Technology at the Point of Sale

Imagine the lunch rush at a busy casual restaurant. The line is moving slowly while employees manage taking counter orders, making food, and answering questions. As a customer, you are getting frustrated. As an employee, you are flustered and wondering why you do this to yourself everyday. Everyone, both employees and customers, are being snappy and less kind than usual.

This scene plays out across restaurants all over the world every single day of the week. It’s been some version of this for decades. However, things have changed, and it doesn’t have to be so stressful any more.

Point of Sale (POS) software has evolved and changed. Now, restaurants and other retail businesses can let their customers enter their own order, checkout, and pay without an employee.

What is POS Software?

POS software is technology that is used during the checkout process. It is often aware of the inventory system, when applicable, and cloud based. Generally, POS software manages all of the important information for a business.

Unlike old checkout systems which required large hardware, POS software can often be run from a tablet that both employees and customers can easily manage. Since everything is stored on the cloud, the technology is run using apps and programs that can easily be uploaded to tablets.

Increasing Efficiency

The opening story is pretty typical of many restaurants. Multiple employees doing multiple tasks just trying to survive the busiest hours of the week. POS software changes that. It frees up employees to do the important work: answering customer questions, making quality food, and managing the restaurant.

It also allows customers to control their selection experience. They can easily see all of the options on a screen and make choices with full knowledge. Imagine how much time employees can save when they don’t have to list all of the salad dressing options three times!

More Payment Options

As digital money options grow through platforms like PayPal, Cash, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Zelle, amongst others, customers are demanding more payment options. Cloud-based POS systems make these options possible. It offers options that customers believe are more secure, less of a hassle, and easier to track. It reduces paper receipts and often offers text or email options.
POS systems can still take traditional debit and credit cards as well as cash transactions (if the business offers this option), but the expansion to include digital based financial platforms increases customer satisfaction and improves the experience.

Reporting

Most POS systems can do so much more than improve the checkout experience. They provide information about cost of goods sold, sales, profits, employee hours, stock turnover, and more. Because everything is stored on a cloud you can check in on these reports from home, vacation, or the office. It increases flexibility (fewer 1:00 AM nights at the office) for both managers and employees. Most importantly, the systems will increase accuracy in reporting since it is all automated.

As businesses move to these POS systems it is important to really see and evaluate their benefits. Companies like BizSwoop offer this service alongside complementary services that contribute to a more technologically focused and streamlined business. Condensing business services and moving them to a cloud system saves money, increases efficiency and accuracy, and gives you more control over reporting and information.