The Types of POS Used in Restaurants

The advances in electronic point of sale (POS) technology have been a revelation for restaurant owners in the hospitality industry. Tasks that would have taken hours to complete in the past like accountancy and stock checks now take mere minutes. 

To an outsider, the world of POS systems can be overwhelming. With so many pieces of hardware and software available, it might seem confusing to work out what you need and how it works. 

In this blog, we’re going to lay out the main pieces of hardware that make up a POS system for a restaurant and tell you how they work. By the end of this article, you should have the information you need to make an informed decision on what your restaurant needs. 

Countertop terminals 

Countertop terminals are the heart of most POS systems. It’s best to think of them as a specialised computer and cash register from which you can accept payments, handle inventory management, compile useful sales data, and even manage your staff. 

These terminals run the POS software that powers every other device in the restaurant. They can usually be found on the main counter where they are the best places to serve the customer or in a central position on the restaurant floor. 

The Epos Now Compete Solution countertop terminal is specially designed with restaurants in mind. Not only does it come with award-winning customizable POS software, but it also includes a secure cash drawer and a receipt printer. With these pieces of hardware, you’ll be able to start trading as soon as the system is installed.

Card readers

Card payments have become more and more popular as customers move away from traditional cash payments. This change in consumer habits has led to the widespread use of card readers. In short, a card reader is a small, often handheld, device that takes card payments and processes them. 

Card readers have become an essential piece of hardware for many restaurants. Advances in technology have allowed these devices to become more mobile and it’s not unusual for serving staff to take payments straight from the customers’ table. With the Epos Now Saturn 1000, your servers can take contactless payments and credit card payments while also printing receipts. 

Often the card reader will be physically attached to the restaurant’s countertop terminal. This is especially the case with POS systems for small businesses. The Epos Now Countertop P400 is a great example of this and allows customers to pay with contactless cards, with swipe cards or with chip and pin. 

Tablet Systems

In some cases, it may be impractical or too costly for your staff to work off of a full countertop terminal. In these situations, it may be best for your restaurant to use a tablet system. These systems use a tablet in place of a terminal. 

Setting up a tablet system can be as simple as loading up a software programme onto an iPad or android equivalent. This makes it a great option for owners who are trying to keep their initial overheads as small as possible. 

While some companies are restricted in what tablets they use, Epos Now software works on IOS, Windows, and Android. This means that you can use your favourite tablet to conduct business. For an additional fee, we’ll even provide you with a new tablet. 

All-in-one systems

As the technology behind POS systems has become more and more sophisticated, POS companies have been able to innovate their products. All-in-one systems are a great example of this. 

An all-in-one system takes all the best parts of a countertop terminal and a card reader and combines the two. This synthesis results in devices like the Epos Now NOWpay Pro+. Restaurant owners can take orders, accepts payments, manage staff, and do everything they can do on their countertop terminal from the palm of their hand. It can even validate gift cards and run your loyalty programs so you can reward your regular customers. 

This freedom gives owners the ability to streamline their processes and concentrate on their customer service. For a restaurant to truly flourish, customer experience is something that can’t be ignored. 

Give yourself the tools to succeed

Now that you have a better understanding of the hardware involved in Restaurant POS systems, you can decide for yourself what your business needs to succeed. 

At Epos Now, we’re believers that good service comes from great customer support. We’re dedicated to making the lives of our customers as easy as possible with our leading suite of POS tools and systems. 

With the Epos Now restaurant system, you’ll be able to take advantage of the following features: 

• Review profitability reports based on individual product performance, trending items, best and worst sellers, and employee sales
• View sales analyses on profit margin, cash flow, and other expenses
• Review reports on peak times for better staff scheduling and floorplan management
• Access multi-award-winning inventory management systems that sync online sales and in-person sales for the most up-to-date stock levels
• Automate stock purchasing so you never miss a sales opportunity
• Integrate with the business automation apps that are right for your business
• Table management and booking system integrations available for an optimised service

If you’d like to know more about how we can help your restaurant, get in contact with our team today.