Beyond the POS: What To Look for in a Restaurant Management System

Do you want to find a way to simplify operations for your staff and improve reporting for yourself? To create customer loyalty and a steady flow of repeat diners who remain loyal to your bar or restaurant, you should pay close attention to the inner workings of your business and how they influence the guest experience and, ultimately, your profitability.

Before we begin, here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Am I ensuring our internal processes and workflows are efficient from the front of the house to the kitchen to the back office?
• Are my workers overextended with tasks and struggling with their workload?
• Does my restaurant have a history of wait times and customer complaints?
• Are my employees or customers experiencing frequent inconveniences? If so, what are the contributing factors?
• Can I access my reports outside my restaurant, from home, or while traveling?
• What happens if our internet connection goes down during a busy service?

If you're noticing a trend in workflow inefficiency, it's time to implement new systems that will allow your business to boost productivity and keep customers happy. 

To address this inefficiency, focus on convenience. You want to provide an easy and seamless experience for your staff and customers. Guests are more likely to visit your restaurant or bar if you can deliver a hassle-free experience. You can reduce employee turnover rates by implementing systems that support your staff and cut their workload in half! 

If your servers are still working with a traditional cash register or scribbling orders on a notepad, your systems are outdated, which leads to errors and inefficiency. The good news? You can take your business to the next level and improve profitability and efficiency with the right restaurant management system. 

A POS Saves Your Restaurant Time and Money

You need to be smart with your time and resources when running a business. That's where a POS system saves time and maximizes resources. This software tracks detailed sales analytics, giving you insight into your most and least popular menu items. With this information, you can develop new strategies to highlight less popular dishes or swap them out for another option. In addition, changing or reducing your menu can lower inventory costs, ensuring you don't overbuy items when you don't need to! 

A POS system also saves employees' and customers' time by automating the ordering and paying process, making it a stress-free experience for everyone involved, which is what you need to maximize profits and performance.

You Can Check in Any Time, Anywhere

A cloud-based reporting system is an effortless way for you to gain peace of mind.  A cloud-based POS reporting software gives you access to reports and data from any device and helps you stay on top of your business.  For example, if you're traveling and need to check in on today’s sales report, you can pull out your phone and take a look at your latest analytics. 

Total Touch POS is a hybrid POS system that offers onsite data entry at your restaurant or bar and a cloud reporting platform. 

Reduces Staff Error

As with all restaurants, mistakes will happen from time to time. Unfortunately, these mistakes can increase,  lowering your restaurant's profits when left unaddressed and dissatisfied customers.

That’s where a POS system comes in. With the help of this system, you can minimize unnecessary errors. Most POS platforms calculate sales activity, making it easy for you to hold team members accountable for their work. Allow your system to automate costs and manage inventory, so your staff can focus on what matters most — providing a personable experience for your guests!

Receive Accurate Business Reports

A POS system provides valuable analytics, such as low stock count, top-selling items, and peak hours, allowing you to make well-informed decisions that will help grow your restaurant or bar. You can use the data to update your menu, adjust happy hours, and guide your inventory records. It's an efficient option for keeping you on track with your business goals – without additional effort! 

A POS System Enhances Customer Experience

Customers appreciate a smooth experience (and a POS system can give them just that!). Simplifying the ordering and payment process is one way you can make the experience easier for those hoping to order from your restaurant. Look for POS and restaurant management software that offers mobile, contactless, and web ordering capabilities.

The ideal systems also have options for purchasing gift cards and implementing a loyalty program, so you can encourage your guests to come back for a visit. 

A POS system improves guests' in-person and online experiences and simplifies restaurant management. A win-win!

As the boss, you have a full plate, from hiring staff to managing inventory to keeping an eye on sales. But what if you had an automated system to complete these tasks? You could focus on your priorities without dealing with non-essential tasks while providing more decisive leadership for your team. A POS system can transform your operations, take the pressure off your shoulders, and simplify workflows for you and your staff!

11 Ways Restaurant Management Software Benefits Your Business

There are many reasons why top-performing establishments use a restaurant management system. Even bars and restaurants with a small staff will benefit from a restaurant management system! POS software provides tools that streamline business processes. Discover how a restaurant management system can improve your business and boost efficiency. 

1. Manages Your Inventory and Reduces Food Waste

Manually tracking ingredients and inventory is inefficient and leads to errors. Instead of managing your stock and ordering supplies, you can rely on a robust POS system to maintain your inventory and predict how long your supply will last based on your restaurant or bar’s past data.

Automated tracking software also reduces food waste by monitoring inventory and letting you know what you need versus blindly overbuying stock in bulk. The USDA Food Waste FAQs estimates the restaurant industry loses $162 billion annually due to wasted food – a POS system will ensure you aren’t losing profits from waste-related factors.

2. Assists With Portion Sizes and Overpouring

During peak hours, it's easy to slip up and accidentally provide a larger portion size than permitted. With a built-in integrated scale, POS software can guide your kitchen staff to serve appropriate portion sizes to your diners, regardless of how busy things get. 

Some POS systems offer pour-control features for bars, so your staff can dispense the correct amount of alcohol every single time. This key feature is a favorite among bar owners because it helps manage inventory and reduce theft!

According to Glimpse Corp, overpouring and spilling are the main contributors to alcohol waste in bars, leading to an average loss of six ounces per liter. You may not be able to avoid spilling, but you can prevent overpouring!

Total Touch POS version 2.5.2 and above reduces errors for overpouring, ensuring your beverages get made correctly, so you can rest easy knowing your profit isn’t at risk.

3. Keep Customers Happy With Loyalty Programs

Many POS systems include a loyalty program, which allows you to connect with guests, boost customer engagement, and promote top-selling dishes. Loyalty programs may consist of the following:

• Mobile loyalty programs improve online ordering and can advertise your latest specials. 
• Gift cards act as a pre-paid treat and encourage guests to return to your restaurant or bar. 
• Loyalty point rewards systems allow customers to earn rewards through previous purchases, such as an appetizer half off or a free dessert. 

The right system will integrate a loyalty program and offer rewards for frequent purchases. You can encourage customers to order house favorites and thank them for their loyalty with a specific dollar amount or percentage off. Utilizing programs like this make guests feel valued and more inclined to return.

4. Effectively Manages Your Team

Managing a staff is no easy feat, especially when you're short on workers or have employees let you know they can’t come in at the last minute. Scheduling issues can lead to a domino effect of service delays, poor-quality service and food, and unimpressed guests. These are all things you need to avoid to build customer loyalty! Luckily, a POS system can accommodate scheduling, which makes the process of scheduling less challenging.

Your business can depend on a POS system to manage staff scheduling, track employee time, and calculate payroll hours. This system will provide a stress-free experience for your customers (and you)! 

5. Keeps Track of Sales Trends

As a busy restaurant owner, you don't have time to track every sales performance manually, but what if you didn't have to?

Instead of profits suffering due to guesswork, you can use this data from a POS system to take action and adjust your menu with profit in mind. For example, suppose customers aren't ordering spaghetti and meatballs. In that case, you may consider promoting the dish more as a daily special or replacing it entirely with a new special created by your chef. 

A POS system also gives you historical data on what’s popular on holidays and during different seasons, so you can better cater to customers.

Total Touch generates real-time reports and provides insight into customer-favorite menu items, unpopular dishes, and ingredients requiring replacements.

6. Helps You Make Informed Decisions

Aay goodbye to blind business decisions. A POS solution caters to the restaurant manager’s needs, showcasing patterns in your restaurant or bar. These patterns help you make effective decisions to improve your restaurant's service, productivity, and revenue. No more wondering if what you’re doing is the most brilliant move for your business!

For example, a POS system records peak performance hours, which can help determine if you need to reduce staff or promote happy hours to encourage more customers to dine during less busy hours. 

7. Establishes an Efficient Invoice and Payment Process

A POS system is your right-hand man, managing business details like purchases and accounting operations. It also creates a seamless paying process, offering customers the choice to receive their receipts in person or through email – an update many of your patrons will appreciate! If your guests request the email option, your software can save their contact information, so you can send follow-up emails and encourage them to return.   

8. Secures Customer Data

With a robust security feature, a POS system protects your patrons' information from outside intruders. It’s important to note that with the popularity of POS systems,  there’s been an increase in cyber-attacks and data thefts. As a result, many companies are implementing fraud detection technology to reduce risks with POS gateways.

Customers visit restaurants and bars they trust – not ones that bombard their phone and email or share their information online. You can create a better relationship with your guests by ensuring their data is safe. For instance, many management systems provide double-user authentication, reducing security breach risks. Keeping your patrons and their information safe should be a priority, and your POS system can help you do so!

9. Keeps Your Business Organized

Being organized is the best way to optimize your restaurant's operations and keep guests satisfied. Unfortunately, many restaurant and bar owners manually track their records, which can be time-consuming and exhausting. Instead of recording everything on your own and double-checking your data, a POS system automatically tracks your inventory, sales, and customer preferences, saving you from long hours spent pouring over your notepad.

10. Boosts Business Reputation

A positive reputation entices those throughout your community to visit your restaurant. You can give customers a positive first impression by reducing wait times and creating a seamless Checkout process with a POS system. A hassle-free and enjoyable experience will impress your guests, making them want to return for more.

11. Regular Software Updates

In the same way, your care requires maintenance, and regular system updates are necessary to keep your POS operating at peak performance. These updates enhance restaurant software by fixing bugs and adding new features to improve your bottom line. With the right POS system, you’ll gain access to tech support should you ever encounter any issues.

For the personal service you deserve, find a POS dealer in your area who will help you configure and implement a POS system like Total Touch POS.

Visit the Total Touch Dealer Directory »

Offers Security Features 

A security breach is a recipe for disaster for customers and can damage your reputation. So, when comparing processing partners and their POS hardware solutions, we recommend looking for the following features:

• EMV-Chip Readers: This feature utilizes technology to reduce fraud and protect customers and merchants (like you!) against any security breaches. 
• PCI: This is a standard security feature, providing a secure environment for restaurants and bars to process, save, or transmit credit card information.

Marketing Through Loyalty Programs 

As a busy restaurant owner, you don't always have time to market your business adequately. After all, marketing is already a full-time gig on its own! The good news is many POS partners provide loyalty programs, which market house favorites through gift cards, point rewards systems, and mobile loyalty programs. A restaurant loyalty program is a great way to nurture relationships with customers and reward them for returning to your business!

Payment Processing Options 

Look for a POS partner who provides alternative payment processing options, like contactless pay, access to multiple credit cards, and cash. For example, Total Touch POS is powered by Electronic Merchant Services (EMS), an industry leader that optimizes the paying process, ensuring your customers have a stellar checkout experience.

One of our favorite EMS features is mobile processing, which allows your business to service guest payments without using traditional credit or debit cards. Total Touch is compatible with most restaurant merchant services providers and offers competitive credit card processing rates through Total Touch Payments.