Value of the Restaurant POS
Restaurant point of sale (POS) systems used to require servers to run back and forth to a centralized terminal or, in the case of a quick service restaurant (QSR), to stand behind a counter taking orders. Today, restaurant POS runs on flexible touchpoints that span everything from desktop POS solutions to self-service kiosks. These new types of restaurant POS systems make it easier to:
- Improve customer experiences. Customers spend an average of 70 percent more with companies that provide great service.1 The right restaurant POS system can give customers the convenience they want so they keep coming back.
- Promote new menu items with greater ease. POS self-service touchpoints, like self-ordering kiosks, make it simple to keep menus up to date and draw attention to new items.
- Offer loyalty features that generate repeat business. Most US customers (65 percent) are members of at least one restaurant loyalty program.2 POS systems can more easily link customers to their loyalty account to drive repeat business.
In short, the latest restaurant POS systems make stronger brand connections with customers, which in turn drives loyalty and future revenue growth.
Selecting the Right Restaurant POS
Choosing the right POS system is an important decision for maintaining smooth restaurant operations. The latest POS form factors range in style and complexity. They include everything from all-in-one systems at a restaurant counter to self-service kiosks that let customers order for themselves. These systems all have the same goal in mind: improving the customer experience.
Restaurant POS Systems | |
---|---|
Desktop POS | This system typically runs on a PC and can integrate with peripherals like credit card readers and receipt printers. Even with the adoption of mobile POS, desktop still plays a critical role in the restaurant industry. |
All-in-one POS | These systems include PCs with touchscreen monitors. All-in-one solutions are designed to integrate easily with card readers, receipt printers, software, and other technologies. |
Self-ordering kiosks | Digital kiosks let guests customize, place, and pay for their orders, all from a large touchscreen. |
There’s good reason for restaurants, especially QSRs, to pay special attention to self-ordering kiosks. One in four restaurant customers reports using a self-ordering kiosk within the past three months, and the majority said they would visit a restaurant more often if kiosks were offered.3
Customers spend an average of 70 percent more with companies that provide great service.¹
Self-Ordering Kiosks
At QSRs, self-ordering kiosks make it easy to quickly place orders, customize food choices, and pay for orders—all without the frustration of waiting in long lines. These kiosks provide tangible results, including more satisfied customers and, in some cases, higher revenue. For example, customers are twice as likely to order a dessert when using a kiosk.4 Additionally, the total order value is shown to increase by 20 to 30 percent with a self-ordering kiosk.5
Kiosks also free up employees, who can transition from performing mundane and repetitive tasks to serving as ambassadors who are available to handle real-time customer needs.
The next generation of self-ordering kiosks includes the combination of cameras and AI-enabled computer vision for new capabilities. For example, by detecting anger or frustration, a kiosk can trigger an alert that sends an employee to assist the customer. The Intel® Distribution of OpenVINO™ toolkit makes it easier to incorporate these vision-enabled capabilities into interactive kiosks.
Cloud POS for Restaurants
Many modern POS systems include an element of cloud computing to help blend online and in-restaurant experiences and support more agile services. Cloud-based applications run on mobile POS or thin client devices, with software updates automatically pushed out to all devices. When compared to older legacy systems, cloud-based applications are generally more cost-effective and easier to access and update across devices and locations.
Software and POS
A significant portion of future restaurant growth will come from off-premise ordering, such as mobile purchases and third-party delivery services. A strong foundation of technology, both in the cloud and on-premise, helps facilitate menu-syncing and order management from the consumer’s mobile device to the restaurant’s POS to the kitchen display system.
Restaurant POS software may be used in combination with table management, order management, and other software. Through virtualization and containers, these applications can more easily run on the same POS devices without requiring additional hardware or integration.
Restaurant POS Solutions with Intel® Technologies
Intel® Core™ processors deliver the performance and reliability needed to power a wide range of POS form factors, from stationary terminals to self-ordering kiosks.
With processors on the Intel vPro® platform, you also get hardware-enhanced security features and remote management capabilities.
As customers continue to expect fast service and easier payment options, Intel will support digital transformation in restaurants with streamlined deployments and trusted partner solutions.