Reasons Why You Should Use A Restaurant POS System

Sept. 9, 2009 - PRLog -- Answers to your most common questions about Restaurant Point of Sale Systems

Why abandon paper records?

Everybody knows that recording data by hand eats your time, now imagine recording business transactions by hand, you'll think it'll probably take you weeks or even months. And it still doesn't include the time to copy all the data into a spreadsheet or database for further analysis! If you don't want to waste anymore of your valuable time on these, try using a POS system that will record all your sales, taxes,inventory, etc. so you can concentrate on the other needs of your business. While POS takes an investment to get started, the time savings and productivity increase more than the expenses you make.

I don't have an experience with programming. Will I still be able to use a POS system?

You should be able to handle a POS system with no problems. Have your POS vendor help you in setting up the software to perform tasks as you want it to be. And then be able to navigate a POS system's menu easily. When your POS vendor sets you up, they will provide full training for you and your employees on how to operate a POS system. And if there's any problem with the system, a POS customer service professional is just a phone call away!

What are the proper equipments I should use to get set up?

POS customers need a phone connection, Internet access, and working electrical outlets. If you already have these, then your POS vendor will be able to set you up in no time! Most vendors will provide you with computers as part of their packages so you don't have to tire yourself looking for the best computer to install your POS software.

Can POS help me prevent theft?

POS systems have multiple tools that can help you accomplish this. There are various applications which allows you to accurately track items in your inventory for you to have an exact estimation of how much profit you should expect at every sale, as well as be able to pinpoint problems within the business. If there are conflicts on the sales reports, you'll know immediately so you can be informed and be able to take actions.

Relying on POS system to handle my sales and manage my inventory?

Both can be handled by your POS with no problems! You can enter your daily transactions AND check inventory… but that’s just the beginning! POS terminal and software also allows you to track sales performance, allows you to generate reports, set up reminders for inventory that’s about to empty, and plan future sales campaigns. Use your collected customer data to target effective sales campaigns and fill your shelves with their mostly purchased items.

When is the best time to use wireless?

If you're a business person on the go, especially doing tradeshows or processing orders in a restaurant, it's best if you use wireless technology. With this, you can easily process any transaction without having to go back to a POS terminal.

A flat-screen LCD monitor or a CRT monitor?

You can get more benefits using LCD monitors over to CTR monitors, and of course it also depends on the work environment. They will last much longer, they don’t require as much electricity, and they take up less space. Plus, they are far more attractive. CRT screens would be fine for low volume sales and if you are not really sure that POS fits your business. But with the additional benefits afforded to flat screens, there will be little cost difference between the two.

When it comes to printers: should I use a thermal printer or a dot matrix printer?

You'll find that most businesses choose to use thermal printers since they have less moving parts so it’s less likely to break down. It’s also the only option if you are going to work wirelessly. However, dot matrix printers are safer choices in hospitality kitchens since the heat from the ovens, grills, and fryers could warp thermal paper and ink.

What will happen if my POS breaks down during business?

This is why back ups are so important for any type of business. System failures can happen any time – power outages, system crashes, viruses, natural disasters, etc. By implementing a backup solution (preferably offsite so your critical files is protected), you ensure the system is always up and running when you need it the most. What's more important about backing up, you can ensure that you can retrieve all customer information, your sales figures and reports that you've saved prior to the crash.

How about customer support?

Well, customer support vary from vendor to vendor, so there isn't a simple answer to this question. While one might have round-the-clock telephone support and local repair technicians, others may only have phone support during normal business hours and can only schedule repair requests a full day in advance.

This is one of the key advantages to meeting with multiple vendors during your POS search, look into the offerings of different vendors, take time evaluating each, and make a straight decision before buying.

What if I have multiple locations?

For business owners having several POS systems in many locations have two options. First, you can have each location operate independently with its own POS terminals and software. Then send their reports over to the corporate offices at the end of the day or each week.

For the second option, you can have all their POS terminals connected to one server so you can easily upload and download data in real time. What you'll benefit from option number two is that it's available remotely. But, since several POS terminals will be working on the same server, expect backlogs when sending information all at once.

With both solutions, you will be needing a robust back up solution since the central server connects all locations – and if it fails, all locations may shut down its operations.

Will I be needing a license for my POS software?

You typically need an individual license for each terminal hosted on your network. Vendors can offer volume discounts depending on the number of licenses you need.

Should I purchase a service contract?

It’s certainly worth the expense if you want to stay up and running at all times. Once you get set up with a POS system, you will use it for your day-to-day operations and analysis of your business. If your computer breaks or suffered a disaster, you probably don’t want to use it for too long.

Depending on the vendor, a maintenance contract can cost a few hundred dollars per year and provide you with peace of mind so you can concentrate on running and growing your business.

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Need more information or perhaps an online resource?

The author of this article writes for POS-For-Restaurants.com, a VP of Customer Relations with over 20 years experience in restaurant point of sale system, helping restaurant owners nationwide increase their efficiency and bottom-line profits.

You may visit http://www.pos-for-restaurants.com for more information on how our national network of restaurant point of sale experts can help your business achieve greater success in these difficult economic times.

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