Let’s be real. You started your own F&B business because you are passionate about food and you wanted to serve food so good that it brings people together. It might not have occured to you that running a business is not only about serving delicious food but also dealing with the nitty gritty, mundane chore of managing your daily operations. What if we tell you that there are technologies that will help you with your day-to-day operations so that you can concentrate on what you do best?
Now, have I got your attention? Here we go! Before the emergence of smart technology, most restaurant point-of-sale (POS) systems were just limited to cash registers. Today, it has become a system that is as intricate as the central nervous system in the body, controlling almost every activity within your restaurant.
Considering the important role a POS system has on your food establishment, it is imperative that you choose the best POS system for your restaurant in Singapore. However, given the variety of POS systems, choosing the right one may seem like a daunting task.
In this article, we will discuss the five questions you should ask and factors to consider when choosing a POS system for your restaurant, and some of the things you should know about Qashier’s smart POS system.
- What are the features available?
As superficial as this question may be, different types of businesses have different needs for a POS system. So before you start looking for a specific restaurant POS system, come up with a list of features that your food business needs. For instance, multi-employee access or table management to ensure a smooth operation.
Additionally, several universal features are must-haves for a POS system such as to tally and track checkouts, track cash in the drawer, access to data, a clock-in system for employees, inventory tracking and automated ordering options, and integration with third-party software.
- How much does it cost?
Cost is an important aspect for any big purchase like the POS system as you need to consider its benefits and its longevity. After all, this isn’t something you want to replace frequently.
Most POS systems come with features which can be broken into several categories – hardware, software, integrations, payment processing, and service and support. Each of these can affect the overall cost of your restaurant POS system, so you must consider which feature is important to your business before investing in one.
- Is it user-friendly?
The restaurant POS system will be something you use daily, so it has to be one that you or your employees are comfortable with. There are a few ways to make sure that you get a POS system that’s user-friendly – test the system by making use of free trials or talk to other establishments in the industry to find out how the system works for them.
A user-friendly POS system should be easy to set up and a pleasure to use. From taking your customer’s orders to sending them to the kitchen, you need to examine the system from all angles. If you can, try to see the POS system in action before buying.
- What type of data is accessible?
A restaurant POS system should be able to provide a variety of reports at a short notice. If you’re curious about the daily sales, you can simply click a button and print the report. And if you want to monitor your employees’ tardiness, a POS system with an employee clock-in system can provide you with the exact times of your employees checking in and out.
Aside from that, a POS system should also provide you with easy access to data that can help you make informed decisions for your food business as well as to ensure the smooth operations of your establishment.
- What kind of payments can you accept?
As we gradually evolve into a cashless society, there’s a growing demand for cashless payment options. For instance, the pandemic has exemplified this move as more and more Singaporeans are using their smartphone to pay for a purchase or service at checkout.
For this reason, you will need a POS system that accepts both credit cards and e-wallets to ensure a smooth payment process while minimising any inconvenience both to your establishment and your customers.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a POS System for a Restaurant
Along with the questions above, you also need to consider some of the following factors when choosing a POS system for your restaurant in Singapore.
Quality of the software
Doing some online research into a POS system’s software will go a long way in helping you decide which POS system is the best for your restaurant. After all, you want to make sure that you’re investing in the best quality software that won’t cause your establishment any problems or setbacks.
Availability of offline system
Wireless technology is certainly a boon to our lives but there are times when the signal becomes weak or the ethernet cord gets accidentally plugged out. The last thing you want to do during peak hours is having to set the connection back up before you can send any orders to the kitchen. Hence, the availability of an offline system is crucial to keep your business running.
Reliability
If your restaurant tends to get busy in the evenings and weekends, a slow POS terminal can affect how quickly you can take orders and shorten the waiting time. To prevent this, you need to ensure that the software and hardware provided is reliable.
Integration with delivery platforms
Delivery companies like GrabFood, Deliveroo, and FoodPanda often rely on their own app integrations to send and pick up orders from your restaurant. However, if you choose a POS system that can integrate with these delivery platforms, it will mean more business for your restaurant and a smooth ordering process for your customers.
Table management feature
If your restaurant is a busy spot during lunch or dinner time, a POS system equipped with table management and reservation functions can greatly ease the waiting line outside of your restaurant. Imagine being able to track the reservations and the orders each customer has ordered. It will be a splendid dining experience for your customers.
With a smart POS system like Qashier, the questions you have above will be resolved as the features you need like table management are integrated into an all-in-one package, with an initial cost of only $1/day. On top of that, it’ll help your food establishment run smarter and smoother while growing your food sales.
Qashier also comes with an integrated payment processing system. With just one terminal, you’ll be able to accept every type of payment from Paywave to credit cards and e-wallets such as PayNow.
Speak to us to see if Qashier’s Smart POS can meet your business needs. Schedule a meeting with us here, call us at (+65) 3165 0155, WhatsApp (+65) 8882 8912, or email [email protected].