With the advancement in technology, the scope for restaurant automation has further widened. Restaurant POS software has now become an essential asset to restaurant operators. These days, they are not limited to billing operations, they offer end-to-end restaurant management and business intelligence functions that would have required dedicated ERP software in the past.
In this article, we have put together a comprehensive feature guide to help you buy the best restaurant POS for your needs. Having the right features in your software will help you run your business better and provide better ROI.
5 Must-Have Restaurant POS Features
If you are a restaurant operator, here are some of the extremely crucial features that a POS must-have.
1. Cloud Technology
While buying a restaurant POS, one of the most important features you must look for is cloud technology. Many restaurant operators still utilize traditional on-premise POS software which makes them prone to data loss and system breakdown. When you use cloud technology, you have all operations in your control. The ease of access it provides is another key advantage From anywhere in the world, you can track your outlet’s performance on any internet-enabled device. There is no likelihood of losing data as it is backed up on a remote server. This means your data is intact despite connectivity or device failures. Thus, a cloud POS is more flexible and adaptable.
2. Inventory Management Module
Inventory management is one of the indispensable aspects of restaurant management. Introducing automation to inventory management is proven to reduce inventory costs due to wastage in the back- and front-of-the-house. In highly competitive markets, for instance, the UAE, poor inventory management can lead to the failure of restaurant businesses.
A robust inventory management system keeps a check on recurring food costs by automating inventory tracking and sends alerts when new purchase orders are to be made thereby keeping your restaurant from running out of stock in crucial times.
3. Detailed Reports
Detailed performance reports are an important asset to any business. In restaurant businesses, you need detailed reports to gauge your restaurant business performance and profitability. Diving deeper into a restaurant’s statistics is essential to make the required improvisations to the menu and operations.
A cloud POS provides real-time reports of all outlets in one single place at any given point in time. Leveraging the daily, weekly, and monthly reports, you can analyze your sales revenue and operating costs. For example, an in-depth analysis of item-wise and ingredient-wise reports can help you optimize your menu pricing and inventory costs.
4. Third-party Integrations
With online ordering on the rise, more and more restaurants are now adopting the use of third-party integrations. When we talk about new restaurant operators, it is highly essential for them to integrate with third-party food aggregators to expand their reach and cater to more customers. A robust restaurant POS enables restaurants to integrate incoming orders from multiple third-party sources and deliver them efficiently. Not just this, a robust POS software that supports thor-party integrations also allows the restaurants to integrate with payment apps like Razorpay, delivery valet tracking apps like Roadcast, etc. Therefore, you must always invest in a POS that supports third-party integrations.
5. CRM Module
Customers are the backbone of a restaurant business. All you do for your business is done keeping the customers in mind. Understanding customer behaviour on a deeper level is essential to create personalized offers, rewards and discounts, building customer loyalty. One of the most important restaurant POS features is a robust CRM module that mines the customer data stored centrally on your POS and comes up with strategic insights.
You can use the CRM module to segment your customers and run targeted campaigns via SMSs, emails and notifications. Furthermore, you can incentivize your loyal customers with the assistance of tier-based and point-based loyalty programs. Understanding the demographics helps you analyze what your customers might prefer the most, thereby helping you optimize your menu.
Introducing automation across different restaurant functions tends to streamline operations, which is extremely important to run a successful restaurant business. Consider these restaurant POS features before making a purchase for your business.
