The document outlines key trends in restaurant POS systems for 2019, highlighting the shift towards less hardware dependency with portable and cloud-based solutions that enhance efficiency and data management. It discusses self-service kiosks and table-side ordering as innovations that improve customer experience and streamline operations. Additionally, it mentions advancements like facial recognition technology for better customer profiling and quick payments, emphasizing the importance of these trends for restaurant success.

1. January 11,
2019
Restaurant POS Systems: Top Trends for 2019
limetray.com/blog/restaurant-pos-systems-trends
A Restaurant POS system is an integral part of your restaurant’s operations – takes care
of the billing, ticketing, invoicing, tax management.
It not just takes care of the critical day to day operations, but also provides data for
holistic restaurant solutions. Like loyalty and CRM management systems, analytics and
decision making.
Functions that are often overlooked in a busy restaurant despite being potential growth
drivers.
The POS system is central to your restaurant operations. Its aim is simple – ease the
operations process helping you with oft-recurring tasks. And be a central data gathering
engine that brings together customer and operations data in meaningful ways. These 2
areas, besides great food (of course), are vital to your restaurant’s success.
And keeping up with upcoming POS technology trends is crucial. We are excited to see
some interesting features coming into the world of restaurant POS technology, going on
2019.
Let’s get started.
Less hardware dependency
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2. Gone are the days when you rely heavily on bulky and ugly machinery that takes up a lot
of space.
POS now comes on portable devices like a tablet or phone. It also works on all
operating systems.
Servers sometimes move from table to table, use tabs to take orders from customers. It
allows them to make better recommendations to customers – what the hottest menu
items are or what’s popular with other customers. In the traditional waiter-notebook
approach, kitchens have to be intimated manually. In the case of tablet restaurant POS
system, orders are forwarded automatically to the kitchen. This significantly reduces
table flip and ordering processing time. And management of data is a lot easier too.
Key advantages
1. Less machinery – less depreciation and financial costs
2. Less clutter, low risk of getting obsolete
3. Staying updated on the go
The Cloud Restaurant POS System
A Cloud POS system has several advantages. Here are the top features of a cloud POS
software –
1. Always online: This allows you to make updates from any location. You do not
have to be physically present in your restaurant to make a critical change. Once the
POS software is installed in your device, you are always in charge.
2. No large upfront investment: Instead of paying heavy setting up costs like in the
case of traditional POS systems, cloud POS systems work on subscription payment
models. You can pay monthly. This reduces your financial burden and allows you
to sign out if unhappy with the service
3. Regular Software Updates: No risk of going out-of-date as your software makes
online software updates automatically as and when needed.
4. High security and storage: Being on secure and reliable servers, your data is safer
than ever. This is a better bet than the on-premise alternative where data is stored
on local servers and is at risk of getting tampered with.
5. Works offline too: Probably the best part about the updated cloud restaurant POS
system is that it will work offline too. – The data gets autosaved when the internet
is restored.
Quick recap: Why does your company need a Cloud Restaurant POS system?
1. Quicker Operations
2. Safer data management
3. Works Online/Offline
4. Auto-updates to remain relevant (technologically)
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3. Self Service Kiosks
Restaurant self-service kiosks have been a growing concept over the last few years. Built
to increase the convenience of restaurant customers, self-service kiosks allow you to
place your order on your own. Unlike the conventional QSR set-up where you’re
required to stand at queues and wait for your turn.The interact with the staff (sometimes
tedious!) and have your order placed. Self-service Kiosks are equipped with digital
menus, easy to use buttons and self-service modules which eliminate the need for
human interactions. Kiosks are quick to machine learn and give you all the statistics on
the numbers that matter – such as the hottest item, the day’s specialty and so on, which
further enhance the customer experience.
Also by making use of attractive menus, you get an opportunity to cross-sell and
increase the average order value of your customer.
Learn how you can use data to optimise your online ordering menu here
Summing up the advantages of a Self Service Kiosk
1. Allows you to serve more customers and quickly
2. Improves customer experience by saving them time and giving them control
3. No waiting in long queues
4. More opportunities to cross-sell consistently and centrally
Restaurant Table-side ordering
Customers are able to place orders form the convenience of their tables. Imagine you
are at a restaurant and you want to order that extra pint of beer and quick. You wave
your arms frantically at a waiter but to no avail! Frustrating right? Now think tableside
ordering – one click and your beer has been ordered. Well, cheers (literally)!
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4. No more queueing up at the counter
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5. Table-side Ordering gives the convenience to both your customers and your servers. The
customers benefit through easy order placing services. Whereas the staff benefits
through more precision in online ordering taking. Also with more data, you will gain
intelligence on what are the items bought additionally, at what time were the
items ordered, which items go well together and so on.
Here are the main advantages of a Table Ordering System
1. Better customer experience
2. Faster kitchen intimations, less wait time
3. Low staff dependency
4. More customer behaviour data recorded
Integrations with major functions
The best POS system is one which can power your entire business. And works with all
your key functions – Analytics, Feedback, Loyalty, CRM. It drives your restaurant
management system. Easy integrations make the life of your staff easier in terms of
training efforts. A quick and useful update to your restaurant POS system will be key
going on 2019.
Advantages of Integrations with functions
1. Single software solution for all your restaurant functions
2. Better machine learning
3. Easier to train staff
Facial Recognition
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6. An upcoming trend to watch out for in 2019. We have seen some quick service
restaurants make use of biometric facial recognition. In this, all you have to do is smile at
the camera and the software will populate your details on the screen and the restaurant
will quickly profile you – your demographic details, your past order history, your loyalty
points and so on. Also, there are very practical applications of facial recognition
technology in the payment process. Imagine what that could for your customer
experience!
Advantages of Facial Recognition
1. Better customer profiling
2. Integration with other systems such as CRM, Loyalty
3. Quicker payments
Wrapping Up
In this article, we covered the key trends we feel you should have an eye on this year.
These should be on your mind too as you look to serve a better experience to your
customers in 2019.
We hope you liked the read. More power to you!
Back to growing.
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