Successful restaurants rely on two main types of technology: their POS system and their back-of-house software. Not only should both programs integrate seamlessly, but your tech should also be uniquely personalized to your restaurant’s specific needs. Here’s what to look for in a POS, and how to pair it with your BOH.
POS System Must Haves
For Customers: Depending on the type of restaurant model, owners and managers need a POS that offers multiple opportunities to engage with customers outside the restaurant itself.
For a formal sit-down restaurant, the ability to make online reservations may be the most important, while a quick-service location might benefit from an online ordering system or loyalty program that automatically generates rewards for repeat customers. Whatever your food service model, look for a POS that extends services beyond your brick and mortar location.
For Staff: The latest POS systems come with a lot of optional bells and whistles, so it’s good to remember that the best choice is usually the most user-friendly system. Look for software that increases staff efficiency by allowing servers to split bills or the cost of appetizers, or one that pairs with hand-held devices so servers can enter orders directly from the table. The food industry is constantly in flux, so a POS needs to be easy for multiple new staff members to master quickly.
For Future Business: When choosing a POS, make sure your restaurant technology can grow alongside your business. You never know when you’ll want to integrate with a third-party app or program, so finding a system that can adapt to change is critical to staying competitive, whether it’s partnering with food delivery services like GrubHub or DoorDash or syncing with your social media accounts.
Back-of-House Must Haves
Found the perfect POS? Now it’s time to match it with compatible back-of-house software. When researching your options, check for these three features.
Reporting: Your POS system can manage online orders, automatically reward loyal customers, and track the entries on for your online giveaway. But this information is only useful if it’s accessible. Look for back-of-house software that generates data regarding your highest traffic times, most popular menu items, and where customers are coming from—ordering online take-out or coming in for a sit-down dinner. Daily profit and loss reports are also a valuable asset for compiling all your data in one place, and helping you fine-tune your business model for maximum growth.
Restaurant Operations: Unify the front and back-of-house with operational software that helps train new employees, provides quality-control checklists, and automatically assigns tasks to employees based on their individual shifts. The right restaurant technology means your staff will be more prepared for every dinner rush, lull, or seasonal event.
Inventory and Purchasing: Back-of-house software is key in connecting what happens at the front-of-house with resulting inventory and purchasing needs. Whether your chef is developing a special occasion menu or one-of-a-kind special, your BOH technology can help you monitor its success and make sure no one runs out of key ingredients or supplies.
Restaurant technology is more intuitive and user-friendly than ever before. And with the wide variety of tech available, it’s never been easier to customize your POS and BOH software for the perfect fit. Happy integrating!
