Yes, you can run a restaurant's Point of Sale system on mobile devices. This is made possible by using devices like Android tablets or iPads as the point of sale. A typical Mobile POS system will usually consist of two pieces of hardware: a smartphone or tablet, along with a credit card reader. This setup makes it particularly useful for restaurants, as it can be used at pop-up shops, trade shows, and other events outside the physical restaurant location. It can also be used in restaurants to reduce customer queues and speed checkout.
How Does a Restaurant POS System Work on Mobile Devices?
A restaurant POS is a digital platform combining hardware and software to facilitate the efficient running of transactions and payments. The hardware constitutes a touchscreen monitor and gadgets that scan products, hence aiding in completing payment processes. The software can be locally installed or cloud-hosted, depending on the choices of the business owner.
A far more exciting application of this would be the usage of Raspberry Pi devices in setting up a network of terminals sharing precisely the same information and logging sales onto a central Raspberry Pi. A handheld system kitted out with screens and capable of wireless can be fitted onto servers to take orders at tables. These orders are then dispatched to the kitchen and updated on the central system, saved as a tab all terminals have access to to add or edit.
Benefits of Using a Restaurant POS System on Mobile Devices
Mobile POS systems offer numerous advantages that all combine to make operations easier while managing improved customer service. They save much time at checkout, enable valuable insight into the impact of business actions, ensure accuracy in sales, facilitate various payment methods, and have advanced features such as sales and inventory tracking in real-time, employee and store management, engaging customers, loyalty perks, gift card programs, and custom reporting.
Features to Look for in a Mobile Restaurant POS System
There are so many different features to keep in mind when selecting a restaurant mobile POS for an application: checkout and payment processing, inventory management, reporting analytics, employee management, customer relationship management, multichannel sales, ease of use, scalability, customer support, online ordering, and table management, and cost-effectiveness with promotions.
Security of Using a Restaurant POS System on Mobile Devices
Restaurant mobile POS systems are designed with a strong security philosophy at the center, ensuring card data is available, confidential, and integral. They port across different smartphone environments and ensure that such key security features as authentication, confidentiality, integrity, non-repudiation, and authorization are imbibed to mitigate security risks.
Best Restaurant POS Systems for Mobile Devices
Among those striking a balance in features, functionality, and price are Square POS, Revel POS, Lightspeed POS, Toast POS, Rezku Point of Sale, Cygen POS, iOSoft Smart POS, LINGA rOS, and Loyverse POS.
References
Next Generation Restaurant POS from Otter
The next generation of POS is here. Otter consolidates everything you need to run your business into one system. Manage all your apps, orders, analytics, and marketing with ease.
- Increase your revenue by reaching more channels
- One mission control center for your restaurant
- Reduce your expenses through self-serve options
Learn more about Otter POS
About Otter
- Increase revenue up to 10% with Marketing*
- Reduce storefront downtime by up to 50% with Live Alerts*
- Increase sales up to 50% with Digital Dine-In's QR code ordering*
- Reduce missed orders to less than 1% with Order Manager's Auto-Accept feature*
- Supercharge your food business with our all-in-one restaurant POS system*