Is It Necessary To Have A Restaurant Point of Sale (POS) System?

Aug. 4, 2009 - PRLog -- *  POS or Point of Sale.

Is a type of system built for the restaurant and retail industry, where it can provide satisfaction to both the customers and owners. This computerized system allows business owners to track sales, cash flow, food inventory and can help simplify your bookkeeping enormously. Why it’s good for a restaurant: The high volume of cash and credit cards that pass through a restaurant each day make a POS system a necessary. POS systems doesn't only track your sales but it can also run useful programs the the ones that can process credit cards. This makes the swiping of credit cards faster and safer for your customers as well as your staff. Servers are accountable for all their sales, and it is impossible to alter checks in the computer unless you have an access. This helps cut down on employee theft.

   * Benefits of a restaurant POS system

One benefit of a POS system is that it simplifies communications between the kitchen and the waiter. Orders are taken then sent through the computer directly to the kitchen printer. Another great benefit of a restaurant POS programs is that it can track everything from food usage, to the most popular menu items. Because POS system can act as a time clock, it can also help prepare payroll. It can save you you a lot of money in your bookkeeping department. Along with the daily operations of running a restaurant, a POS system can organize profit and loss statement and sales tax.

   * Any reasons NOT to use a restaurant POS system?

The most obvious drawback to any POS system is that it is a computer, and subject to all the same technological whims. If it happens to crash and you don’t have a back up, then you risk losing all your data, not just sales, but profit and loss statements and payroll statements. Important stuff that the IRS may want to examine some day. So, always have a backup.

   * Do you need an extended warranty?

Remember all that money you saved on bookkeeping? You may end up spending it on your tech guy, to help set up the POS and perform any trouble shooting. A POS system doesn’t have the same life span as good old fashioned cash register. You will need to replace parts, update software and eventually need to replace it entirely with a new model. New POS systems come with limited warranties and tech support, but just like every other piece of equipment, the problems always seem to start after the warranty has run out. For these kinds of problems, you may also need to buy extra tech support.

   * Need help from some of the most popular software providers?

There are many restaurant POS sofware providers.

• Aldelo
• Digital Dining
• POSitouch
• Radiant Systems
• Squirrel Systems

If you are planning a very small operation, such as bagel or sandwich shop, you may not need a POS system at opening time, especially if you aren’t going to take credit cards (and there are plenty of places that still don’t accept credit cards). However, if you are planning of expanding your business, then you may want to consider planning everything first before buying POS systems.

For more details about restaurant POS systems or to have a local POS professional serving the restaurant industry, you may visit http://pos-for-restaurants.com

# # #

Searching for the best Restaurant POS System Solution for your business?
We're a National network of POS System Solution Experts who offer better value and features than most "Major National Suppliers"!