Does your POS stand for Point of Sale — or Point of Suffering? When it comes to technology, food and beverage (F&B) businesses must demand more.
F&B businesses are at the cutting edge of consumer taste. The marketplace adores artisan products, craft beers, authentic dishes and exceptional service. Being competitive often means running with fresh ideas, keeping up with the latest trends, and putting them into action quickly.
But when it comes to Point of Sale (POS) technology, bizarrely, the F&B industry is often years behind the curve. There’s a lack of awareness of the power of technology and the benefits it can bring — beyond the basic functions of a POS.
In other industries, ‘digital transformation’ is the buzzword. Businesses can be nimble, adapt easily, expand effortlessly. But for the F&B sector, POS can feel more like you’re stuck in the era of boil-in-the-bag dinners. And the problems really hit home when your business needs to scale and becomes more complex.
Here are five areas where cafes, restaurants and bars should demand more from a POS vendor:
#1: Breaking free from a ‘one size fits all’ approach
Every F&B is unique and must think fast on its feet. However, traditional systems from the broader retail or hospitality sectors can prove inflexible, while lightweight modern apps often skimp on the depth of important features.
So, it’s vital that your POS can handle any or all service types (dine-in, quick-service, delivery, bar, self-service) in the same application, is highly configurable, and adapt to the complex, real-world problems your business faces. You need a system that grows with you and allows changes on the fly.
#2: Transforming virtually every aspect of your operation
A leading POS will unify, automate and streamline processes — from optimising stock takes and purchases, to increasing speed of service, managing staff and the roll-out of promotions.
Everything should be connected as an all-in-one system without integration complexity. That way, you can get real-time visibility on every aspect of your business in one place and make decisions that drive profitability. Using the latest AI-based technology, many routine tasks can be handled automatically, and your system becomes almost ‘self-driving’.
#3: Avoiding black holes & IT headaches
Managing day-to-day operations and any changes quickly and easily is essential. If there’s an IT issue, you can’t afford to get stuck on-hold for hours or for it to interrupt business. But a response within a few minutes via live messaging – and a fix within 15 minutes can make all the difference.
That’s the sort of five-star support that busy F&B business’s needs.
#4: Rejecting long-term contracts and hidden fees
It’s essential to stay in control of costs — and avoid small-print that will come back to bite you later.
With the right pay-as-you-go model and transparent prices, you can avoid hefty upfront fees, unpredictable and/or hidden transaction costs and painful lock-ins that mire the industry.
#5: Getting up and running quickly
New IT doesn’t need to take months. With a cloud-based POS, you can deploy fast — and scale when it suits, while ensuring you benefit from rapid, ongoing innovation.
Ultimately, a system should let F&B businesses boost profits and control costs, supporting growth instead of restricting it. If this happens, your POS could become your Point of Success.
Discover more by getting The Growth Guide on how forward-thinking F&B businesses can claim a bigger slice of the pie.
