How to Use POS System Restaurant Guide for Improved Efficiency

The moment has finally come. You’ve purchased a shiny new POS system for your restaurant and can’t wait to start. But when you open the box, you realize the setup process isn’t as simple as you thought. How to use a POS system restaurant? You may ask as you stare blankly at the many devices and modules. You’re not alone if you’re feeling overwhelmed. This blog will help you get the Best POS System for Restaurat, from the initial setup to using the system to boost your restaurant’s efficiency.

The POS Exchange's POS systems offer an ideal solution to help you achieve your goals for using a restaurant POS system. With easy setup and an intuitive design, you’ll boost your operational efficiency and delight your customers before you know it.

What is a Restaurant POS System?

A restaurant POS (Point of Sale) system is a digital platform used to:

• Manage orders
• Payments
• Essential business functions in a restaurant

It combines hardware, like tablets and cash registers, with software that: 

• Tracks sales
• Inventory
• Customer data

The POS system is the hub for handling transactions and streamlining restaurant operations. POS stands for point of sale, which refers to the time and place, or the fact, that a sales transaction is completed. A restaurant point-of-sale system includes POS hardware and hospitality point-of-sale software that manages a sales transaction, including: 

• Credit card processing
• Receipt printing and more

Restaurant POS systems are built specifically for restaurant businesses, not retail or hotel. A modern restaurant POS system can streamline your internal operations, connect all the personnel involved in making your restaurant run smoothly, and automatically track: 

• Sales
• Labor
• Inventory metrics

This helps increase revenue, profit, and customer satisfaction while decreasing employee: 

• Turnover
• Order mistakes
• Wait time
• Stress levels

The modern restaurant POS system is made up of two parts:

• Restaurant hardware
• Restaurant Software

Restaurant POS System Features 

Most POS systems are adept at:

• processing orders
• Taking payments
• Storing restaurant data

When you add other restaurant management features, you start to see the real value of a restaurant POS. Here are some features to look out for when choosing your POS. Having these features built-in and working seamlessly with your other restaurant software is a potential game-changer for your restaurant. 

Staff Scheduling

While most POS systems don’t have labour management and scheduling as a feature out-of-the-box, the vast majority integrate with scheduling platforms, which can expand your capabilities.

Unless you’re a solo operator, scheduling staff and budgeting labor costs is essential. Make sure that the point of sale you choose integrates with scheduling software, enabling you to grow your team (and business). Or even better, choose a restaurant POS with its own scheduling tools. These tools can be used to clock in and clock out, manage shifts, and provide staffing data to make better scheduling decisions. 

Inventory Management 

Inventory counts should be part of your daily routine before opening a shop for the day and after you close. It’s essential for managing food costs while ensuring you have enough inventory to meet the demand you forecast for the next day. Regarding inventory counts, there are a few ways you can approach this. There’s the tried-and-true method of counting the inventory and keeping track with pen and paper, but that’s prone to error.  

A better way is to use your restaurant POS's built-in inventory management features. Most POS systems have inventory management capabilities to help manage food waste, variance, and beginning and ending inventory counts. This is crucial for minimizing food waste while assuring you have enough inventory to fulfill orders. It can also be the key to controlling your restaurant's profit margins. 

Kiosk Ordering

Restaurant kiosks make life easier for your customers and your staff by providing an intuitive interface for customers to place their orders in-store. You want kiosks that work seamlessly with your POS system for maximum efficiency.

They should also look the part so that they become part of your restaurant interior. Branded wall-mounted or free-standing kiosks can become a visual selling point while providing speed and convenience. 

Order Ingest

When you’re receiving orders from multiple channels, they must enter your POS system in the same format and be automatically ingested into the system. The last thing you want is an extra staff member manually adding orders from third-party marketplaces into the system. That’s a recipe for errors and missed orders.

Order ingest tools integrated with your POS system can gather orders from all your partners and automatically push them into your POS system to be dealt with like any other order. 

Driver Tracking

A useful feature to look out for, especially in a POS system for restaurant delivery orders, is real-time driver tracking. Not only does this let your customers know where their delivery order is and how long it will take to arrive, but it can also be used in-store to organise drivers and assign deliveries in the most efficient way possible.

This feature is less common in a POS system, but if you manage your delivery drivers, it’s a very handy tool. 

CRM and Marketing Features 

A customer relationship management system is the best way to use your customer data and track loyalty and promotions. Since your POS takes in so much customer order and payment information, it makes sense to build your CRM into it to get the most value from it. 

Health and Food Safety 

Keeping track of the cleaning schedule, hygiene checks, and food safety documentation is one of the most fundamental parts of running a restaurant. Without it, you could be shut down.

A POS with built-in health and food safety tools helps your staff know exactly what they need to do daily with integrated checklists, temperature logs, and accurate documentation. When the health inspector calls, you can simplify their job by printing your up-to-date paperwork. 

Integrated Payments 

Handling payments is handling the lifeblood of your business. You want to do it as carefully and efficiently as possible to keep your kitchen pumping out the orders. If your payment system isn’t properly integrated into your POS, you could be operating less efficiently and unnecessarily bleeding out money.

Consider choosing a POS with a straightforward payment scheme that lets you accept different online payment methods. This will reduce confusion, as you will know exactly what needs to be paid and how much you need to budget for.

Here are the most common payment methods to consider for restaurant delivery: 

• Cash - paying in physical declined, even more so since people became concerned about transmitting COVID through hand-to-hand contact. People still prefer it, and it is money in your hands. 
• Contactless payment - Contactless payment terminals offer speedy payments wherever your customer needs to pay: at the counter, drive-through, or self-ordering kiosk. 
• Apple Pay - this option lets people with Apple devices like iPhones make quick and secure payments. 
• Google Pay - Google’s mobile payment service for in-app, online, and in-person contactless purchases through Android phones, tablets, or watches. 
• In-app payment - this allows customers to pay directly from an app by card or mobile wallet. 

What are the Benefits of a Restaurant POS? 

A modern restaurant POS has many benefits as a complete restaurant management system. However, the value you get from it depends on the type of restaurant you run and the features you choose for your POS system.

For example, a pizza restaurant POS system would benefit from inventory management features to ensure service isn't affected by ingredients running out. A QSR POS for a UK restaurant needs a support team that can solve its specific problems. 

Power Your Decisions with Data 

Great decisions aren’t (entirely) based on intuition in the restaurant space. Whether you’re setting menu item prices, monitoring food costs, fixed and variable expenses, sales, staffing, tips, or restocking inventory, data is what informs your decisions.

Whether looking for high-level insights or to dive into granular insights, most POS systems have:

• End-of-day reports and weekly
• Monthly
• Annual sales reports

Take advantage of them to better grasp your peak selling times and best-selling menu items. 

Adjust Your Floor Plan on The Fly 

Back when restaurant revenue was primarily predicated on table service sales, an adjustable floor plan was essential for efficiently running the front of the house. Cloud-based restaurant POS systems often have adjustable floor plans that reflect your changes in real-time. 

This is incredibly valuable for keeping FOH staff on the same page as adjustments to your dining room are made. If wait staff are running food to table five, but a server moved table five to another location, your wait staff don’t miss a beat. 

Offer Takeout, Delivery, and Order-Ahead 

There’s no denying that restaurants have gone through a monumental shift in how they operate 

since the start of the pandemic. The long-standing path to revenue was to either serve as many customers as possible (fast food and fast casual restaurants) or charge more per dish (fine dining). However, since table service was largely shut down at the outset of COVID-19, we’ve seen restaurants follow the path of direct-to-consumer (DTC) eCommerce retailers and pursue online sales. 

Dilemma of Off-Premise Dining

In pursuit of off-premise sales, restaurants used to have to choose between either third-party aggregators (and their prohibitively high service fees eating into already thin profit margins) or owning the whole process in-house, which many restaurateurs feared was simply too much to handle along with their duties on-site. 

Mobile Ordering Platforms

We’re seeing a tremendous uprising of restaurants using mobile ordering platforms to fulfill online orders without being responsible for building and managing a website. Flipdish integrates with most restaurant POS systems, enabling them to sell to patrons from a distance, control their customer experience, and keep more of their hard-earned revenue. 

Mobile Checkout and Contactless Payments 

What was already a growing trend in the commerce space has accelerated since the pandemic cashless, contactless payments.

While not all POS providers offer payment processing, most offer mobile payment terminals and contactless card readers (more on later). These allow servers to meet customers at their table and instantly accept payments, a much more fluid customer experience than waiting in line to pay. 

Run Multiple Locations from One System 

When shopping for a POS system, look at its multi-location capabilities. This is especially important if you plan to open multiple locations or franchise your establishment. Check that you can see sales data per location and get high-level insights across all of your locations.

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How to Use POS System Restaurant

Selecting the Perfect POS System for Your Restaurant  

Choosing the right POS system is like picking the perfect ingredient for your signature dish it must be just right for your restaurant. When finding a provider, focus on what specifically aligns with your needs and budget. Many providers cater to the food industry with customized plans that fit various types of establishments, from cozy cafés to bustling diners. 

Here’s a tip: Don’t just look for a system. Look for a partner who understands the nuances of your business. Ask potential providers about their specific tools and features, like table management, mobile ordering, and loyalty programs. This ensures the system can efficiently handle everything from a busy Friday night to a slow Tuesday afternoon. Remember, the goal is to find a POS system tailored to your restaurant, helping you manage daily operations smoothly and effectively.  

Setting Up Your Restaurant POS System  

Setting up your POS system correctly ensures your restaurant operations run smoothly from day one. Let’s begin with installing and configuring the essential hardware components to enhance service efficiency and customer experience. 

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the key components you might need and some tips on effectively utilizing each piece to its fullest potential. 

• Installation and Hardware Setup Register: This is the central hub for your POS system, where all transactions are processed. Ensure it’s user-friendly and positioned for staff to have easy access. 
• Touch Screen POS Monitor/POS Display: Acts as the interface for entering orders and managing transactions. Choose a responsive and durable screen for high-traffic environments. 
• POS Terminal: This is typically the computerized component of the system that runs the POS software. It should be powerful enough to handle your restaurant's peak hours without lagging. 
• Customer-Facing Display Screen: This screen allows customers to see their order details and prices as they’re added, enhancing transparency and trust. 
• Cash Drawer: This is a secure place to store cash transactions. Opt for a sturdy drawer with a reliable locking mechanism. 
• Card Readers: are essential for processing credit and debit card payments. Select readers that support EMV chip and contactless payments for faster, more secure transactions. 
• Receipt Printers: These provide customers with a physical record of their purchase. Choose high-speed printers to keep the line moving. 
• Printed QR Codes: Use these for digital menu access and to facilitate mobile ordering, helping to reduce contact and wait times. 
• Weighing Scale: This is important for pricing items sold by weight. Ensure accuracy with a digital scale that integrates with your POS system. 
• Kitchen Printer: This printer is directly connected to your POS system and prints orders in the kitchen for quick and accurate preparation. Place it in a central location where chefs can easily access new orders. 
• Kitchen Alarm: Integrated with the kitchen printer, it sounds an alert whenever a new order is printed, ensuring that kitchen staff are immediately aware of new tasks. This helps in managing the pace during busy periods. 
• Kiosk Machine: For self-service ordering, which can reduce staff workload and speed up service during peak times. 
• POS Machine: Often a combination of several hardware pieces like a terminal and monitor, it processes and manages transactions. 
• Waitlist Machine: Manages customer waiting times and can alert customers when their table is ready. 
• Mobile POS Devices: Handheld POS devices like iPads or tablets add flexibility, allowing orders to be taken and processed anywhere in the restaurant. 

Each piece of hardware plays a crucial role in the efficient operation of your POS system. By understanding and properly setting up these components, you’ll be on your way to smoother, more efficient service delivery that can adapt to the demands of a busy restaurant environment. With the hardware in place, the next step is to harness the software’s power to streamline your daily operations and enhance customer interactions. 

Software Setup 

Setting up your POS software involves configuring it to match your restaurant's menu, pricing, and operational style. This customization allows the software to seamlessly integrate with the specific requirements of your restaurant, whether it's a table service venue, a quick-service spot, a cafe, or a bar. 

Here’s how to make the most out of the common features offered by restaurant POS systems:

• Menu Management: Update your menu in real-time from any terminal within your establishment. Whether dine-in, take-out, delivery, or online orders, you can easily manage item availability, ensuring your kitchen and staff are always in sync with what’s being served. 
• Order and Table Management: Streamline how you handle customer orders. Whether adding items to an open order or overseeing entire order fulfillment, do it all from a unified interface. View and manage all orders across different channels in one spot, merge checks, or split bills effortlessly. 
• Team Management: Keep your team organized with tools that allow you to adjust schedules, track hours, and manage payroll efficiently. Simplify the onboarding process and ensure everyone gets paid accurately and on time. This comprehensive approach helps maintain a productive workforce. 
• Mobile Ordering Solutions: Enhance customer convenience with mobile ordering options. Using handheld POS devices, tablets, or QR code systems, your guests can order directly from their seats, speeding up service and improving their dining experience. 
• Payment Processing: Offer various payment options to cater to all customers. The system should support secure transactions via debit, credit, cash, gift cards, WeChat Pay, Apple Pay, and other contactless payments, making checkouts swift and safe. 
• Receipts: Give your customers the choice of how they receive their receipts, be it printed, text message, or email. This flexibility caters to customer preferences and supports efforts toward paperless transactions. 
• Tipping Support: The system should help increase the tips your staff can earn with automated suggestions for different tip amounts. It also simplifies tip distribution, saving time for management and ensuring fairness in tip sharing among employees. By tailoring your POS software to your restaurant’s needs, you streamline operations and enhance the dining experience for your customers, making your restaurant a preferred choice for dining out or ordering in. 

Restaurant POS Integration 

Integrating your POS system with various restaurant-specific functionalities simplifies operations and enhances customer service. Let's explore how these integrations can benefit your restaurant. 

Third-Party Delivery Integration 

In today's digital age, partnering with delivery platforms is essential. Integrating your POS system with around 50 delivery services, including popular platforms like Fantuan and Hungry Panda, automatically feeds all incoming orders into your POS app. 

This direct transfer eliminates the need for manual order entry and reduces errors associated with manual data input. It streamlines the entire process and speeds up order handling. This means your kitchen staff can begin preparing meals sooner, ensuring faster delivery and happier customers. 

Online Ordering 

Integrating online ordering into your POS system allows customers to place orders directly through your website or an app. This seamless connection between online orders and your kitchen reduces wait times and improves order accuracy, making the dining experience smoother for your staff and customers. 

Restaurant Reservation and Waitlist Management 

Manage your reservations and waitlist directly through your POS system to track table availability and wait times better. This integration helps you optimize seating arrangements and reduce wait times, enhancing customer satisfaction. By leveraging these integrations, your restaurant can operate more efficiently, reduce errors, and provide a better dining experience.  

Mastering the Basics of Your POS System  

Mastering the basic functions of your POS system is essential for a smooth operation in your restaurant. Let's explain how to efficiently manage menu items, process transactions, and handle various payment methods. How to Input Menu Items and Prices First, let's set up your menu in the system. 

Here’s how you can do it:

• Access the Menu Management Feature: Log into your POS system and navigate to the menu management section. 
• Add New Items: You’ll typically see an option to ‘Add New Item’ or ‘Create Dish.’ Click this and fill in the details, including:some text
  • The dish name
  • Description
  • Price
• Customize Options: If your dishes include options like side dishes, toppings, or special requests, make sure to add these variations. This helps accurately capture customer preferences. 
• Adjust Prices: Prices can be adjusted by selecting the item and editing its price field. This is useful for promotional offers or seasonal adjustments. Keeping your menu updated ensures that order processing is accurate and hassle-free, improving the overall customer experience. Next, let's look at how to process a transaction. 

Processing Transactions 

Your POS system should seamlessly guide you through each transaction step. 

Here’s a typical flow: 

• Select the items the customer wishes to purchase from the menu on the screen. 
• Apply for any applicable discounts or promotions. 
• Finalize the sale, at which point the system calculates the total cost, including tax. 

The customer chooses their preferred payment method, and the transaction is completed. It’s a direct process that speeds up service and reduces the likelihood of errors common in manual systems. 

Handling Cash, Credit, and Mobile Payments 

A versatile POS system can accept various payment methods, catering to customer preferences and modern payment trends. Here’s how to handle each type: 

• Cash Payments: Enter the amount received in the system when accepting cash. The POS should automatically calculate any change due to the customer. Ensure the cash drawer is secure but accessible for quick transactions.
• Credit and Debit Cards: Your POS should have a card reader for card payments. Swipe, dip, or tap the card as required. The system handles authorization automatically and confirms the transaction completion. 
• Mobile Payments: With the rise of smartphones, accepting mobile payments like Apple Pay or Google Wallet can set you apart from competitors. These transactions involve a customer tapping their phone against a compatible reader, and they are processed quickly and securely. 

Handling these various payment methods efficiently ensures customer convenience and keeps your operations running smoothly, even during peak hours. Having established how to efficiently manage menu items, process transactions, and handle various payment methods, the next critical step is ensuring that your team is fully capable and confident in using the POS system. Mastery of these basics sets the foundation for effective operations, but continuous education and support are key to leveraging the system's full potential.  

Training Staff On Your New POS System  

Proper training is key to making the most out of your new POS system. Organize interactive training sessions covering:

• Entering orders
• Processing payments
• Handling day-to-day transactions

Ensure these sessions are engaging and practical, possibly by incorporating real-life scenarios your staff might encounter. It’s also important to establish a clear line of communication for troubleshooting. Ensure every team member knows who to contact for help, whether a designated in-house expert or a support line. 

This knowledge empowers your staff to handle minor issues swiftly and can significantly reduce downtime caused by technical problems. Keep the training momentum going with regular updates. As your POS system evolves or new POS features are introduced, schedule brief training sessions to keep everyone up to speed. The more confident your staff is in using the system, the better they can serve your customers.  

Using Advanced Features Of Your POS System  

After mastering the basic operations and ensuring your team is well-trained, it’s time to explore the advanced features of your POS system that can further enhance customer engagement and boost your restaurant’s performance. Let’s explore how implementing loyalty programs and managing promotions effectively can transform customer interactions and drive business growth. 

Loyalty Programs 

Tailoring loyalty programs to suit your restaurant type can dramatically increase customer retention and overall satisfaction. Here’s how you can leverage these features in your POS system: 

• Membership Options: To cater to diverse customer preferences, offer a variety of membership plans, including complimentary sign-ups, top-up benefits, or annual fees.
• Rewards and Incentives: Implement rewards such as discounts on the first order, cashback on purchases, and loyalty points that can be used for future discounts. 
• Digital Integration: Digital loyalty cards can be integrated into popular wallet apps like Apple Wallet, which conveniently alerts customers of potential rewards when they are near your restaurant. 
• Customized Programs: For full-service restaurants, combining an annual fee with top-up options, loyalty points, personalized messages through restaurant CRM, and gift cards can help secure revenue in advance and encourage repeat visits. 

For quick-service spots, a free enrollment offering loyalty points and a simple gift card can keep things moving swiftly while building customer loyalty. 

Promotion Management

Promotions can drive traffic and increase sales. Your POS system should allow you to set up promotions easily and control them precisely: 

• Dynamic Offers: Create offers like ‘Buy A Get B Free,’ a percentage off on certain dishes, or discounts based on minimum spend. These can be particularly effective during new store openings, happy hours, or when introducing new menu items. 
• Control and Flexibility: Manage these promotions directly from your POS app, ordering tablets, QR code systems, or kiosks. You should be able to specify the terms of promotions, including dates, times, and eligible items, ensuring you have full control over the scope and impact of your offers. 

Using these advanced features enhances the customer experience and provides valuable data that can be used to refine marketing strategies and boost a restaurant’s performance.  

Reporting and Analytics  

Harnessing the power of your POS system's reporting and analytics tools is like having a crystal ball for your restaurant's operations. Let's explore how to dive deep into the data and leverage these insights for smarter, more strategic decision-making. 

Generating Sales Reports 

Begin each day with a clear snapshot of your restaurant’s performance from the previous day. Sales reports provide detailed insights, including total earnings and item breakdown. Whether you review these daily, weekly, or monthly, the reports offer a straightforward view of your financial health, allowing you to spot trends and adjust operations swiftly. 

Understanding Customer Behavior and Tracking Sales Trends 

Beyond the raw numbers, your POS system offers insights into customers’ preferences and behaviors. You can identify popular dishes and peak business times by analyzing order patterns and payment types. This information helps you efficiently tailor your menu and staffing to meet customer demand. 

Customized Reports for Restaurant Performance 

Every restaurant has unique challenges and opportunities; sometimes, a more tailored approach to analytics is needed. Customized reports allow you to drill down into specifics such as average order size or the effectiveness of promotional campaigns. 

You can access these insights from any device, giving you the flexibility to make informed decisions, whether on-site or away. With these analytical tools, you’re not just running your restaurant. You’re poised to grow it. Use the data to fine-tune your operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and boost your bottom line.  

Maintenance and Troubleshooting  

Maintaining your POS system is crucial for ensuring it runs smoothly and continues to serve your restaurant effectively. Here’s how to keep your system in top shape and handle any issues that might arise. 

Regular Updates and Backups 

Ensuring your POS system operates smoothly requires keeping it up-to-date. Regular software updates enhance features and security and prevent potential issues before they become problematic. Opting for a cloud-based POS system adds the benefit of automatic updates and secure, remote backups. This is crucial for data protection, allowing quick recovery in case of hardware failure and ensuring you can access your data anytime, anywhere. 

Dealing with Common Issues 

Familiarize yourself and your team with the most common issues with your POS system, such as:

• Hardware malfunctions
• Software glitches
• Connectivity problems

Simple fixes like restarting the system or checking connections often resolve these issues. Keep a quick reference guide for troubleshooting handy in your restaurant, empowering your staff to handle minor problems confidently and efficiently. 

When to Seek Professional Help 

While many issues can be addressed in-house, some situations require professional intervention. If you encounter persistent software errors, significant hardware issues, or any problems affecting transaction processing, it’s essential to contact support promptly. 

Professional assistance ensures quick resolution, minimizing disruption to your restaurant’s operations and safeguarding against potential revenue loss. Remember that maintaining a robust POS system is foundational to providing seamless service in your restaurant.

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10 Best Restaurant POS Solutions Of 2024

1. The POS Exchange 

The POS Exchange brings over 20 years of restaurant expertise, serving 200,000+ merchants and processing billions annually. Our 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
• Multi-location enterprises

We offer end-to-end service, from smart consultation and interactive demos to local installation and 24/7 support. 

Our 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, we ensure your POS system grows with your business. 

Trust our expertise to help you avoid the common pitfall that affects 38% of new business owners who choose the wrong POS system. Whether managing a busy restaurant, a local café, or operating a multi-location business, The POS Exchange delivers customized POS system solutions that tell your unique business story. 

2. Toast

Built for restaurants, Toast works with any type: 

• Food trucks
• Hotel restaurants
• Fine dining
• Casual dining
• Fast casual
• Bars
• Nightclubs
• Pizza joints
• Cafe bakeries
• Multilocation groups (enterprise level)

Customers can scan a QR code to access a digital menu and place an order with Toast. This helps reduce contact between staff and customers, which is important for safety during the pandemic. 

Toast also integrates with popular third parties such as Uber Eats, DoorDash and RASI. This allows restaurant owners to manage all aspects of their business from one platform. It offers a free plan, and paid plans start at $69 per month. 

Who should use it: Restaurants that want to have contactless ordering should choose Toast.

3. Square

Square is an exceptional option for small restaurants looking to streamline their operations and improve their overall customer experience. 

• With its free basic plan, Square is an economical solution that makes it easy to get started with a new POS system. 
• Starting at $60 per month, the Plus plan offers advanced features such as coursing and 24/7 support, making it ideal for restaurants with multiple locations and integrated dining experiences. 
• For larger restaurants, the Premium plan provides custom pricing based on the size and needs of the business. 

In addition to its POS capabilities, Square offers a range of other tools and services essential for a small restaurant's success. These include:

• Payroll
• Loyalty programs
• Marketing
• Team management tools

With 24/7 support, an online support center, and one-on-one implementation services, Square provides ongoing support and resources to help restaurants grow and succeed. Its user-friendly interface and various hardware compatibility options make it accessible and easy to set up. 

Who should use it: Square is an ideal solution for small restaurants, cafes and food trucks looking for a cost-effective, user-friendly and versatile POS system.

4. Aloha POS

Owned by industry leader NCR Global, Aloha POS is a system built specifically for the restaurant industry. Hardware options include:

• Touchscreens for order placement
• Kitchen displays
• Printers
• Mobile tablets

The cloud-based applications make order management a breeze with an integrated tab manager, check splitting, tip sharing, and customized reports. Two types of plans are available, one with discounted processing rates and a monthly fee of $175, and the other offering limited capabilities and a higher processing rate but without a subscription fee. 

Users who completed a high volume of transactions may find the monthly fee worth the cost, as the discounted fees balance out in the long run. Aloha POS provides an extensive library of training videos to help onboard new team members quickly should problems arise that can’t be solved with the videos. A help desk and field service technicians are available seven days a week. For businesses desiring the white-glove treatment, on-site training is also an option. 

Who should use it: Aloha POS is a standout choice for restaurants needing an intuitive food service system with plenty of training options.

5. Clover

Clover is a POS system that’s best for quick-service restaurants. It offers features in shift management, table management, online ordering, and gift card processing. Clover also has an app market where restaurants can integrate with third-party tools such as:

• Gusto Payroll
• NEXT Insurance
• QuickBooks
• Time Clock
• Adentro

Quick-service restaurants need easy ordering, and color-coded menu items make this possible. Guests can pay using contactless mobile, gift cards, checks, credit cards, and debit cards, all while the order queues up in the kitchen. 

Who should use it: Quick-service restaurants that want comprehensive features should choose Clover.

6. Lavu

Lavu is a point-of-sale system for restaurants and bars, focusing on pizzerias. The starting price is $59 per month, with varying processing fees. One of the standout features of Lavu is its API access, which allows for integration with other systems. Its inventory management makes knowing what ingredients you have on hand is simple. 

Lavu offers a pizza creator feature, which allows pizzerias to easily build and price custom pizzas, streamlining the ordering process for customers. The Lavu POS system has various features, including:

• Lavu Pay
• Cash discount program
• Loyalty
• Team management
• Inventory
• Reporting
• Bluetooth scale plugin
• 24/7 support and more

The Optimize plan also includes a kitchen display system, QuickBooks/Xero integration, and tableside ordering, making it ideal for growing pizzerias. 

Who should use it: Lavu is best for pizzerias looking for a flexible and scalable point-of-sale system with standout features such as API access, inventory management, and a custom pizza builder.

7. TouchBistro

TouchBistro is an all-in-one restaurant management solution that helps restaurants with inventory, menu engineering, guest tracking, and floor management. It also has a built-in CRM system so restaurants can upsell and cross-sell to guests. The software integrates with popular third parties such as:

• QuickBooks
• FreshBooks
• Mailchimp
• Google Analytics

TouchBistro plans to start at $69 monthly and offer additional services as add-ons. These include loyalty programs, online ordering, gift cards, marketing, and reservations. 

Who should use it: Restaurants that want comprehensive features for restaurant management should choose TouchBistro.

8. Revel

Revel is a POS system that’s built for iPad users. It offers restaurant-specific features such as:

• Online ordering
• Table management
• Drive-thru
• Delivery management
• Multi-location management

Its open API makes integration with third parties easy. Revel plans start at $99 per month (per terminal), provided you order two terminals and sign a three-year contract. You must fill out a quote form for pricing for just one terminal without lengthy contracts. 

Who should use it: Restaurants that want an iPad POS system should choose Revel.

9. Lightspeed

Lightspeed is a cloud-based POS system that’s best for cafes. It offers features such as:

• Table management
• Online ordering
• Gift cards
• Loyalty programs

Lightspeed also has an app store where restaurant owners can integrate with accounting, e-commerce, HR, and marketing tools. Cafes must move quickly, and Lightspeed helps them with its fast checkout feature. This allows customers to pay using:

• Contactless mobile payments
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• Gift cards

Who should use it: Cafes that want a fast checkout should choose Lightspeed.

10. SkyTab

SkyTab is a cost-effective and comprehensive point-of-sale solution for tableside restaurants. It offers a free POS software and hardware package, free installation, and 24/7 support. This eliminates the need for a large upfront investment often seen in POS systems and makes it an attractive option for restaurants looking to replace their current system. You’ll get a lifetime hardware warranty, free paper supplies, and maintenance and service costs. This fee also covers credit card processing, with a one-year merchant services agreement and no early termination fees. 

Your processing rate depends on several factors, including:

• Your industry
• Average ticket
• Processing volume
• Credit

It is difficult to compare apples to apples. However, its attractive monthly pricing is worth a second look. It includes its online ordering solution at the monthly price, allowing restaurants to accept online orders through their branded website and integrate the orders into the POS system. 

Who should use it: SkyTab is best for tableside restaurants looking for a cost-effective and feature-rich POS system with free software, hardware, installation, and 24/7 support.

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• Best POS for Food Truck

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. Our 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
• Multi-location enterprises

We offer end-to-end service, from smart consultation and interactive demos to local installation and 24/7 support. 

iPad POS Systems

Our 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, we ensure your POS system grows with your business. 

Choose the Right POS System for Your Business

Trust our expertise to help you avoid the common pitfall that affects 38% of new business owners who choose the wrong POS system. Whether managing a busy restaurant, a local café, or operating a multi-location business, The POS Exchange delivers customized POS system solutions that tell your unique business story. 

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