1. Easy-to-Use Interface That Minimizes Training Time
High employee turnover in hospitality (nearly 80% annually) makes efficient and easy training crucial.
- Clear buttons, visual menu items, and prompts for modifiers help prevent mistakes.
- A good POS should have features that feel intuitive, familiar, and frustration-free. If employees like using it, they’ll embrace all its features happily.
- An easy interface keeps your technology up-to-date with your fast-paced restaurant, not the other way around.
2. Seamless Order & Table Management for Faster Service
Speed and accuracy in a restaurant directly impact customer satisfaction and table turn times. A single delayed or messed-up order can sour a guest experience.
- Customize your floor plan so hosts can see open tables and servers can manage sections easily.
- Look for flexible check-splitting and item grouping features to handle group bills and special requests.
- Ensure that changes made at the table are instantly updated across terminals.
3. Kitchen Display System (KDS) Integration to Boost Accuracy
Restaurants using KDS cut order errors by up to 90%. If accuracy and speed hold value, KDS integration with your POS is non-negotiable.
- An iPad Smart KDS display means no more missing or soggy paper tickets. Orders pop up in the kitchen instantly and stay until completed.
- Color-coded KDS can help cooks prioritize tasks, ensuring faster, hotter meals.
- In a busy operation, a KDS can split items by station and enable course-by-course firing.
- Many KDS setups track prep times per dish and cook. These insights can help decide on staffing and prep decisions.
4. Tableside and Mobile POS for Service Anywhere
Tableside POS empowers servers with handheld devices to enter orders and process payments on the spot.
- Servers with tablets can send orders instantly from the table, speeding up service and freeing up time.
- With 79% of consumers preferring mobile or contactless options, pay-at-table meets rising guest expectations.
- Your handheld POS should seamlessly integrate with the main system, updating inventory and order status across the board.
5. Online Ordering & Delivery Integration
With online ordering integration, orders from your website or mobile app flow directly into the POS and kitchen, just like dine-in tickets.
- 67% of consumers say they’d rather order directly from a restaurant’s app or website instead of third-party platforms.
- Integrated ordering syncs menus and item availability in real time, so 86’d items update instantly across platforms.
- If you partner with delivery marketplaces, look for integration tools that send those orders right to your POS.
6. Inventory Management to Control Food Costs
75% of U.S. restaurants struggle with profit due to poor food cost control. With POS inventory tracking, you can sync ingredient use with sales, avoiding low stock issues.
- Restaurants doing weekly inventory checks for controlling stock can add 2%–5% to their bottom line.
- Set par levels for key items and get automatic low-stock alerts.
- Tracking inventory in the POS lets you compare theoretical inventory vs. actual counts to prevent employee theft, pilferage, and waste.
7. Advanced Reporting & Analytics for Informed Decisions
Reporting and analytics features turn the raw data of every transaction, order, and interaction into actionable insights. By using a good POS service, you should be able to access a wealth of information easily, at all times.
- AI POS analytics can break down which menu items are your stars (high profit, high popularity) and which are not (low profit, low popularity).
- See sales per labor hour, or which server sells the most desserts. Identify training opportunities or staffing adjustments from this data.
- Many systems (like AireusPOS Reporting & Analytics) even send automated daily summary emails or alerts if certain thresholds are met.
8. Built-In Loyalty and CRM Tools That Boost Customer Retention
Loyalty programs are great for winning new customers and keeping them coming back.
- 65% of a restaurant’s revenue typically comes from repeat customers.
- An efficient POS can directly track everything from customer purchases and reward points to categorize loyal customers.
- Some POS loyalty programs also include gift card activation and redemption.
- Look for customization when choosing a POS system. When you tailor your loyalty program to your and your customers’ needs, you can perform better.
9. Flexible Payment Options (and Contactless Payments)
76% of restaurants have now added mobile pay, and 66% have added tap-to-pay to meet consumer demand for contactless payments. A cash-only system will only leave you behind now, frustrating guests at the final step of their meal.
- Today, 50% of restaurant-goers expect contactless payment options for safety and speed.
- Ensure your POS hardware is EMV-compliant and that the software handles the chip card workflow smoothly.
- Your POS should handle split payments across multiple cards or cash easily.
10. Top-Notch Security and Compliance
90% of data breaches in the hospitality industry involve POS intrusions. If you can’t afford the loss and damages of a data breach, install a secure POS system.
- Ensure the POS and its payment component are PCI-compliant, meaning they meet strict standards for data security.
- Each staff member should log in with their PIN or card, so you can track who did what to prevent mistakes or theft.
- A good system provides automatic backups, preferably off-site/cloud backups for disaster recovery.
- Look for offline mode to protect transaction data if the internet ever drops.
11. Employee Management & Scheduling Integration
With a user-specific ID through the POS, you can regulate your human resources for tighter control. The system can log hours and enforce schedules.
- Your POS can help track things like sales per server, average transaction values, upsell rates, etc., letting you reward high performers and coach those who need improvement.
- If you’re in a tipping environment, the POS should support tip declaration, pooling, etc., as needed.
12. Offline Mode for Uninterrupted Operations
In offline mode, credit card transactions can be authorized later. The POS securely stores card data and then submits it for authorization when back online, allowing guests to pay even if the internet is down.
- Multiple terminals or devices should be able to communicate over a local network. Your POS connectivity suite should include features like a local server or peer-to-peer syncing.
- Key data like menu, prices, and taxes should be stored on the device, so everything runs normally.
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13. Cloud-Based Access and Remote Management
If you have more than one venue, a cloud POS with an enterprise manager console is invaluable.
- Cloud access lets you centrally manage everything and view reports between locations.
- Your cloud POS system should push software updates seamlessly, and usually during off-hours only. This is critical to avoid running into problems while dealing with customers.
14. Customizability and Scalability as You Grow
Every restaurant has its own style and workflow that can evolve over time. That’s why customizability and scalability are key features in a POS system.
- Your POS should allow deep customization of menu prompts, layout, and workflows.
- A good POS features a modular approach when it comes to tools, letting you use only the features that matter to you.
- Scalable POS software will let you replicate settings from one location to another, managing all locations under one login.
15. Reliable Support and Training Resources
Even though it’s more of a service than a feature, it’s crucial to consider the customer support and training resources that your POS provides. Restaurants operate at all hours, and if something goes wrong, you need responsive support to get back on track quickly.
- Top POS providers maintain an online knowledge base with how-to articles and troubleshooting tips.
- The best vendors periodically check in, offer account reviews, and inform you of new features that might benefit you.
