Everything to Know about Tablet Point of Sale Software

» Versatility

Tablets offer greater flexibility of use than regular POS terminals. They can be mounted on a stationary unit that is either manned by a cashier or used as a self-service kiosk. Or they can be removed from the stand and used by staff to take orders and process payments anywhere on the house floor. If they are placed on tables for self-ordering, they can also serve as additional advertising space to promote menu items and specials, or to provide entertainment (such as a trivia game) for customers waiting on their food to arrive.

» Increased Efficiency, Accuracy, and Sales

Orders placed on tablets are transmitted directly to the kitchen, resulting in faster prep times. Several minutes can be saved if the server doesn’t have to take the order to a main terminal for entering, or submit a paper ticket that has to be deciphered. Kitchen staff can start preparing drink and appetizer orders before customers have even finished ordering their entrées. Accuracy is also improved, especially with self-ordering, as customers can make sure their order is exactly as they want it. Fewer errors will eliminate the costs of food and time wasted on wrong orders. And sales will increase in several ways: servers have consistent upselling prompts; self-ordering customers tend to be more comfortable ordering more food; and customers happy with the efficient, accurate service will return to dine again.

» Line Busting

Nobody likes long wait times, and you lose sales when frustrated customers give up and leave. Armed with tablets, your staff can move through the lines taking orders and speeding up the process, increasing customer through-put. A self-service option utilizing tablet point of sale software will have the same effect.

» Ergonomic Advantage

Traditional POS terminals can be a bit large and clunky, taking up more counter space than you may be able to spare — especially in a smaller establishment. Tablets, even mounted ones, are smaller and lighter, a better choice for tight spaces.

» Mobility

As the world switches from analog to digital and from stationary to mobile, businesses are following suit. With Mobile POS, servers aren’t tethered to a fixed terminal. Instead, the server can enter orders into the mobile POS tableside and immediately sent them to the kitchen. This cuts down on the time it takes for orders to be handwritten and entered manually into a stationary POS and reduces errors such as illegible handwriting or lost order slips.

» Data access

Running a business isn’t easy, and owners can’t be in-house at all times. This is why many business owners are switching to cloud-based point of sale systems software so that they can access data wherever and whenever they need it—online or offline. Outdated POS systems rely on internet connection and can lead to downtime if the connection is lost. Cloud-based POS systems can run on cellular service if Wi-Fi isn’t available, meaning that businesses can keep their data safe and secure should the internet go out.

» Integrations

Some of the most popular integrations are online ordering and delivery. Online ordering and delivery will allow you to scale up without overhauling all of your technology. Online ordering and delivery integrated with your POS will boost profits through convenience. Additionally, online orders are usually larger, and many solutions allow you to use upselling prompts. The best technology is capable of integrating your solutions seamlessly, free of downtime, and complicated deployment. Integrations also allow you to share data between systems, boosting visibility into operations.

» Leveraging the right technology

Restaurant owners who refuse to leverage new, innovative technology will fall behind the competition quickly. However, having the right technology is only half the battle. You must ensure it can meet evolving customer demands, can help you stay competitive, and can scale with you as your business grows.

» Replacing traditional paper-based ordering methods

Paper tickets can too easily be lost in the shuffle, damaged by steam or spills, or simply made illegible by bad handwriting. There’s too much potential for error, not to mention the costs of paper, ink, and printer maintenance, and the extra time spent running the paper ticked back to the kitchen or to a traditional POS terminal for entry. Submitting orders on a tablet (whether done by a server or a customer) is a much faster and more accurate process.

» Adding line-busting capability

When your POS is mobile, orders can be placed anywhere on the premises, eliminating register bottlenecks and meeting customers’ expectations of convenience.

» Increasing sales

With both self-service and server-placed orders, upselling suggestions are always included in a tablet system, and they tend to be quite effective at getting people to buy additional menu items (dessert, for example) and add-ons (such as extra cheese) or larger sizes and combos. And when tablets are available at tableside, tempting images of menu items can enable diners to place impulse buys, whereas if they had to wait on a server to place the order, they’d have time to change their minds.

» • Improving customer engagement and retention

Tablet POS can help attract more diners (and repeat business) with the efficiency, convenience, and payment-option flexibility they offer. On a deeper level, when the POS is integrated with loyalty programs and targeted marketing campaigns, customer data can be used to create personalized offers that encourage return visits. Customers appreciate feeling a sense of connection with their favorite brands, and offering relevant rewards based on their purchase histories fosters that engagement.

» Upselling and Cross-selling

Even good servers can sometimes forget to ask questions such as, “Do you want to add a side salad for $1.00 more?” or “Would you like to try our new appetizer?” But a tablet POS can be programmed to present those options every time, whether it’s prompting the server with the information they need, or showing the self-ordering customer appealing images. Consistent upselling by tablets has been shown to increase average ticket size significantly.

» Increased Tips

Tablet POS can prompt customers not only to buy, but also to tip, and can suggest tip amounts. The greater speed and efficiency of tablet ordering and payment processes give servers more time to spend with customers, and tips will generally reflect customer satisfaction with the higher level of service.

» Digital Receipts

Increased revenue also comes in the form of cost savings. Tablet POS can send customers digital receipts by e-mail if they want one, rather than wasting paper and ink on printed copies. Your environmentally-conscious diners will also appreciate your efforts to “go green,” and will want to keep frequenting your establishment.

» Server Benefits

• Less running: When servers don’t have to run orders back to the kitchen, or run credit cards back and forth to a central terminal for processing, they save a lot of steps and time that can be better spent interacting with customers.
• More table turns: Faster ordering and payment processes lead to more table turns per shift — and more tip opportunities. Tableside tech can increase turnover time by 7 to 10 minutes.

» Customer Benefits

Invest in software that can be configured to auto-generate reorders when ingredient SKUs reach pre-defined levels. This prevents ingredient shortages while also keeping customers happy. Loyal customers expect that their favorites will always be available, so leverage the right software to make sure you can deliver consistently.

• Fewer mistakes: Especially with self-ordering, customers can be sure they’ll get exactly what they ordered, prepared to their specifications.
• Greater data security: When customers can pay at the table, their credit or debit cards stay under their control, eliminating the risk of card skimming and potential fraud or identity theft.
• Shorter wait times: Faster table turnovers lead to shorter wait times for incoming customers. The sooner a hungry diner can be seated and start ordering, the happier they’ll be with the experience.

» House Benefits

• Higher profits: Larger ticket sizes, more customers served, more satisfied customers retained, less paper and food waste, and more efficient labor use all add up to greater profits.
• Fast ROI: Tablets and tableside devices often have a lower initial investment cost than traditional POS. And with the revenue generation and cost savings that will follow, return on that investment won’t take long.

» Set up a designated space

Due to social distancing efforts, there is sure to be an increase in delivery orders. Because of this, it’s a good idea to designate specific areas for delivery orders to limit face-to-face interaction between employees and streamline operations. The employees prepping and packaging delivery orders should also have enough space to work while remaining socially distant.

» Put the right tech tools into place

To ensure your delivery operations are in tip-top shape, make sure you have the right tools at your disposal. For instance, if you take delivery orders over the phone, consider implementing an online ordering solution to free up your time. Mobile technology can help you reduce traffic in your restaurant by allowing you to take safe, secure payments curbside for pickup. To keep tabs on drivers and delivery options, consider adopting a delivery dispatch and management solution.

» Place one employee in charge of delivery

To ensure your staff can handle the inevitable spike in delivery orders, create an assembly line in which each employee is responsible for a specific step in the prepping and packaging of delivery orders. This will create an organized, socially distanced operation that will keep your employees safe and your delivery operations efficient.

» Choose the right packaging

While having an efficient assembly line for your delivery operations is essential, you must ensure the quality continues when the order is out for delivery. Choosing the right packaging for your delivery orders is critical to ensure food remains hot and fresh. COVID-19 can live on cardboard for about 24 hours and plastic for about 72 hours. With this in mind, it may be a good idea to look at your current packaging and consider switching materials to minimize exposure risk.

» Treat your couriers well

Your couriers and delivery drivers are out on the front line; without them, you wouldn’t be able to run delivery operations. You must treat these workers well and equip them with the necessary tools to stay safe, such as gloves and disinfectant wipes. By reducing their risk of contracting the virus, they can confidently carry out their deliveries.

» Credit card information isn’t secure

Just like traditional POS technology, mobile POS must comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS), stringent guidelines and regulations designed for maximum safety of card transactions and sensitive customer data.

» Tablets aren’t as reliable as traditional POS terminals

Restaurants simply need to choose rugged tablets designed for commercial use rather than consumer-grade models. These tablets will have higher resistances to dust, spills, and temperature extremes, and can withstand being accidentally dropped or knocked off a table. Rugged tablets are just as sturdy and reliable as fixed terminals.

» It’s just a fad, and it isn’t really more efficient

With steadily growing numbers of restaurants adding mobile technology, tablets aren’t going away anytime soon. And faster order processing with greater accuracy and increased customer convenience certainly qualify as more efficient than traditional POS alone.

» It’s an unnecessary expense

All of the advantages outlined here should make it clear that tablets are necessary. As for the cost, it may be lower than you think, especially because the operational streamlining and increased customer satisfaction lead to a high return on investment (ROI).

» Running all operations on mPOS alone

While tablet technology is versatile, it isn’t quite powerful enough by itself to handle all of your operational data processing and storage. Tablet point of sale software works best when it augments a traditional POS terminal. Some solutions have all-in-one fixed terminals that pair with removable tablets, combining power and mobility.

» Buying tablet software before making sure it will integrate with other systems

Before you buy, you need to find out if the tablet system will work with the rest of your solutions, including your traditional POS, kitchen display system (KDS), and back-office software. For example, the tablet needs to integrate with inventory control so that your stock levels reflect and include tablet transactions. Your provider can help you select solutions that work together seamlessly.

» Using a cloud-based solution that depends entirely on Internet connectivity

The cloud has definite advantages, such as anytime, anywhere access to your business data. But Internet outages can and will occur, and you don’t want them to bring your operations to a halt, costing you revenue and, potentially, customers. Look for a hybrid solution that hosts data locally and syncs with the cloud. If you lose your Internet connection, you’ll still be able to take orders and payments, and the information will go to the cloud when connectivity is restored.

While there are a few mistakes to avoid, the biggest incorrect way to use tablet POS is to not use it at all. Restaurants need every technology advantage to stay ahead in a highly competitive environment and provide customers with the efficiency and convenience they expect. If you’re ready to add tablet point of sale software to your arsenal, look for an experienced provider. Focus has been part of the restaurant tech industry for nearly three decades. Contact Focus to find out more about a range of solutions designed to help make your restaurant a success.