Order Up! Mobile Handheld POS Poised to Modernize Restaurant Service

Article Courtesy of Business Solutions 

Tri-State Area's Premier Digital Dining POS Provider

The dining experience has become more interactive than ever before, whether it's free drinks at a bar for the Four Square mayor, SNAP Rewards linking loyalty cards to social networks or Facebook Mobile inviting friends to your current location, it's clear that technology and hospitality are tightly intertwined.  Forward-thinking business owners are using technology to their advantage—and in some cases—to attract patrons. Making the change to a wireless network is more cost-effective then ever before. For some, the decision even pays for itself--savvy restaurant and café owners are advertising free Wi-Fi that attracts loyal, repeat customers to its laptop-friendly environment.  Wireless networks are not only cost effective; they give restaurant owners the opportunity to modernize their entire operation by adding mobile POS devices either in addition to the traditional stationary POS workstations or in replacement of those units.

While many types of businesses use consumer devices like iPads or iPhones for mobile applications, we also recommend ruggedized mobile POS devices that are specifically designed to operate in a harsh POS environment. In the long run, this will reduce unnecessary service calls and downtime for your customer. With the cost of ruggedized POS mobile devices and software decreasing significantly in price, affordable solutions are available for even the smallest cafes and restaurants. Many "consumer" devices out there are being purchased for the "cool factor", however some were not designed for POS environments or do not have the design or security feature sets that are needed in today's demanding market.

A traditional POS system is designed to do a few functions: track inventory, send orders to a kitchen printer and process payments. A mobile POS system makes it possible for restaurant owners and their staff to improve nearly every aspect of its service, from shortening wait times to increasing security for credit card processing.

When an eatery operates using mobile POS devices, the difference is clear from the moment a patron walks through the door. The wait for a table--when there is one--is significantly shorter.

Taking orders on a mobile POS system can save a restaurant time and money by reducing the number of forgotten orders, errors and costly resources spent remaking food or drinks that were improperly entered into the point of sale terminal.

Wait staff can breathe easier without having to rush through ordering at each table and focus more on customer service. A few extra minutes gives a server the opportunity to offer patrons add-ons they may have overlooked, such as drinks, sides and desserts.

After taking an order tableside with a PDA, the order is transferred directly to the kitchen printer so the kitchen staff can begin preparing the dishes immediately. This decreases the number of backups in the kitchen, especially when large parties are present.

When patrons are finished, it's time for the most critical point in the POS process: taking the payment. Traditionally, the server would leave the check, come back to take the credit card, process the payment and then bring back the sales slip to be signed. All of that adds up to a lot of waiting, especially if the restaurant is busy.

Mobile POS applications allow wait staff to print a check on the spot and process the payment tableside. It's fast and secure--the diner's credit card never leaves their sight and virtually eliminates the possibility of security breaches or theft.

For restaurants and cafes that have extended service areas, such as an outside patio or curbside pickup, mobile POS gives servers the ability to process orders and payments outdoors without re-entering the restaurant to swipe a credit card or print a receipt.

By eliminating the waiting a server spends at a traditional POS terminal inputting orders, rectifying errors and processing payments, overall productivity and profitability at the restaurant will improve. Obviously, shorter wait times are desirable for everyone: customers will be seated quickly and receive prompt, attentive service. Servers are sure to see an uptick in gratuities from the increased table turnover and patrons who are pleased with the noticeably faster service.