The Point of Sale (POS) software has always been the heart of every restaurant as it helps organize, manage and track restaurant operations efficiently. But gone are the days when it was limited to open-and-close cash registers. It is no longer restricted to just printing out bills.

With the advancement of technology, the modern-day POS is a robust software that takes care of your entire restaurant management requirements.

Features like inventory management, and automatic billing, etc have simplified restaurant management like never before.

However, selecting the best POS system for restaurants can be challenging as there are many players in the market. Figuring out what specific features are must-haves for your restaurant can narrow down your search and simplify the process of selecting a POS software.

So to make your job easier, here are the points that you should consider while choosing the best POS system for your restaurant.

User-friendliness

Most point-of-sale systems come with basic functionality such as the ability to monitor sales, accept payments, keep up with customer data, and streamline your restaurant’s inventory management.

All POS systems should be designed with ease-of-use and efficiency in mind, but not all POS software are built equally.

Each POS software comes with its own layout, user interface, and operating system. So select the one that you or your employees can easily navigate, and doesn’t come with a steep learning curve.

If your POS system is hard to navigate, it doesn’t matter even if the software comes with powerful features. It cuts into time your business could be using to grow and make revenue. Features should take minutes, not hours, to navigate.

Also, figure out if the POS system is hard to set up, requires expensive on-site installation, and the amount of time required to spend configuring hardware.

The best POS system for restaurants is plug-and-play. From unpacking to working POS station, you can start taking orders within an hour.

The POS system you plan to go for should also make it easy to place an order.

Is it easy to set up your menu?

Are the buttons intuitive enough?

Can you customize the buttons to your requirements?

If the answer is ‘YES’ to all of the questions, you are in good hands.

Hardware Reliability

The best POS system for restaurants hardly crashes and allows you to customize it to quicken your business transactions. This helps you make sure that you don’t wind up losing valuable time and money.

Look for POS software that allows you to use your own reliable hardware. It gives your the flexibility in using and customizing the system.

While some POS systems work only with vendor-specific hardware, other ones enable you to use a tablet or other device that was bought through a third-party provider to access the POS software. These third-party devices include barcode scanners, receipt printers, or any other hardware you may already have and rely on.

Vendor-provided POS hardware comes with seamless functionality between your devices but restricts the types of devices you can use. By selecting a POS software that allows for both personal and manufacturer hardware, you can use whatever devices you want in a smoother way.
Security

Your POS system may come with a plethora of features but none of those will matter if your customers’ private payment isn’t secure enough. Any system that allows payments comes with a risk.

To choose the best POS system for restaurants, start with industry regulations and standards concerning security. For example, it should follow PCI compliance. Also, look for the following features:

● Encryption – Encryption makes sure that unauthorized users like hackers and scammers cannot read your customers’ data while it’s being relayed digitally.

● Tokenization – Tokenization keep the payment information secure for post-authorization transactions such as recurring payments and tips.

● EMV technology – Chip card technology is becoming popular because it’s news and can prevent fraud. So make sure the POS system accepts chip cards.

● Anti-fraud services – The payment process service provider you plan to go for should have a team dedicated to anti-fraud services.

● Breach protection– The POS system should come with additional financial protections that help restrict breaches.

So, do you have any questions about selecting the best POS system for restaurants?