Some say the heart of a restaurant is its menu. Others say it's the staff. Still others name the ingredients themselves. But one thing is for sure: A heart of every successful restaurant is its POS software - and choosing a restaurant POS software is definitely not an easy task.
Where do you even start? Probably Google. Or ask a good friend what they've already used. Either way, you'll come across a variety of solutions: local, legacy, cloud-based or mobile POS systems - all with their own advantages and disadvantages. But the fact is that your restaurant has its own unique requirements, which makes the search for the perfect POS software even more complicated. So how do you deal with this complexity?
It is often said that there are no wrong questions. That's possible, but some questions are definitely better than others. To help you find your way around the wide world of restaurant POS systems, we have put together these key questions that you should ask when looking for the right software for your restaurant.
1. How often is the product updated? Are these updates free or paid?
This important question is often only answered in the fine print. It's important that you really know what you're getting before you sign a purchase agreement. Some restaurant POS software providers, especially for older on-premises systems, offer paid updates. When updates that are long overdue are offered at a high price, many restaurant owners decide not poland telegram data to update. This means you're relying on an expensive computer to run your business, one that will become slower and less reliable over time.
Updates should be free! You shouldn't have to pay to keep your restaurant POS software working well. The industry-leading point of sale companies are constantly improving their software and adding new features on a regular basis - and they do it for free.
So, when comparing restaurant POS software, ask about updates. Modern POS system companies are proactive and are constantly working to improve their products. A good answer is that updates are released regularly, roughly every 6-8 weeks.
2. Is the support of the restaurant POS software outsourced or in-house?
There are times when, as a restaurant owner, you need a customer service representative – and you need them right away .
If POS software support is outsourced, it becomes more difficult to get help quickly in emergencies. Why? Because communication about customer support and product information is separate. The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. Problems are resolved much more slowly and questions often remain unanswered.
Outsourced support also means you have to reintroduce yourself to a customer service.