5 key factors to consider when choosing the right F&B POS system!

F&B POS systems have evolved beyond basic order taking or payment processing features. Many systems have developed innovative functions to serve different operational needs for restaurants. With various new POS systems available on the market, how should restaurant owners choose one that could bring positive impact to your restaurant’s profitability and performance? We have summarised 5 key factors for you to consider when choosing the most effective POS system for your restaurant!

1. Understanding your restaurant's scale and needs

It’s essential to understand your restaurant scale and daily operational needs before you determine which features you want from your POS system. The features should align with your business goals and operational demands to ultimately improve business management, efficiency and profitability.

For instance, if your restaurant is a quick-service restaurant such as a fast-food shop, café or bar, you would want to look for a POS system with various payment platforms integrated to meet your customers’ needs of fast payment, and a membership management function to maintain customer loyalty and reduce customer acquisition cost.

If you run a midscale restaurant like a Cha chaan teng or global cuisine, kitchen and inventory management features would be your main focus to control food costs and prevent inventory shortages. For upscale restaurants, such as hotpot, buffets or fine-dining restaurants, you need a powerful POS system that offers features such as self-serve ordering with QR code, inventory management, reservation and queue management to streamline manual operations and arrangements to enhance the overall dining experience.

2. Consider the cost-effectiveness of the system

Pricing of F&B POS systems varies depending on the features provided and the equipment required, with prices ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, and payment plans can be one-time, monthly and annual, with each option having its own upside and downside.

While one-time payment avoids the trouble of monthly or annual payment, additional installation costs may be incurred for add-on features. Monthly or annual payment offers greater flexibility, enabling you to update, switch or terminate system features based on your business needs.

To maximise efficiency and cost effectiveness for your restaurant, you should examine your budget and determine whether the POS system's features and equipment can fulfil your restaurant's operational and management needs. Additionally, essential costs such as system setup, employee training, and maintenance and software update cost should also be considered.

3. Evaluate the system's usability and its hardware compatibility

A POS system with user-friendly interface and excellent hardware compatibility can help reduce employee training time, improve order accuracy and handle a higher volume of orders efficiently. 

Nowadays, many F&B POS systems are compatible with portable hardware such as smartphone, iPad, kitchen printer and barcode scanner, making it easy for employees to take, modify and make orders in real-time to enhance the flow and accuracy of the entire order. In addition, it is also crucial to evaluate whether the system requires specific hardware such as cash registers or computers, which may impact system usability and employee efficiency.

4. Integration of takeaway platforms and payment systems

Takeaway is probably one of the main sources of income for many F&B businesses. If the POS system is integrated with popular takeaway platforms such as Deliveroo or foodpanda, it can help merchants to increase restaurant turnover and analyse takeaway revenue more clearly. There are also some F&B POS systems that connect to their self-developed takeaway platforms for merchants to consider. 

In addition to takeaway platforms, it's crucial to consider whether the POS system can integrate with third-party electronic payment systems. By integrating these payment systems, you can synchronise order and payment information in real-time, improve settlement accuracy, speed up the payment process, and allow customers to choose their preferred payment method. KPay's One-stop smart POS terminal has been integrated with mainstream F&B POS systems, enabling merchants to accept up to 15 major payment methods and boost restaurant competitiveness in a bustling marketplace.

5. Be aware to the reporting feature of the POS system

The reporting feature is also one of the key features of a POS system. A powerful and effective POS system should provide a real-time, precise and detailed report on sales and inventory etc., for restaurant owners and their managers to understand and grasp the overall situation of the restaurant effortlessly, and thus formulate better marketing and business strategies. You should pay attention to whether the data in the dashboard and report can be easily understood at a glance and provide valuable insight to improve your business performance.

When you consider switching to a new F&B POS system, it's crucial to evaluate your restaurant's type, scale, operational processes, and budget before making a decision. By considering the factors mentioned above, you will be able to select a POS system that aligns with all your business operations and development needs.

KConnect, an all-in-one merchant operations management platform, allows you to manage everything in one place and converts your operational data into practical information to improve business operations and efficiency. The platform offers up to 80 operational-related systems for you to compare and connect, including CRM and loyalty management systems, ingredient sourcing platforms, and marketing tools etc., which help smoothen operational processes and drive more sales for your business.

Subscribe to the POS system or other SaaS tools via KConnect today, to enjoy free evaluation and consultation, exclusive discounts and offers, support from our professional team and more. Contact us now to explore more!