Behind every restaurant is a point-of-sale system on the counter chugging along to power each order, ticket and payment. There’s no shortage of options out there for a POS solution, but if you’re thinking about giving your restaurant a head start in future-proofed tech, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll explore the world of multi-channel POS systems and their many advantages. We’ll also break down some questions to help you decide if these POS tools are the right fit for your business – large or small.
So, what’s a multi-channel POS system?
A multi-channel POS system lets businesses sell items through multiple channels — think dine-in, online delivery, and pick-up, all from a single platform.
By now, we know the way customers order food has become vastly different. Over 60% of U.S. consumers order delivery or takeout at least once a week. Naturally, restaurants are meeting these demands by offering omni-channel ordering like never before, from mobile pick-up to QR code table ordering.
Enter the need for a multi-channel powerhouse that adapts to the dynamic needs of a modern restaurant.
You may find yourself asking: what are the actual benefits of a multi-channel POS system? When you’re married to an existing POS setup that isn’t exactly broken, is it even worth the move? How do you know if it’s the right fit for your restaurant? Let’s dig into it.
#1: Streamlining Operations for Maximum Efficiency
The biggest difference between multi-channel POS solutions and a traditional POS setup is the ability to centralize operations into a single tech stack.
When you’re running orders in-person, fulfilling online orders on at least 2 delivery platforms, and operating your own ordering channel, a peak window (like during lunch hour) can quickly devolve into complete chaos for you and your staff.
A multi-channel POS system ensures your omni-channel orders are streamlined.
Forget manually tracking and printing tickets — we’re talking menu updates that happen once across all platforms, real-time inventory updates, and optimized table management.
Consolidating these crucial actions that take valuable time out of your busy day can help maximize efficiency, reduce wastage, and improve customer satisfaction.
#2: Enhancing Customer Experience
Restaurateurs that make the leap towards multi-channel ordering are constantly thinking about future-proofing their business by putting their customers’ needs first. We’re proud of you!
Catering to growing demand across different channels can help your restaurant expand its customer base and provide more options. But we know the work doesn’t end there.
Consider these stats:
- The average restaurant loses 2% of their sales due to POS injection errors.
- The average restaurant has to wait 10 days to update a price or name on their menus.
Sales impact aside, this shows a stark disconnect in the current state of POS setups, in which customer experiences hang on the thin thread of a shifty integration.
With a natively-connected system coupled with rapid payment platforms like Stripe, customers have access to a much more reliable ordering experience, their channel of choice, and flexible payment options.
In today’s highly-competitive landscape, these micro-improvements on customer touchpoints go a long way in building loyalty and protecting your sales. And that brings us to our next point: profitability!
#3: Maximizing Profitability with Data
At the end of the day, choosing the right POS system for your restaurant comes down to one big question: does it help boost your bottom line? Before we answer that, let’s take a step back to talk about how to crunch these numbers.
Omni-channel ordering opened a world of opportunities for restaurants, but with it comes the phenomenon of fractured sales data across multiple platforms and sources.
Without a bird’s-eye view of your restaurant’s performance and how customers are ordering, it’s difficult to gain actionable insights, let alone make decisions that benefit your bottom line.
A multi-channel POS system is built to keep your sales data in sync, so for the first time ever, restaurateurs have a single source-of-truth for their financial performance.
With this powerful knowledge to drive your decisions in areas like targeted promotions and strategic menu pricing, it doesn’t take long to see a real impact on revenue.
#4: Maintaining Industry Standards
Secure payment processing, compliance with industry standards, and safeguarding customer data are paramount to the restaurant business.
A truly native multi-channel system ensures that all your processes happen easily and, more importantly, in a secure manner within your view and control.
Customers aside, we also know the hospitality industry is a tight-knit one, and that restaurants care a great deal about their existing partners.
Third-party apps that offer delivery, customer loyalty, and labor and inventory features are essential to the success of your business, so you shouldn’t have to compromise.
The good news is, a multi-channel POS system is designed to work hand-in-hand with the various integrations your restaurant needs.
Does your restaurant need a multi-channel POS system?
Past data has shown that the top three things restaurateurs look for in a POS system are ease-of-use, system reliability, and customer support. While that still rings true, let’s look at what’s new: in today’s multi-channel world, your restaurant needs more than order entry and printing tools.
We’ve already gone through how the best multi-channel POS system is a natively connected one that offers centralized order, menu, and analytics management tools.
To recap, the ideal POS system allows your restaurant to:
If these sound exactly like what your restaurant is looking for, we’re not surprised! It just means you’re ready to modernize your POS setup and further invest in your business's long-term success.
We know the thought of switching to a brand-new system that powers your entire business can be daunting. You deserve to have software designed for easier days, and will last for many more profitable years. So whether you’re just starting to think about an alternative or ready to pull the trigger on your clunky hardware, we’re here to help.
