concepts that rely on many different third-party delivery orders will find massive success with Lightspeed Restaurant. Additionally, it is suitable for concepts that want complete control of editing online ordering menus.
Why I picked it
Lightspeed Restaurant is an excellent option for QSRs due to its intensive and intuitive third-party delivery management. Lightspeed consolidates all orders from different sites into your KDS screens, giving your kitchen a broad view of all of the orders it needs to manage and maintain. On top of this, you can edit and sync your delivery menus from one app, allowing changes to be easily reflected in all of your connected platforms.
Lightspeed scored well due to its excellent third-party order management and efficient POS design. However, I docked points for its higher pricing and consolidation of pricing tiers, increasing from $69/month to $189/month, making the baseline POS more expensive. Some key features, such as inventory management, are now included in the base POS offering and do not require an extra fee.
Standout Features
Quick service mode: Lightspeed Restaurant includes a quick service setting that reduces the number of button presses required to ring up a new order and process payment. Unfortunately, this mode does not support barcode scanning to add ready-to-eat (RTE) and ready-to-drink (RDT) items to orders.
Consolidated third-party delivery: Via integration with Deliverect, Lightspeed Restaurant consolidates your third-party delivery platforms into a single dashboard. You can configure online-only menus and manage your third-party platform subscriptions from one place. Orders print to your kitchen or KDS screen seamlessly. This is helpful for any restaurant size as it streamlines orders, especially during a busy dinner rush.
Flexible hardware: In addition to iPad-based terminals, Lightspeed Restaurant uses iPads for KDS, customer-facing displays, and self-service kiosks, so you can customize your POS by pressing a few buttons in the manager dashboard. These screens all feature Lightspeed’s intuitive interface.
Popular integrations: Besides Lightspeed’s extensive add-on functions, this restaurant POS integrates with 80-plus third-party software tools. Popular options for employee scheduling, inventory, website management, reservations, accounting, payroll, and third-party delivery platforms can be found.
Delivery menu customizations: Lightspeed Restaurant allows you to update your online delivery menus in real-time across all platforms at once. You can also create delivery-only menus online, locking out takeout and dine-in options and only providing delivery-based menu options to online platforms. This level of customization and management makes managing delivery a breeze for QSR concepts.
Pros
Intuitive online order screen for multiple delivery apps
Self-installable
Excellent customer data tracking
Cons
Limited drive-thru management
A higher price baseline tier may be too much for some
Limited mobile reporting
6. Oracle MICROS Simphony
Why It’s a Top Choice for Quick-Service Restaurants
QSR concepts needing drive-thru management or expanding their capabilities should consider using the Oracle MICROS Simphony system.
Why I picked it
Oracle MICROS Simphony is a POS system I have extensive experience with, using the software in a restaurant I helped manage. The cloud-based offering from Oracle combines industry-grade, rugged hardware with intuitive software design, making it an ideal choice for QSR concepts.
Oracle’s drive-thru management tools are the most comprehensive in this guide, allowing support for multi-lane and designated pickup options and the ability to take orders curbside, similar to concepts like Culver’s or Chick-fil-A. The system lost a few points due to extra fees for baseline POS features and mixed user reviews. Additionally, its hardware is custom-quoted, making it hard to compare to other systems without deep diving with an Oracle representative.
Standout Features
Centralized multilocation dashboard: Adding new locations to your Symphony dashboard only takes a few minutes. You can quickly run reports for single locations or compare multiple locations in a single report. All information is accessible via a central dashboard, so you don’t need to log into various back-office dashboards and run multiple reports.
Drive-thru management: Simphony’s drive-thru management includes tools for managing a traditional drive-thru alongside curbside pickup monitoring. You can keep track of which numbered parking spaces customers arrive in, note vehicle type, and close out orders at the drive-thru window or via a handheld terminal in the parking lot. Additionally, Oracle can manage multi-lane drive-thrus, which is the perfect tool for expanding its drive-thru capabilities.
Rugged, customizable hardware: Like top-ranked Toast, Simphony operates on hardware designed to withstand a demanding restaurant environment. Terminals are sealed to prevent the intrusion of steam, water, and dust. They can also operate at higher and lower temperatures than an iPad.
Multilanguage support: Your Simphony POS can operate in more than 20 languages. So, if your restaurant operates in multiple countries, you can use the same system in the local language. This supports QSRs that want to expand on a grand scale. Symphony is the only option on this list that has this language option.
Pros
Robust drive-thru management tools
Payment processing flexibility
Option for an on-site server
Cons
Hardware is custom-quoted
No free trial or free baseline subscription
Many general POS features require an additional fee
7. TouchBistro
Why It’s a Top Choice for Quick-Service Restaurants
TouchBistro POS was founded in 2010 by Alex Barrotti. It emerged as a leading POS solution tailored specifically for the restaurant industry. TouchBistro caters to various restaurants, including cafes, bars, fine dining establishments, food trucks, and quick-service restaurants.
Key features of TouchBistro include the reservation system to maximize table turnover, an easy-to-use floor plan, and table management.
Key Features
Restaurant reservation: An effective reservation system like TouchBistro can be a game-changer for quick-service restaurants looking to maximize table turnover and revenue. By integrating online and walk-in reservations with the point-of-sale system, restaurants can closely monitor upcoming bookings and current capacity. This allows them to prepare ahead of time for expected guests, ensuring prompt seating and service. Personalized reservation notes for regular customers also foster loyalty, while features like waitlist management help restaurants seat walk-ins efficiently during peak periods.
Floor plan and table management: TouchBistro’s point-of-sale system includes an intuitive table management module to help quick-service restaurants optimize seating capacity and provide better service. The easy-to-use floor plan maker allows staff to design, edit, and update the layout of tables, walls, and sections with just a few clicks. This automated sync with the real-time floor plan ensures seating updates reflect availability. Features like table transfers enable smooth customer flow without losing orders when parties switch tables mid-meal.
Reporting & analytics: TouchBistro’s robust reporting and analytics tools provide quick-service restaurants with valuable data and insights to optimize operations and the guest experience. The cloud-based POS system offers real-time reports on over 50 KPIs that managers can access remotely anytime. This empowers data-driven decision-making on menu design, promotions, staff scheduling, training, and more. TouchBistro’s user-friendly interface enables easy data sharing with the management team through automatic emails and integration with accounting software.
Customer-facing display: The Touchbistro display (CFD) allows guests to review their orders before sending them to the kitchen, helping quick-service restaurants avoid costly errors, keep lines moving efficiently, and ensure guest satisfaction. The CFD clearly shows menu items, modifiers, and pricing so guests can confirm their order is exactly how they want it. The CFD also serves as an advertising screen highlighting special offers, new menu items, loyalty programs, and social media when not confirming orders. Restaurants can customize the CFD with their branding, logo, colors, and fonts for a consistent on-brand experience.
Tableside ordering system: TouchBistro’s offline mode allows quick-service restaurants to continue operating smoothly even when the internet goes down. Servers can still take customer orders, send them to the kitchen display system, and process payments – avoiding frustrated guests and lost revenue. The offline mode syncs everything back up once connectivity is restored.
Pros of Touchbistro POS
Easy touchscreen management for kitchen orders: One big plus of TouchBistro is how easy it is to manage kitchen orders with a touchscreen tap. Staff can quickly see and mark orders as ready, making handling many coffee orders simpler, especially compared to old-fashioned systems that rely on printed tickets.
Simple order input for servers: TouchBistro makes it smooth for servers to input orders through a web portal. Instead of juggling paper notepads, servers can enter orders directly into the POS from any device. Orders show up in the barista queue immediately, thanks to automatic syncing.
Excellent mobile capabilities: With TouchBistro, cafes can take orders and process payments from anywhere in the cafe using a tablet or smartphone. This means staff can serve customers faster no matter where they’re sitting. The apps work seamlessly with the leading POS, giving staff flexibility to move around.
Cons of Touchbistro POS
Negative feedback about customer service: One common issue with TouchBistro is its poor customer service when problems arise. Users say contacting support reps is hard; responses to questions and issues could be faster. Communication and follow-up from support could be improved.
Steep learning curve: TouchBistro has many features, but it can be challenging for new users and staff to get the hang of it. Becoming an expert requires a lot of hands-on practice and training.
Higher cost: Even though it’s loaded with advanced features, TouchBistro is on the pricey side regarding POS systems. The hardware bundles and subscriptions can add up, putting a strain on the budgets of small coffee shops. Offering more straightforward packages with essential features at lower prices would attract cafes with tighter budgets.
8. Truffle
Why It’s a Top Choice for Quick-Service Restaurants
Truffle Systems is a company specializing in food service point-of-sale systems. Established in 2010, Truffle has its headquarters in Canada. They have solutions tailored for various food and beverage establishments, ranging from restaurants and cafes to pizzerias, bars, and nightclubs.
One of Truffle’s standout offerings that may interest you is the “GoBox,” a contactless food locker system that simplifies the pickup process for your customers and drivers.
This feature helps reduce crowding in front-of-house areas and prevents confusion during deliveries. Truffle’s platform also offers a unified dashboard, giving you control over operations from front-of-house to back-office. This includes ordering, fulfillment, pickup, delivery, inventory management, and customer loyalty programs.
Why You Should Choose Truffle POS for Your QSR
Truffle’s Point of Sale (POS) system is uniquely tailored to meet the specific needs of QSRs. It offers a unique blend of innovation, custom solutions, and ground-breaking features.
Efficient Management: With Truffle’s system, you can efficiently manage multiple locations and franchises, saving precious time when generating reports.
Timely Delivery: Truffle uses a mobile driver app to ensure on-time delivery of your orders, enhancing customer satisfaction.
Larger Online Orders: Truffle’s platform encourages customers to place larger online orders than traditional over-the-phone orders.
Labor Savings: Truffle significantly reduces labor costs through streamlined kitchen and order management.
Customized for QSRs: Truffle has solutions that simplify the scaling of your business, whether it’s a single-location or multi-location operation.
Revolutionary Features
GoBox: Truffle’s GoBox is a game-changer that offers a scan, grab & go system that streamlines the pickup process, enhances the guest experience, and frees up your staff.
Driver App: The driver management tools provide a comprehensive view of your delivery force, complete with live order tracking for customers.
Real-Time Reporting: Truffle’s single dashboard with real-time data illustrates the success of your pizzeria, a vital tool for attracting potential franchisees.
Truffle POS stands out for quick-service restaurants by offering a specialized, comprehensive solution that combines efficiency, customization, and cutting-edge features, all aimed at enhancing your operations and growth.
Where Truffle Falls Short
Pricing Structure: While Truffle Systems is affordable, its pricing model depends on various factors, which might make it less predictable and potentially more expensive for some businesses.
Integration Challenges: The system may need help sharing information with other systems, such as inventory management, which may complicate the accounting process.
Software Complexity: As a multi-platform software that allows customization of restaurant layout, menu, etc., users may find it complex and challenging to use without proper training.
9. Korona POS
Why It’s a Top Choice for Quick-Service Restaurants
Combase USA is the American subsidiary of the German company COMBASE AG, which owns Korona POS systems and inventory management software. The software mainly serves retail businesses, quick-service restaurants, and ticketing businesses. The system integrates seamlessly with digital menus and self-service kiosks, enhancing the overall customer experience.
Key Features
Graphical table layouts: One of the standout features offered by Korona POS is the management of graphical table layouts. This allows staff to visualize table occupancy and availability with an interactive floor plan, making table management much more efficient. The easy drag-and-drop function also enables quick changes to table layouts when needed. With Korona POS, managers can always have a bird’s-eye view of the restaurant floor, ensuring more intelligent table utilization and better planning. The graphical table management feature is one of the ways this leading POS for quick-service restaurants helps restaurants deliver prompt and seamless service.
Multiple order printers: With Korona POS, quick-service restaurants can optimize their kitchen workflow by directing orders to dedicated printers based on the items ordered— appetizers, main courses, or desserts. This targeted approach ensures that kitchen staff can focus on their responsibilities, leading to faster and more accurate food preparation. For quick-service restaurants that serve a high volume of customers, having multiple order printers can dramatically improve your QSR business‘s order processing speed and efficiency.
Table management: Korona POS allows staff to easily manage table status across multiple floors or zones for cafes, coffee shops, and other quick-service eateries with dine-in seating. Managers can see at a glance which tables are occupied, reserved, or available for seating. Servers can quickly enter new table reservations, assign orders to table numbers, and change table status as customers are seated or leave. The table management features in Korona POS give quick-service restaurants the flexibility to track dine-in customers separately from takeout and delivery orders.
Employ time clock-tracking: Korona POS makes employee management and payroll easy for quick-service restaurants. Employees can conveniently clock in and out directly through the POS system. Store owners can set customized access controls for each employee and track their hours worked through automated shift reports. These detailed reports can then be imported into payroll systems to calculate pay accurately. The highly customizable POS keypad allows owners to tailor it to their needs. Korona POS provides robust employee time tracking and permissions settings that streamline payroll and staff management for busy quick-service restaurants. Automating these processes saves managers time and reduces potential payroll errors.
Item transfers & check-splitting: The item transfer functionality ensures efficient order management by allowing staff to move menu items between orders effortlessly. This feature is handy when accommodating guests who change tables or need to adjust their orders. Furthermore, Korona’s check-splitting feature is invaluable in busy environments, enabling servers to effortlessly divide a single bill into multiple checks to accommodate groups of customers who wish to pay separately.
Integration with any payment processor: Korona POS is processing agnostic, meaning it can integrate with any primary payment processing solution. This allows businesses to choose the payment processor that best fits their needs without being locked into a proprietary system. Korona open API allows seamless integration with top processors like First Data, Square, etc. The setup process is quick and easy, allowing merchants to be up and running with their preferred processor rapidly.
Pros
Flat rate with no contracts: You pay a predictable monthly fee and can cancel anytime without an early termination fee.
24/7 In-house support: Korona POS offers customer support around the clock, so you can get help with any issues you encounter whenever you need it.
Unlimited free trial: You can try Korona POS for free for as long as you want before you commit to a paid plan. This allows you to test all the features and see if they fit your business well.
60-day money-back guarantee: If you’re unsatisfied with KORONA POS after you purchase it, you can get a full refund within 60 days. This gives you peace of mind, knowing you can get your money back if you’re unhappy with the product.
Cons
Here’s a breakdown of the cons of KORONA POS for quick-service restaurants:
Steep learning curve: Korona POS might require more initial training for staff compared to simpler POS systems.
No Kitchen display system (KDS): While it can handle multiple order printers, Korona POS might lack a dedicated KDS for streamlining communication between front-of-house and kitchen staff in a fast-paced QSR environment.
Not ideal for complex menus or full-dining restaurants: The system might need help with many menu items or the intricacies of full-service dining compared to POS solutions designed specifically for those needs.
First and most importantly you need to understand your business and the functions you require for your QSR POS. Are you a one-unit small business with limited capital to deploy? Or are you a 20-unit QSR group with the necessary cash flow to invest in a POS with centralized multilocation management? Understanding not only what you can afford but also the basic needs you require of POS software is integral to your choice.
2. Consider Your Staff’s Needs
Before committing to POS software, understand if it makes sense for your employees. Does it need to be multilingual? Is a lot of training and time required to understand the system functionally? Understanding the POS capabilities and how your staff will work with it is crucial before investing the money and time you will dedicate when purchasing this software.
3. List Your Must-haves
Having a list of must-have features is very important during this process. You should not commit to software that will not fulfill your needs, negatively impacting your customers. Understanding what is crucial to you as an operator is vital in the selection process. This also applies to the contract you will sign. Are you willing to sign up for more than one year? Do you need your software to be month-to-month billing? Know this before making a final decision.
4. Shop Around & Accept Demos
Let QSR POS providers sell to you! Accept free demos, take calls with sales teams, and do not settle on just one provider. Make it clear you are looking to invest in a POS system for your business, and do not be afraid to share that you are shopping around. Letting POS providers share the system’s unique features and comparing them with other providers will allow you to see which system suits your needs and reveal any gaps in service.
5. Choose Your QSR POS Software & Sign Up
The last part is committing and signing up for the software. This also means working as an operator to ensure you know the system better than anyone else. Take time to learn all of the functionalities of the POS in your unique setting. Training your staff and getting the most out of the service you are paying for should be your end goal.
Book a Free Demo with POS Exchange to Learn about Our Customized POS System Solutions Today!
The POS Exchange brings over 20 years of restaurant expertise, serving 200,000+ merchants and processing billions annually. My tailored POS system solutions help businesses speed up checkouts by 30%, implement dynamic pricing, and manage customer reviews while reducing overhead. Perfect for full-service restaurants, pizza shops, coffee houses, and multi-location enterprises.
I offer end-to-end service, from brilliant consultation and interactive demos to local installation and 24/7 support. My mobile iPad POS systems streamline operations with features like order management, bill splitting, and inventory control. With integrations for business management tools and advanced security measures, I ensure your POS system grows with your business.
Trust my expertise to help you avoid the common pitfall that affects 38% of new business owners who choose the wrong POS system. Whether you're managing a busy restaurant, a local café, or operating a multi-location business, I deliver customized POS system solutions that tell your unique business story. Book a free demo with POS exchange to learn about my customized POS system solutions today.
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