Your restaurant should have a professional waitstaff, happy guests, and plenty of technology options. To stand out among your competitors, you need to invest in the right kind of technology. Here are the best restaurant hardware and software you need to take your business to the next level.
Touchscreen Terminals
Touchscreen terminals have become one of the most popular types of technology in the restaurant industry. They often come installed with restaurant software and an interactive interface that allows your staff to create orders easily and effortlessly.
Touchscreen terminals speed up the ordering process. This can lead to more incoming orders from the front of the restaurant and more food from the kitchen. Some terminals may include a credit card reader, so cashiers can swipe the customer’s card and ask them to sign the screen. The entire process takes a matter of seconds and requires no paper.
Point-of-Sale System
A point-of-sale system is a computerized system that’s typically used in the restaurant and retail industry. It allows you to keep track of sales and inventory. There are so many benefits to have a restaurant point of sale system. One added benefit is that it makes communication flow between the kitchen and the wait staff.
Orders are placed through the computer and end up on the kitchen printer. A point-of-sale system can also keep track of your food inventory and determine the most popular food items. It can also help you prepare for payroll without the need for paper or spreadsheets. This will save you money in hiring a bookkeeping department. A POS system can help organize your profit and loss statement come tax time.
Receipt Printers
Speaking of paper, digital receipts can be beneficial to your business, but most guests still prefer to have a printed receipt. You can have two choices when it comes to providing receipts — impact and thermal. An impact printer should stay in the back of the restaurant since it’s noisy. Impact printers catch the attention of whoever’s around, so they don’t forget to give the customer their receipt.
A thermal printer should be used at the front of the restaurant since it’s less noisy. It results in faster printer than traditional ink printers. Since these printers don’t require ink, you don’t have to waste money on paper and ink cartridges.
Efficiency is one reason why you should have a thermal printer in your restaurant. But both printers are necessary for transforming your restaurant into a full-service restaurant.
Self-Order Kiosks
Self-order kiosks and tablets have become a growing trend in the restaurant industry. These have been making waves at fast food places such as McDonald’s and Panera Bread. This restaurant technology is popular due to its ease of use and appealing looks. It upsells to your customer without being pushy.
There are so many added benefits to investing in a self-order kiosk. They reduce wait times in line. They allow guests to make their own ordering decisions. This frees up your staff to focus on other important tasks.
Handheld Server Tablets
Handheld server tablets free up time when a party says they’re ready for their check. This allows them to place their order at their table and make the payment themselves. This increases the number of guests you’ll serve and the number of orders you’ll produce in a single shift. This quick service will satisfy your guests and make them want to return again. Meanwhile, your servers will get even more tips.
Technology is crucial for operating your restaurant business. Each of these technologies and platforms can increase the value of your restaurant, especially when they’re used on a point-of-sale system.
