The Key Features of a Point-of-Sale System

There are many point-of-sale systems, but not all will suit your needs. Some systems work better for small businesses, while others are designed for large ones. You want something compatible with your type of business and has features that will help manage inventory, sales data, etc. Let’s look at some features to see what would work best if important to you. 

What is a Point-of-sale System?

A point-of-sale system is a computerized method for recording retail services, restaurant operations, and other business functions. Sometimes they are also referred to as cash registers or POS systems. These systems are all about speed, ease of use, accuracy, and data tracking capabilities. 

How Do They Work?

When you purchase something using one of these systems, there are several steps involved, including scanning items on an electronic reader if necessary (usually needed when making certain types of purchase), entering payment information either by swiping a card through an attached machine or manually keying in the numbers, tallying up totals after everything has been rung up and pressing a button to finalize the transaction. 

It’s almost as simple as when you want to make changes in your system, like adding an item or removing one. It takes only seconds for someone with appropriate access privileges to update information on items, including prices, quantities available, or even how many times something has been ordered by customers (a great way of tracking trends). 

These systems are typically wired into compatible software that can be used either at home while managing data after hours or remote while away from the business location if necessary. This will depend upon which particular POS system is being used, but most provide this option for customer convenience. Some may need additional hardware beyond what comes standard, so be sure you know exactly what type of machine(s) you will need to use the system. 

POS systems have several features that benefit businesses. POS systems facilitate payment processing, but they are much more than that. Businesses can also use a POS system to generate sales reports, manage inventory, maintain positive customer relations, and manage employees. 

What Are Some Key Features of a Point-of-sale System?

POS systems include many different features, but several stand out as more important than others. Here is a list of key features and why they matter: 

Transaction management: This is the ability to track and manage all transactions, whether a customer pays for an item or your business takes inventory. This process helps businesses stay organized and keep everything running smoothly. 

Data storage: Data storage is necessary because it can be used in different ways when analyzing data from sales reports, financial records, point-of-sale system usage, etc. 

Customer relationship management: POS systems are also great for businesses because they can keep track of customer information, making it easier to provide good service and offer customized options. This is one way that businesses can compete more effectively against their competitors. 

Payment processing: This is one of the essential points-of-sale system features. It’s necessary to take payments from customers through credit cards, debit cards, checks, or cash. 

Inventory control: In addition to tracking purchases, a POS system also helps businesses keep track of inventory. This is important because it ensures they have enough items on hand and that things don’t run out unexpectedly. 

Multi-location functionality: If your business operates at multiple locations, you will want a point-of-sale system that can function within various locations. This is especially important for businesses with multiple physical locations and plenty of employees at each location to make sure the system runs smoothly. 

Employee management: Another key feature that many POS systems include are tools used to manage employees and keep track of their activity on your business’ time. This can be helpful in various ways, including ensuring that employees are paid appropriately and helping to reduce theft. 

Business analysis: Business owners need information on how well the business operates to improve or change the business. A quality POS system should provide this information so businesses can make informed decisions about their operations. 

Sales reporting: This is another essential feature that assists businesses in tracking their sales, determining which products are selling the best, and making changes as needed. 

How Do I Find Out if My Business Needs One?

POS systems are prevalent in small businesses because they provide so much flexibility at relatively low prices compared to retail establishments. It only makes sense for a small business to invest in a POS system because it will allow you, the owner or manager, to track inventory and activity while also ensuring that customers are adequately serviced. 

Suppose your business is involved in transactions with debit cards, credit card payments, or other types of electronic payment methods. In that case, investing in an affordable point-of-sale system is one of the smartest moves you can make. 

What Other Key Features Should I Consider? 

While all point-of-sale systems have essential features, your business may need additional specific functions to meet its needs. For example, retail stores will benefit from a POS system with credit card processing capabilities. At the same time, restaurants or any food service business will need features that help them keep track of inventory. 

How To Choose the Right POS System?

When you decide on which point-of-sale system to choose, make sure that your choice can meet all of the needs of your business. You will also want to look at what other businesses in similar industries use and determine whether or not it could work for you. These systems shouldn’t be looked at as an expense; instead, they should provide clear benefits. 

Begin by looking at the core features of a POS system. What is important to you? Do you want wireless functionality, or will your business not require this? Is it crucial that employees email receipts for their customer transactions, or can they print them out instead? It’s best if these questions are asked before shopping around for systems because, after all, no matter which one you choose, there will always be something else down the line that could have been included in your purchase - but wasn’t. 

Next, decide whether an online POS System would work better with your type of business and set up. Some businesses won’t need any electronic payment processing whatsoever. In contrast, others may never go into physical retail locations but sell their items online. 

Suppose you are looking to use the system for your online store and physical locations. In that case, it is wise to look into a POS System that can be used on several devices at once with multiple people working on them all simultaneously and one that offers customization capabilities - especially if employees have different roles within your company. This way, they will each still have access to everything they need without having too much information available in some areas than others might require and allowing managers or owners higher levels of control over what data is accessed where.

Conclusion 

If you’ve been wondering how to improve or change your business, then a POS system is just what you need. Discover the benefits of these systems and determine if one would work for your company with this article on key features to look for before purchasing. 

A point-of-sale system can be an integral part of any retail establishment, restaurant, or other foodservice business that uses credit card processing or electronic payments methods. 

If you are looking into buying a POS System, make sure it has all the functions required by your specific needs, including those explicitly related to online stores and physical locations. 

When deciding which point-of-sale system will best suit your business needs, take some time first to consider what’s important to you and how your business will use it. 

If you plan on running an online store and a physical retail location, your POS systems should have features that allow access to both types of stores from multiple devices at once with customizable capabilities. 

By considering these key factors first, you’ll increase the likelihood of finding a point-of-sale system that will work for you and your business. 

BNG Point-of-Sale offers POS solutions that improve your bottom line. With a full selection of POS systems for various businesses, you’ll find the right tool to grow your business with the personalized support you need.

Connect with us to learn more.

 

 

 

14 Ways a Point-of-sale System can Benefit Restaurant Employees

The restaurant business is one of the most challenging industries to operate. It’s an ever-changing, fast-paced environment where mistakes can cost a lot of money. Implementing a point-of-sale system for your restaurant can help reduce these financial losses while providing other benefits that will improve the work experience for employees. Here are 15 ways that installing a POS system in your restaurant will benefit you and your staff. 

  1. Increased revenue:One of the primary benefits for restaurant employees working with a point-of-sale (POS) system is increased revenue. By utilizing a user-friendly POS solution, all restaurant staff can benefit from streamlined order management and customer service to ensure optimal productivity throughout the entire organization.

Example: A good menu design helps customers make faster decisions on what to order. The design can be made more efficient by putting essential information at the front of the menu, keeping it on one page, and avoiding unnecessary decorations or pictures that distract from a clear purpose for each item. 

  1. Improved customer experience:Customer experience is a top priority in the restaurant industry. Customers want to feel appreciated and valued by their wait staff, which can be accomplished through increased communication between all parties involved in meal service.
  2. Less burden on front-of-house staff:A POS system can help restaurant staff take back some of the work typically passed to them from other members in a chain. This reduces their stress and allows more time for each employee to concentrate on providing excellent service.
  3. Reduced employee theft:One of the main benefits ofpoint-of-sale systems is reducing employee theft. Employees are less likely to steal from an employer when more eyes are on them. This type of system is excellent for monitoring employees’ behaviors in real-time. When items don’t ring up properly or cash goes missing, it will be easy to look back at what happened during a specific transaction, which increases accountability throughout all levels within your restaurant. 
  4. Improved accounting accuracy and efficiency:By installing a POS system, restaurant employees will spend less time dealing with accounting and bookkeeping issues. The system is pre-programmed to collect thecorrect information for you to stay on top of your finances at all times without hiring an expensive accountant or taking up too much of your time trying to track down every transaction that takes place within your business. 
  5. Easier inventory management:A POS system can help restaurant employees keep track of their inventory, which is easier said than done in the chaotic environment that exists within a restaurant. Because it’s easy to lose track of things when you’re running around attending to customers and orders, having this type of technology at your fingertips will ensure proper use throughout all kitchen staff.
  6. Better control over product sourcing and procurement:APOS system will better control your product’s sourcing and procurement. You’ll be able to monitor inventory more closely, which means that if certain products are selling faster than others, you can adjust accordingly instead of continuing to acquire those items without being mindful of the overall demand from customers within your restaurant. 
  7. Boosted marketing ROI:The POS system is already programmed with the ability to take advantage of marketing opportunities. The software can be updated in real-time, which means that if your restaurant decides to run a special promotion or offer coupons through social media, it will be an easy process for you and your team members. 
  8. Improved financial reporting:Your POS system can make it easier for you to report financial information, which is a win-win situation. You’ll be able to provide your investors and partners with the updated data they need on an ongoing basis while saving money by not having to hire an expensive accounting firm or bookkeeper for this specific task. 
  9.  Enhanced customer loyalty and retention:The POS system allowsyou to see your customer’s behavior in real-time, which means after time has passed, you can better understand why they’re coming back or if there are other areas where improvements can be made. This information is invaluable because it allows restaurant managers and owners the opportunity to view their overall business from a customer’s perspective. 
  10. Easier, more efficient way to communicate with staff:The POS system is easier for managers and owners to stay in touch with their employees when they’re out of the building because it will keep tabs on what each worker does. At the same time, they are not present, which gives you a better idea about who works well together, needs more training or assistance, and is just plain lazy. 
  11. Real-time data:Restaurant employees will be able to access information in real-time, which means that they can make changes immediately instead of waiting for the end of the day or week. 
  12. Improved staff morale:The POS system will give restaurant employees more control over their workday. It gives them instant feedback on how much money is being made and what needs to improve throughout each shift. This system is less time-consuming and more efficient than putting together spreadsheets or waiting for weekly updates to make changes throughout the workday. 
  13. Improved customer service:A POS system can make it easier for managers and owners to reward their employees with more perks, benefits, or incentives to provide them with better opportunities within the restaurant. This type of technology also allows workers to change things if they’re feeling burnt out instead of continuing in one specific role throughout their workday. 

Final Thoughts

If you are a restaurant owner, the time has come to get on board with the point-of-sale systems. With so many benefits for both employees and customers, it’s hard to argue against this investment in your business. Implementing one can help save money by increasing efficiency during busy periods or replenishing food. It also allows staff members to focus more on customer service while freeing their hands from counting cash! Finally, these POS solutions offer an easy way for restaurants to track inventory levels which means less wasted product at the end of the day.  

BNG Point-of-Sale offers POS solutions that improve your bottom line. With a full selection of POS systems for various businesses, you’ll find the right tool to grow your business with the personalized support you need. Connect with us to learn more. 

 

Can You Have a Point-of-sale System and Merchant Services from Different Companies?

You’ve probably never considered having your point-of-sale system and merchant services from different companies. It sounds like an exciting idea. But are there any drawbacks to doing so? Suppose you have two competing entities providing these services for your business. What would happen if they had some disagreement or issue with one another? What happens when you need more than just one service provider to get everything that needs to be done for your company? 

Many questions come up when considering this topic. The benefits may outweigh the risks, but before deciding whether to pursue this course of action, it is essential to think through all aspects thoroughly. This article will explain the benefits of having a point-of-sale system and merchant services and some drawbacks if you choose to pursue this idea. 

Difference of POS System and Merchant Services

A point-of-sale (POS) system is the software and hardware that a business will use to process credit card transactions or any other types of electronic payments such as debit cards or NFC (Near field communication). 

The aim of having a POS system for your business is to replace manual accounting and sales recording. Typically, you would keep all sales and inventory in a notebook or paper. Still, you can do this much more quickly and easily with an electronic point-of-sale system. You can also easily save all data and transfer it into whatever type of spreadsheet program you prefer to use when doing taxes at the end of the year. There are even programs that allow you to manage expenditures and accounts payable, in addition to sales. 

You can also use a point-of-sale system for other things such as inventory management. For example, suppose you have multiple locations. In that case, it could be beneficial to know what items are selling well at which site to order more from one place and less from another. Some systems allow you to manage digital signage in addition to everything else that comes with a POS program. 

The credit card company itself usually provides merchant services. Still, a third party specializing in merchant services can also offer merchant services. They are called payment processors or PSPs (payment service providers). 

You will typically pay fees for each electronic transaction processed with standard merchant services through your account. The fees charged depend on the type of industry you operate in and the number of transactions you process throughout the month.  

Other ways to charge merchants for accepting credit cards include: 

Why Should I Get Merchant Services From the Same Company as my POS System?

Having a point-of-sale system and merchant services from the same company can be convenient. You do not have to sign with two different companies to get everything you need for your business. They will most likely offer better overall rates than two separate entities for these services. 

There are many benefits to having both POS and merchant accounts from one or more companies: 

There are some cases where it is okay to have separate point-of-sale systems and merchant account providers. Still, it is not recommended in most situations since having both from the same entity can save you time and money overall. 

Why Might You Need Two Different Companies for These Services?

There is little to no communication between the two entities when you get the point-of-sale system and merchant services from different companies. This means the rates they have negotiated for your business may be vastly different from one another, meaning that what you are paying per transaction will vary greatly depending on which company processed each sale or refund. 

Depending on the type of business you run, you may need to use two different entities for your POS system and credit card processing. For example, suppose you run a restaurant that takes in vast amounts of cash every day. In that case, having one company will most likely not suffice because they probably do not have merchant accounts set up with PSPs (payment service providers). The latter work with high-risk merchants such as restaurants. 

Another instance where you might need two different companies is if you require certain functionality which your POS does not offer but is offered by another provider. If this is the case, there is no point in signing everything with one company since they would operate entirely independently of each other. You can also end up paying more money for the point-of-sale system if you sign up with two different companies since they will be competing against each other to get your business; this means that you may end up paying higher prices for the program. 

How to Choose Between Two Different Companies?

Choosing between a virtual terminal company and a PSP with direct integration is not easy, especially when presented with all the benefits of each. 

First, you need to figure out what kind of business you run since this will determine if either option would be feasible for your needs. For example, does your store or restaurant take in a lot of cash daily? If so, a virtual terminal company will probably not be the best fit because PSPs (payment service providers) that work with high-risk credit card companies such as restaurants will most likely not allow you to use a virtual terminal. 

In cases where you need more advanced POS functionality and do not have a brick-and-mortar store, you should consider a PSP with direct integration and offers these services. This means not only will they take care of processing credit card payments but also allow you to process checks, invoices, and other types of transactions for your business. 

There are quite a few things to consider when choosing between virtual terminals and companies with direct integration. Still, the main point of deciding which company to go with is to find out what kind of transactions you will be processing. 

How Does Having Separate Merchant Accounts and POS Providers Work?

There are typically two ways to set up merchant accounts with different PSPs (payment service providers) and POS providers, either virtual terminal services or direct integration. 

Virtual Terminal Services – this is a service your POS provider will offer that allows you to run credit card transactions through an online system where the customer enters their payment information on your website rather than swiping the card at your store. It generally costs between 3-5% of each transaction amount, which is significantly lower than using most gateway companies directly. 

This option may be suitable for businesses with no physical locations but still want to accept credit cards, even if it is only online. However, since all sales are made online, you will receive significantly fewer additional benefits for discounts or other special deals offered by the PSPs. 

Direct integration – this is a process where your POS provider has an agreement in place with one or more credit card companies and their PSPs (payment service providers), which allows them to offer their services directly through your software system. 

You and potential clients of your business need to know how these types of transactions work because depending on who you are using for merchant services and point-of-sale, they can vary significantly in terms of pricing and overall expense. For example, if you choose a virtual terminal company that does not work with many PSPs, you could pay between 4-5% of each transaction, which is the same as working with most gateway companies. However, if you used a PSP specializing in virtual terminal services and directly integrated with your POS provider, you would only pay 2-3% for every transaction. 

Benefits and Drawbacks

Many businesses find it easier to have one company handle their POS system and merchant services needs. This is because the company has an in-depth knowledge of both systems, so they can provide you with all of your needs without wasting time switching back and forth between service providers. 

When considering having POS software and merchant services from the same vendor, some benefits exist when comparing this to using separate entities. Still, it is also not always a risk-free proposition either. 

Benefits of using one entity for your point-of-sale system and merchant services: 

  1. Fixed Resource Pricing
  2. Reduced Implementation Time and Costs
  3. Reduced Customer Service & Support Costs
  4. Simplified Recurring Billing and Collections Processes for Merchants, Retailers, and Customers
  5. Proven Technology Integration and Software Development Experience in Custom POS-to-PSP Programs

Some of the risks associated with using different entities for both POS system and merchant services needs:  

When looking for a point-of-sale system and merchant services from different companies, some benefits exist when comparing this to using separate entities. Still, it is also not always a risk-free proposition either. 

  1. You may have an outdated system
  2. It might bechallengingto integrate the two systems 
  3. The customer experience could suffer as a consequence
  4. Theft and lost opportunities for cash backup
  5. Not having these services from the same vendor can lead to missed or inaccurate reporting

Questions to Ask Before Signing up for either Company or Service

When looking for a point-of-sale system and merchant services from different companies, you should always ask yourself: What type of transactions does my business process? Do we need to take in a large amount of cash daily or run other types of high-risk credit card processing? Do I need advanced functionality such as check processing, invoicing, and different kinds of transactions? This company allows me to use the virtual terminal(s) with PSPs (payment service providers)? Is direct integration required to provide the best processing fees/rates? 

These questions can help you decide which provider is better for your unique needs. If you are having trouble deciding between the two options, make sure to conduct extensive research by reading reviews, checking out different companies online, and learning more about your options. 

Conclusion

You may or may not benefit from having a single company handle your POS system and merchant services needs, as there are trade-offs to consider before making this decision. Do some online research on different companies before signing up, read reviews before committing to any single vendor, and compare rates offered by small businesses and larger entities to benefit from the most competitive processing rates possible. 

BNG Point-of-Sale offers POS solutions that improve your bottom line. With a full selection of POS systems for various businesses, you’ll find the right tool to grow your business with the personalized support you need. Connect with us to learn more. 

 

 

Best Point of Sale Systems for Restaurants In 2021

How the Best Point of Sale (POS) Systems for Restaurants Boost Sales and Profit

As a restaurant owner, you know first-hand that time is money and high profits are a challenge. This is especially true in today’s business environment. Regardless of your business model, you need to operate with ultimate efficiency to ensure optimal returns.

Quality restaurant and bar point of sale (POS) systems help boost restaurant business efficiency for any restaurant business type. They streamline processes to record stock, manage your menu and staff, deliver detailed sales readings, and effectively take orders while ensuring you achieve profit goals.

The restaurant industry has always had its challenges, but today's business tools help address the challenges more than ever.

This article explains what a POS system is and why you need it, regardless of your type of restaurant.

What is a Point of Sale System for Restaurants?

A point of sale (POS) system is a combination of restaurant software and hardware for placing orders, and monitoring sales and cashflow, as well as tracking stock and pricing information to aid in restaurant performance. Merchant service providers offer these systems for sale or lease.

Benefits of POS Systems in Restaurants

The following are some of the key benefits restaurants experience with a POS system in place:

Improved Ordering for More Sales

POS systems help staff get orders right the first time, which increases customer satisfaction with faster turnaround times. Staff can order at a register, at conveniently placed terminals, or with mobile ordering devices. Some systems let customers order for themselves right at the table or online, which also reduces errors and speeds turnaround times. An intuitive ordering interface minimizes errors and warns if items are out of stock so customers can quickly reselect.

These systems offer a wealth of payment options, including contactless payment, and offer other benefits like automatic check splitting, quick tipping, and digital or printed receipts on portable printers. Gift card and loyalty program capabilities keeps customers coming back.

POS systems also enable online and delivery service ordering to prompt additional sales. After customers order, a POS shares when their order is received, an estimated time for pickup, and when food is ready, which helps ensure food is hot at pickup and the kitchen stays efficient.

POS systems help staff remember customer orders, which makes it easy to order “the usual,” or customize a menu item. Some POS may even automatically honor loyalty cards. With customer email information, A POS can even help to more effectively pinpoint your marketing efforts.

Improved Cost Analysis and Tracking for Increased Profit

Today's restaurant POS systems improve analytics for a clear read on profits. Food and drink costs are obvious and, when identified, aid in achieving higher sales volume and optimal profits. Menus can be easily edited, reformatted and continually improved. Deep sales analysis capabilities help you know what to serve and how to staff for each season, month, week, day and hour.

Restaurant owners and managers can also benefit from advanced food tracking, specifically on losses. You’ll know what freebies were divvied out, and by who. By tracking when stock arrives, you can also reduce food waste and better follow first-in, first-out (FIMO) procedures.

An Improved Customer Experience

Good customer service is key to improving sales, and today's POS systems also monitor staff performance. The restaurant industry is known for high employee turnover, but you can make training easier with intuitive, easy-to-use systems. A quality POS provider will offer additional training when needed, too.

How does a POS System Work in a Restaurant?

With a POS system, your restaurant will get hardware and software systems designed to make staff and management more efficient. A quality POS is so much more than simply where you submit an order.

Intuitive Screen and Terminal Operation for Your Teams

Many POS systems allow you to easily place an additional terminal anywhere convenient for your staff, or offer portable tablets, smartphones, or even tableside ordering systems. Once an order is placed, the kitchen automatically receives the order on high-performance kitchen display screens with all orders and customizations clearly visible.

Management Software

POS systems provide management software platform specifically designed for restaurants and bars to improve performance from top to bottom, including helpful tools and metrics to run your restaurant, such as:

Restaurant Point of Sale System Features & Benefits

A quality POS system should offer a number of features and benefits. The following are the top features to look for in restaurant POS software:

For Staff:  

For Management:

A quality POS provider will also provide:

How to select the Best POS System for your Restaurant

Some POS features are universally necessary for the entire restaurant industry, no matter your restaurant concept. Superior POS systems for restaurants help you experience the same benefits as top-performing restaurant owners, such as superior management capabilities, food tracking, and metrics on staff performance.

But there are also features to look for that serve specific restaurant types. Let’s take a look at popular restaurant categories and how they most effectively use POS systems.

Fine Dining / Full-Service Restaurants

Online Booking

Guests can book easily online, and managers and hosts can utilize intelligent table management to fit staff sizes and improve order timing.

Tab Management

If the night starts with a drink at the bar, the restaurant POS system can easily move tickets from a bar to a table, or even from bar to bar.

Easy Access to Kiosks in the Entire Restaurant

Nearby terminals and mobile POS ordering devices make placing orders instantaneous.

Improved Service

If management makes changes to the menu during the day, it’s instantly reflected on devices, which keeps staff organized. If certain food or wine pairings are recommended, a server can easily make suggestions. If menu items are out of stock, wait staff are always informed so guests can quickly reselect, which minimizes annoyance and speeds orders. If a customer has allergies or requests customizations, the information is clearly logged.

Servers know when food is ready so it’s promptly delivered. Additionally, a POS can remind wait staff to check on diners, or suggest sides and desserts. Group ordering options, split check capabilities, and instant digital or printed receipts satisfy customers and speed turnaround times.

All of this nurtures happy customers and increases repeat business.

Easier Payment Processing

A POS allows for processing payments at the tableside, and accepts a full range of payment options with quick tipping, from credit card payments to contactless payments like Google Pay. Emailed or printed receipts are instantly provided, and gift cards or loyalty programs can be easily applied. Customer information can also be stored to ensure they get their “usual” at their next visit.

Improved Delivery Processes for Restaurants:

In addition to restaurant terminals, you can accept online payments and mobile payments, as well as directly connect with a delivery app. Combined with contactless-delivery, you can painlessly increase take-out orders—which more than compensates for any third-party delivery commissions.

Bars and Nightclubs

Speed of Ordering and Payment

Food and drink orders can be entered with a touch of a button, and staff always know if a menu item is out of stock. Special drink deals and new menu items can be highlighted directly on POS devices as a reminder for staff.

Payment can be taken directly at tables on portable devices, and painlessly split checks and apply tips. Instant digital or printed receipts keep customers moving. If it fits your business model, customer tableside ordering even reduces wait times.

Better Coordination with Times of the Day

POS devices accommodate for special times of the day; for example, a POS will automatically update when happy-hour concludes. Similarly, the menu will update on a POS from lunch to dinner at the correct hour.

Tracking Freebies

Accurate stock tracking helps limit free drinks and appetizers, which are so important to bar and nightclub profits. You know when stock is compromised and when staff members place orders for free cocktails.

Fast Casual Restaurants / Quick-Service Restaurants

From fast food to coffee shops and bakeries, customers are often in a hurry. The right POS system matches the speed you need to operate to satisfy your customers.

Intuitive Screens

Clear register displays make it fast and easy for staff to place orders while customer displays, such as an 8-inch guest-facing screen or 14-inch tablet, let customers easily read order information, sign for credit card payments, and add tips. Customers also appreciate contactless payment options, which can increase sales. Loyalty programs are clearly visible so your staff can immediately inform customers if they are due for a special treat—a benefit customers are sure to appreciate and will keep them coming back.

Receipts include your business logo for additional exposure and can also print coupons or special deals on the reverse, which you can easily change whenever needed.

Online Ordering and Delivery

The same online and delivery features for fine dining are available for fast, quick service operations as well. With a POS, customers are informed of estimated timeframes and when their order is ready for pickup.

Stock and Sales Tracking

As food is quickly sold, stock is meticulously tracked to keep kitchen staff and management informed.

Best Point of Sale System For Restaurants In 2021

If you search for the best POS systems for restaurants for 2021, you will undoubtedly find a long list of sale system options. Some are more popular for restaurants than others, such as Square, Toast POS, Lightspeed Restaurant POS, and Touchbistro. Our personal favorite is BNG POS. It offers the full range of benefits listed in this article in its Restaurant Manager POS system, which is adaptable to fit any budget. BNG POS is a solid option for anyone looking for a restaurant POS.

Restaurant Manager POS: The best Choice for Restaurant Sales

As a point-of-sale provider, BNG POS is specially focused on restaurants and bars. BNG’s Restaurant Manager POS system was designed by restaurant owners for restaurant owners.

This system provides the full suite of software and hardware options mentioned above to maximize efficiency and profits. It offers flexibility and customized solutions for what you need, and easily scales to meet new needs as they arise.

From ultra-efficient order taking, meticulous stock records and in-depth sales statistics, to effective training, simplified menu management, and online ordering capabilities, BNG POS systems help you stay organized and achieve maximum profits. The intuitive software is easy to use, which improves staff onboarding and reduces errors and chargebacks. It benefits all areas of your restaurant from the wait and host staff to kitchen staff and management. And, the same system can be used for multiple locations.

BNG POS makes it simple and painless to select a system that’s best for your restaurant. They’ll even work with your current payment processor or suggest a new one. And all systems are backed with world-class, 24/7 support.

BNG POS offers transparent pricing plans, including premium plans for maximum profit and sales or trimmed offerings to fit your budget.

Contact us, and our team of POS experts will help you find a solution perfectly tailored to your restaurant.

How To Improve Your Restaurant Operations

Owning a restaurant requires a mix of delicious food and drinks, reliable service, and efficiency in your operations. Hitting the right balance is an ongoing challenge for the restaurant industry. As a restaurant owner yourself, you may be confused about how to achieve it all. The good news is it’s possible. There are ways to improve operations in your restaurant and achieve the profits you need.

If you're looking for tips on how to improve your restaurant service and overall performance, keep reading to learn how to improve your operations in ways that lead to healthier profits and growth.

Operational efficiency is key

You may have delicious menu items and beautiful facilities, but profits are often thin in the restaurant industry. This means you will need to do everything you can to improve your results. The logical question is “How can I make my restaurant better?” The chief way is with efficiency. Without tight control over incoming and outgoing costs and ways of bringing in money faster, even a restaurant with a delicious menu will suffer. Maintaining strong efficiency is vital in your business segment.

There are seven key ways your restaurant can keep your costs under control and maximize the revenue you bring in; check them out.

Best ways to improve restaurant efficiency

#1 A Strong Training Program

Employee turnaround is often high in the restaurant industry. Ensuring new staff performs their duties correctly and has full knowledge of ordering and menu items ensures seamless customer service. It also provides significant cost-savings, and efficiency standards are being upheld. Concrete training and procedures show you which procedures work and which need improvement.

#2 Embrace New Technology

Today’s POS technology is focused on making the processes of ordering, food prep, and management easier, more streamlined, and more accurate. And they do it all instantly, freeing up time for your staff to concentrate on other matters at hand, such as improving in-person customer service and the overall customer experience. Here at BNG-POS, we offer restaurant POS systems specifically designed to make everyone’s job easier. From front registers to online ordering, mobile ordering devices, kitchen systems, and back-end management systems, you get everything you need to make each job more manageable.

#3 Fast And Correct Ordering And Payments

Today’s systems offer faster and more reliable ordering and payments via mobile devices with intuitive interfaces. Today’s ordering technology is easy for employees to learn and allow for more features such as instant tips, order splitting, and payment right at the table, each element resulting in faster orders and quicker table turnaround.

We even offer table-side ordering that allows customers to place orders themselves. With easy-to-use interfaces and clear read-outs that don’t confuse customers, you benefit from direct-to-kitchen ordering and instant payments.

#4 Faster Ordering For Recurring Customers

If your business has customers who order “the usual,” you can order menu items exactly how they like it, no matter who the server is at the time. Today’s POS technology can log customer favorites, including “dressing on the side” and substitutions. No more staff questions, no more awkward situations with customers, and no more order change approvals from management. Your customers get the food the way they like it every time while seeing their business is appreciated.

#5 Improve Deliveries

How can restaurants improve service delivery? The trick to deliveries is ensuring food is ready on time and delivered smoothly. Delivery teams will be able to drop off food faster and ensure your kitchen doesn’t get overloaded. To do this, here are some tricks:

As a POS provider, we include these delivery additions to your POS capabilities often, helping you increase efficiency in order completion and speed.

#6 Reduce Food Waste

Food waste comes in two forms: giveaways to staff and customers and inefficient kitchen performance. There are strategies to fix both.

Food cards for employees help track all orders and block open doors to untracked food preparation. Combined with tight stock tracking, these cards put all kitchen activities in a format you can analyze, adjust, and improve when needed. Having your kitchen staff responsible for logging food further prevents food and drink giveaways to employees and customers by making your kitchen staff liable for any losses.

#7 Brainstorming

With more time saved through today’s POS systems, you have more time to work alongside your kitchen and wait for staff to implement strategies that improve menu items, order flow, customer service, and customer experience. Your staff is on the front lines of these important segments of your business, so it’s important to brainstorm with your employees to improve the way work is done.

With so much back-end operation now happening digitally, you can most likely provide what your staff needs more easily through today’s systems. Listen to what they suggest. We may have the tools to make it happen.

It is also essential to schedule time to improve each area of your business regularly and consistently. Allow for informal and formal meetings during set days of the week or month to cover all business areas and keep the conversations flowing. Adhere to the times to ensure staff who aren’t working that day know when they need to be there and ensure no one’s time is wasted waiting for employees to arrive.

Including your staff in the process keeps them aware of issues, opportunities and includes them in successes, boosting comradery.

Conclusion

These tips for intelligent planning and strategizing help you keep a tighter track of what works and what doesn’t. Today’s POS technologies are a huge asset to any restaurant; from robust software to aid with inputting orders at faster rates, as well as more accurate ordering, your team has more ways to succeed at running your business smoothly.

When you are ready to upgrade to today’s POS offerings, BNG POS is here to help. We can provide all the needed hardware and software and may be able to adapt today’s POS technology into systems you already own. Contact us to find out more.

10 Reasons Why POS Systems Are Better For Restaurants Than A Cash Register

Running a POS system for your business is a key way to speed up orders and improve customer service; this is a universal truth for both restaurants and bars alike. Businesses like restaurants and bars use today’s advanced POS systems to their advantage, and you can benefit from them, too.

There are countless benefits, from keeping your costs down, boosting your profits, to reducing theft; we'll discuss the top reasons you should invest in a restaurant POS system.

What Are The Benefits Of a Restaurant Management System?

Restaurant POS systems are a far cry from what was on the scene 10-to-20 years ago. Cash registers are still part of the equation, but today’s systems allow for greater flexibility in order taking and back-end organization and improved sales analytics. These are all things that add to the success and long-term growth of a restaurant.

How does a POS system work in a restaurant? Let’s take a close look.

Ways A POS System Can Affect Your Restaurant

As a business, you still need a cash register, and every point-of-sale system will include one. However, a cash register will never give you the critical features that directly make it easier to run your business.

#1 Restaurant POS Systems Improved Mobility

Today POS systems include portable device capability to improve the staff’s mobility around the restaurant. The ordering programs are even compatible with smartphones. There are compact tablet systems that can be used in busy places around the restaurant for faster ordering. There are also table-side systems customers can operate directly on the tables in your restaurant. All of these systems speed up food orders, translating into more money for you.

#2 Improved Ease of Use Through Restaurant POS Systems

We’re living in a digital world, and touch screens are THE way to communicate. Intuitive interfaces improve order taking and reduce training times. Some programs are intuitive that customers can order food themselves online or at the table and pay with their credit card. Easily navigable screens mean fewer errors, and automatic totals reduce math errors. Even tips and check-splitting totals are tabulated instantly. You won’t have to rely on your staff’s math skills. All of this means your staff is spending less time ringing up orders or manually passing them to your kitchen staff.

#3 Restaurant POS Systems Offer More Ways to Pay

Cash is still a part of our lives, but it is less popular each year. More people are opting for credit cards, debit cards, and contactless payments through smartphones or smartwatches. Today’s POS systems accept them all, even checks! By increasing the payment methods, you increase sales and the possibility of the customers coming back.

#4 Restaurant POS systems Can Ease The Employee’s Daily Operations

When you invest in a restaurant POS, your wait staff can place orders faster, run checks quicker, auto-tabulate delivery fees and tips, and update customers on changes to menu items in real-time. But waiters aren’t the only ones who benefit.

Today’s POS programs help kitchen staff receive orders without waiting for staff to re-enter them into the main system. This not only speeds up orders, but it also prevents order mistakes from staff, keeping profits up and orders moving. Today’s mobile POS systems alert staff when food is ready, speeding up pickups to allow more room to prepare more orders. Even customer pickups happen faster by preparing customers with estimated cooking times and immediate texting when ready.

Improved stock readings help the kitchen ensure proper stock each day of the week while preventing food theft, resulting in greater profit for you.

#5 Restaurants POS Systems For Back-end Management

POS Systems also offer benefits for you, the manager. From order notifications to end-of-the-day profit readings, you get instant views of employee performance to help you spot what or who needs improvement and make other value business decisions. You will know which meals performed well and which didn’t. Through clear stock readings, you know what needs replenishing to keep up with demand and maintain customer satisfaction.

#6 Restaurant POS Improved Your Accounting

Gone are the days of counting receipts and balancing books. You can now rely on instant and accurate profitability reporting, showing you gross and net profits to know immediately what menu items are working and more accurately strategize for improved growth. Many point-of-sale systems integrate into Quickbooks to eliminate a lot of the manual bookkeeping.

#7 Using a POS System For Instant Menu Item Customizations

Restaurants often have menu items posted online, inside the restaurants, and with food delivery companies. POS systems allow instant access to menus to edit them on the fly, ensure the right menu is displayed at the right time of day, and flag out-of-stock foods to avoid revisiting orders with customers and slowing down turnover.

#8 Improved Customer Service Through POS Systems

You most likely have “regulars” who come back often to your restaurant, and those people are valuable. POS helps you show your apperception while maintaining customer satisfaction. You can store a customer’s name, payment information, and a favorite meal. Do they want dressing on the side? Anyone who serves them will make sure it happens.

You can also offer loyalty programs for their continued business. No matter who serves them, your best customers can always get the meal they want and the appreciation they deserve.

#9 Improved Messaging And Promotions Via POS Systems

Receipts are a great way to show appreciation and advertise special deals to keep customers coming back. POS systems in restaurants let you easily convey messages on receipts your customers can take with them, and those deals will keep them coming back.

#10 Reduce Theft Risks By Using A Restaurant POS System

Theft doesn’t just happen from masked bandits at the cash register; it can also come from employees. Whether it be handing out free drinks, ordering food for themselves, stealing credit card information, or pocketing the cash, employees are not always upright. You can use today’s POS systems to your advantage.

One powerful safeguard is a password-protected approval for free food. You can also closely monitor each server and food purchases in real-time anywhere you are, keeping an eye on suspicious activity and catching culprits in the act. Through tighter inventory tracking, your cooking staff will further guard against food theft.

Today’s POS systems in restaurants are PCI compliant, providing advanced protection against credit card theft in stores and online, as well as a safe way to hold card information for a bar tab.

The Difference Between a Restaurant POS System And A Retail POS

In many ways, POS Systems work the same for retail and restaurants, such as mobile order taking and loyalty programs, but restaurant systems give you more of what you need. You can customize menus, save favorite meals of valued customers, add delivery options, text customers when their table or food is ready, and easily split checks and add tips. Customers can also order for themselves at the table. If you’re assuming any point-of-sale system will work for your business, reconsider and find a system that is meant for your industry.

The importance of POS Systems in Bars and Restaurants

What works for restaurants also works for bars. The ease-of-use of these POS systems leads to fewer mistakes, and improved stock readings of alcohol help you keep a tight eye on profit in an area of your restaurant where customers always hope for a freebie. Even if your staff indulges, you’ll be the first to know.

Want to learn more about how a POS system affects your business? Read how one traditional restaurant made the switch from a cash register to a full point-of-sale system.

2 Easy Tips To Increase Your Bar’s Profit

A lot of bar owners dream of having an experience like Cheers, one where customers are happy, and the drinks are flowing. But it’s a lot more work then you’d assume, and it can be difficult to make any money from it.

Sometimes it can seem like you’re doomed to lose money and never see any profit from all your hard work.

While it’s true the profit margins for bars are not massive; it is possible to increase the profitability of your bar with a few simple changes.

We’re going to cover two easy ways for you to increase your profit without doing extra work.

#1 Make sure your staff is upselling

Teaching your servers and bartenders how to upsell is not a hard thing to do, and it has a tremendous impact on your bottom line.

Whenever they ask for drink orders your staff should always know any specials you’re running and know when to recommend a drink upgrade, be it switching to premium alcohol or a larger size.

Whenever a customer asks about your drink specials, be sure your servers mention the more expensive type of alcohol first before listing the cheap ones. People generally enjoy hearing the brands of liquor, and you can have a lot of people decide to order a more expensive drink this way.

Also, upselling doesn’t have to be pushy. You can let your staff hand out small samples of brews, increasing their chance of a customer ordering that beverage. Just make sure they ring up any sample they give out, and that they aren’t giving away too much for free.

Sometimes it’s hard to get your staff into the habit of upselling, but you can help remind them of upselling opportunities by programming your point-of-sale system to prompt them whenever they ring up specific items.

You can also run competitions and reward the server who earns the most in upsells. This also encourages your staff to track drink orders accurately to win the contest of the most upsells.

One bar/restaurant we work with saw terrific results from pushing for more upsells. They set up their POS system to prompt their staff and used it to track who had the most upsells and reward them with a gift card. At the end of the month, they saw an additional $2000 increase in profit, just from upsells!

Don’t overlook upselling as an easy way to maximize your bar’s profit.

#2 Watch for over poured drinks

Upselling can only get you so far in profit if you’re losing all your money from missing alcohol. Whenever a drink is made, the bartender needs to ring up exactly was it was, so you can track how much alcohol was used.

As lovely as it is for each bartender to have their own “flair” when making drinks, it’s a bad idea not to have strict measurements on how much alcohol they pour into each drink.

You also need to make sure your bartenders aren’t subbing out more expensive liquor with a mixed drink without ringing it up and charging the correct amount.

A heavy hand can cause your liquor costs to balloon out of control pretty quickly if your staff is lax with tracking the amount of alcohol they served.

It may be a hassle, but if you’re not tracking how many drinks are going out, you’re going to find you’re missing a lot of your inventory at the end of the night.

Use the inventory system in your point of sale system to keep track of drinks rang in and what inventory should have been used. Then compare what you should have according to the system to what is left over.

Preventing inventory shrinkage is going to help you keep your costs down and profits up.

Train your staff right and use your point-of-sale system

A lot of these items seem basic when it comes to running a bar. But if you don’t put these practices into place you’re always going to be coming short every month.

These are two big things that stand in the way of your bar being profitable are missing upsell opportunities, and losing inventory from over poured drinks.

While training your staff is important, at the end of the day you need to use the right tools to help keep your operations in order.

Looking for an excellent point-of-sale system that will help you manage your bar, can help staff with upsells, and prevent inventory loss? Contact us, and we’ll help you find the right POS system for your bar.

Does My Restaurant Need A Point-Of-Sale System? Or Is It A Waste Of Money?

Getting a point-of-sale system is one of the first pieces of equipment a restaurant owner debate spending money on when they are investing in a new establishment.

Point-of-sale systems have the reputation of being an expensive piece of technology that rings up items and lets you process payments. However, investing time and money in utilizing your POS system can be the difference between your business keeping its doors open or it closing down.

That’s a pretty bold claim, but the truth is a point-of-sale system is one of the most important tools you have at your disposal in making your restaurant profitable.

Why are they so important?

Well, a point-of-sale system is necessary when it comes to maintaining the operations of your business, but they also prevent theft, limit food waste, and help you make smarter ordering decisions.

Curious how? Here are the top ways a point-of-sale system can impact your restaurant.

POS systems track your profitable items

A lot of restaurant owners make a common mistake when trying to make a profit off their menu items. They try and maintain low-cost food items, assuming that will cover their expenses if they sell enough and don’t spend a lot of money on food. Unfortunately, that’s not always how it works out.

Many successful restaurants have food costs as high as 50%, and in spite of the high price are still making a considerable profit.

How is this possible?

Well, it’s not the amount of your food cost that's the problem. Instead, generating money is based on the gross profit you make off of every menu item you sell. A lot of restaurants guess what their most profitable menu items are, or don’t realize how much they sell of that specific food or drink item.

Here’s where a point-of-sale system makes a difference.

A restaurant that tracks every item through their POS system can track their daily, weekly, and monthly sales and see what menu items are performing the best.

When you have that data, you can make a pretty good forecast on what you should promote on your menu, and see what items are costing you money and phase them out.

POS systems prevent waste

Continuing off the point above, it can be a bad idea to focus on keeping your food costs low without looking at your profit. Even ordering lots of cheap ingredients in bulk doesn’t matter if you’re losing 60% to waste.

One of the reasons point-of-sale systems were invented was to keep tabs on any incoming ingredients and account for everything in a way pen and paper never could.

A point-of-sale system can record every bit of inventory you scan in and track what flows out through the items off your menu.

Tracking what is coming in vs. what customers are ordering can leave a significant impact on your profit. Why order food cheap food if no one wants to order it? That costs you more in the long run than paying more for a menu item that performs well.

Study your sales and see what people are willing to pay for, and don’t make the mistake of ordering more of one product than you need.

POS systems stop internal theft

Everyone wants to trust their employees, but unfortunately, theft is incredibly common for restaurants, especially ones that don’t use a point-of-sale system.

It's easy for staff to hand out a free drink, a free meal, and it's easy to get away with it if they don't have to ring everything up. Businesses that only use a cash drawer have no way of accounting if a drink wasn’t rung up or exactly how many orders went out.

Having a point-of-sale system in your restaurant makes it easier to track what was wrung up and what you’re missing from inventory. If you’re going through too much liquor, you can see how many drinks were ordered, and calculate what's missing and check your camera footage.

When you have a point-of-sale system, you can also check on voided out cash items wrung up through your POS system to prevent abuse by managers who can void out transactions at the end of the night.

POS systems monitor working hours

Another thing your POS system can track effectively is your employees work hours. Many point-of-sale systems have apps that let a restaurant owner track when they are losing too much money due from too much staff during slow hours.

Your POS system can show you daily sales trends and help you plan accordingly, such as how much staff you need at your restaurant to cover the busy hours without losing money while paying staff when it’s slow.

You can also monitor if employees are coming too close to overtime hours and prevent underworking by clocking out late or coming in early.

So is a point-of-sale system worth it?

After counting all the value they bring your restaurant it’s clear that they are worth every bit of money you can invest in buying one.

Point-of-sale systems are one of the rare pieces of equipment you’ll buy that can save you money and make you money at the same time.

Curious what else a point-of-sale system can do for your restaurant? Contact us, and we’ll answer any questions you may have!

Are Your Guests Wifi Habits Ruining Your Business Network?

Customers today expect to have complimentary WiFi when they visit a business.

While it’s a great service you should offer guests if you don’t have your guest WiFi set up properly it can cause some problems internally.

There are a few things you need to keep in mind when trying to set up your WiFi to support your guests without ruining your business’s network.

What do they have access to?

Now you probably do not think about what sites your guests can view, but it is something you should consider.

For one, you don’t want your customers to be using your free wifi to go on adult websites, including pornographic, gambling, or any other type of questionable websites with offensive or obscene content.

Filtering out these types of websites is important to protect your business and customers from possible malware or ransomware. You do not want to have your point-of-sale system experience a data breach because a customer fell for a phishing scam on your WiFi network.

Whenever you offer guest WiFi, you really need to make sure you are filtering out certain types of sites, and have properly segmented your internal wifi from your guest WiFi, you also should make sure there is a strong firewall in place to protect your internal network.

Can they stream?

Offering customers the ability to stream is a very nice gesture, but it can wreak havoc on your bandwidth and could slow down your internal computers.

With every internet package, you have a limited amount of bandwidth to spread throughout your business. You have to split it between your internal computers and point-of-sale system along with your customers.

If you don’t set up a control on your bandwidth, your customers could slow down your computers by streaming Netflix or Youtube. You can only allow a certain amount of bandwidth to be used by guests, leaving enough available to keep your POS system running smoothly and not slowing down orders, payments, and more.

If you’re interested in working with tools that let you protect your WiFi, contact us, and we will work with you to set it up. We also offer support to help you in case your network ever goes down.

Why A Mesh Wifi Network Is A Good Solution For A Retail Store Or A Restaurant

Mesh wifi networks are new, but they have quickly become a fantastic option for a restaurant or small retail business. They make it incredibly easy for your staff to keep connected to your wifi, as they move around the sales floor.

If you’re not sure about the difference between a mesh wifi network and a non-mesh network solution, don’t worry. We’re going to highlight the benefits of mesh networks for a restaurant or retail business.

Easy access point transition

The biggest benefit a mesh wifi network can offer your business is that it prevents disconnecting between your multiple access points.

A common problem for a restaurant or bar without a mesh network is when you have an access point inside and outside, such as one inside your business and one on your patio. Without a mesh network, a waiter could carry a tablet outside to take an order, the device would either not disconnect from the one inside (causing it to lag), or it would not connect to the outside access point without the waiter manually logging into the access point outside.

This means your staff has to type in a password into the device to connect to the new network. If they forget the password, that adds more time for them to take an order or let your customers pay their bill. It also means they will have to reconnect manually to the inside network.

A mesh network eliminates this problem. You can have an access point between your kitchen, tables, or patio and have all your devices immediately connect to the access point with the strongest signal.

Load balancing

If you get packed on a Friday night and have all your customers using SnapChat and Instagram at your location that’s great for your brand, but bad for your network.

When you have hundreds of devices connecting to one access point, the speed gets bogged down, and your guests might be hogging all your bandwidth from your work devices, making the ordering process much slower and laggy.

Having a mesh wifi network means you simply have to plug in another access point across the room, and now half your guests will be connected to that access point instead of all being on one.
This prevents your business from suffering from an overload of everyone connected to one access point that’s connected to your point-of-sale system.

Buy or rent?

Having an enterprise mesh network can be a little expensive to pay for all at once. However, if you’re interested in renting a mesh wifi network, you can rent one or more access points from us and save yourself some money.

You can easily add another and simply turn it on whenever you need more access points either to manage some of your traffic or to extend your connection throughout your business.

If you’re interested in renting a mesh network from us, contact us and see how you can improve your internal network at a low monthly cost.