Point of Sale
The core of our all-in-one restaurant management system
From food trucks to FSRs, get the POS built for restaurants.
By Christina Wilson
An electronic point of sale (EPOS) is a computerised system that brings together many core aspects of restaurant management, including financial transactions, stock control, and staff management. This technology has become popular in the digital age; however, it can be tricky to find the best EPOS system for your restaurant.
Traditional POS systems can be cumbersome and expensive, while cloud POS systems rely heavily on a stable Internet connection.
Luckily, there is a third option that can save you a lot of trouble.
A hybrid EPOS system offers the best of both worlds.
In this article, we’ll cover:
Let’s get started!
Restaurant owners have three main types of EPOS system to consider:
Let’s learn a little about each system.
A legacy point-of-sale system is an older model that doesn’t rely on the Internet. These traditional systems store data on a local server.
Your cash register would be in the restaurant, and the transaction data is collected and run through a closed internal network, which sends everything to a local server computer in your back office.
A cloud point-of-sale is an online EPOS system that stores data on a remote server.
A Cloud POS system stores all your restaurant business data in the cloud. This has advantages over legacy systems, as you can access the data from anywhere with an Internet connection.
Research indicates more than 60% of merchants want their next POS system to be cloud-based. The problem is that if the connection fails, your data will not update automatically, and you won’t be able to perform certain functions.
So, considering the limitations of a cloud POS and traditional POS, it’s clear that neither is perfect. A better solution is needed.
It’s time to look at a hybrid system.
The hybrid point-of-sale system consists of two separate elements:
A hybrid EPOS system is effectively the best of both worlds, in that it offers the flexibility of the cloud and the stability of a local server. This offers restaurant owners in the UK several great benefits. Here are seven big benefits of going with a hybrid EPOS
Imagine this: It’s Saturday night, and your restaurant is jam-packed.
Suddenly, an unexpected power cut knocks out your Internet connection, and with it, your point-of-sale system. With over 100 customers waiting to be served, you’re powerless to help.
Literally.
With a hybrid system, you can embrace the innovation of the cloud, but rest assured that you have the stability of a local server. Therefore, you don’t need the Internet. All data will be saved on the local server. Once the power is re-established, it will resync with the cloud. Your customers might have to eat by candle light, but you can still serve their drinks and dessert through your EPOS.
This added security gives you great peace of mind. Even if circumstances take out your wifi connection, the show will go on.
You might not be too worried about dodgy Wifi in your restaurant, but when customers whip out their card to pay you, that poor connection quickly becomes your problem.
Thankfully, a hybrid system can save you.
You can process payments offline or in any potential dead Wifi zones, such as in a basement venue or outdoor seating area.
Staff won’t have to run up and down the stairs trying to find the best signal, as they can get on with their job on the separate connection. They’ll just have to watch out for marauding customers trying to find WiFi to upload their Instagram shot of your amazing dishes.
You might not be too worried about dodgy wifi in your restaurant, but when customers want to sit right at the back of your beer garden and order food, a cloud connection soon becomes your problem.
Thankfully a hybrid system can save you.
Thanks to the superior local network a hybrid system provides, your server can take orders at your most remote tables and instantly send the order to the kitchen.
Staff won’t have to run back and forth to place orders, they’ll just have to watch out for marauding customers trying to find wifi to upload their Instagram shot of your amazing dishes.
It can get tedious having to travel to your restaurant just to check up on things on the server computer.
Anytime you want to look over financial transactions, whether it’s to update your menu or get a quick peek at last night’s takings, then you need to physically go there and find out.
This is the digital age – why make things harder than they need to be?
With the flexibility of cloud access, you can run some sales reports from your living room, or even check in on the business when you’re sipping sangria in Tenerife.
The old buildings in the UK don’t just have dense walls – they also tend to lack space for the hardware you need with a legacy POS system.
One reason that a hybrid system is the best restaurant EPOS is because of its incredibly compact size.
The mini-computer is a petite square box about 7-inches wide by 1-inch high, which can easily be mounted on the wall of your bar. Armed with a cable-free Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, this takes up very little space.
The system is completed by a desktop monitor that acts as your backroom POS server. Similarly, it doesn’t require much room, leaving you with fewer worries about accommodating a load of bulky hardware.
The restaurant industry has high employee turnover, with staff retention levels hovering around 70% – significantly lower than the 85% UK average.
You don’t need to be wasting time constantly putting new employees through their paces with a complex training program.
Thankfully, you don’t have to do this. An EPOS with a smooth interface makes it easier for you to train new employees and keep your staff happy.
The right software is only made better by great hardware.
You want to run your business on hardware that’s reliable and easy-to-use. If your tech is constantly failing you, you’ll spend more fixing your hardware than fixing up dishes. Knowing what hardware your POS system is compatible with while deciding on a provider is key.Because when you pair your hybrid system with reliable hardware, it makes an even more powerful tool for your business.
You need technology that can evolve with your business. The right EPOS does just that.
Choose a hybrid EPOS with regular updates and you’ll have a scalable system that grows alongside your business. While considering POS options, ask about how regularly the software is updated and avoid working with a system that isn’t meeting your needs a few months down the road.
The hybrid EPOS system offers you the reliability of a legacy system and the flexibility of a cloud POS. It’s more reliable, secure, and scalable.
Simply put, it’s built for businesses that want to grow in the digital age.
If you want to grow your restaurant, it’s time for you to get a hybrid system.
Christina spent her 20’s in the food and beverage industry, primarily front of house, but also in sales and marketing roles for independent restaurants and hotel groups. She joined TouchBistro’s UK team in 2018. Her favourite restaurant is Cornerstone by Tom Brown.
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