Tablets have become increasingly popular as POS systems in recent years. A recent report by Hubspot suggests that 95% of restaurant owners believe that technology enables better operations. Whereas, 73% of dining guests agree that technology enhances the dining experience.
Using a tablet as a restaurant POS system provides increased mobility, leading to increased speed of service. Another reason for the popularity of tablets is their ease of use, intuitiveness and user-friendliness. Tablet POS systems also offer a wide range of features and functionality, allowing businesses to meet their specific needs.
Currently, there are many tablet based POS systems available on the market, each with its own set of features and benefits. Some of the popular options include Square, Shopify POS, and 3S POS.
What are the benefits of using tablets as POS systems?
Some of the benefits of using tablets as POS systems in restaurants are:
- Increased speed of service: Tablets provide mobility, allowing staff to take orders and process payments from anywhere in the restaurant.
- Improved customer experience: They can provide customers with information about ingredients, specials, substitutions, and nutrition information.
- Efficient business operations: Using tablet POS systems can simplify business processes such as inventory management, staff scheduling, and cash flow.
- Cost-effectiveness: Tablets can be more cost-effective than traditional POS systems. They often have lower up-front costs that may not require as much hardware.
- Scalability: Tablet POS systems are easily scalable, allowing you to add or remove devices as your business grows or changes.
- Customisation: They offer a high degree of customisation that allows you to tailor the system to meet your specific business needs.
- Integration: Many tablet POS systems can be integrated with other business tools and software, such as accounting software or customer relationship management (CRM) systems.
What features should I look for in a handheld ordering system?
When choosing a handheld ordering system for your restaurant or food business, there are several that you should look for. However, the following are some of the most important ones you should add to you must-have list of features:
- Order management: To take and manage orders from customers.
- Payment processing: To accept and process payments from customers.
- Inventory management: To track inventory levels and usage to reduce waste.
- Staff management: To schedule and track labour costs for staff members.
- Customer loyalty programs: To offer rewards and incentives to loyal customers.
- Reporting and analytics: To generate reports and analyse data to make informed business decisions.
- Menu management: To easily update and manage your menu items and prices.
- Online ordering: To accept online orders from customers.
- Table management: To manage table assignments and reservations.
- Marketing tools: To create and manage marketing campaigns to attract new customers.
Choose a POS system that offers the features that are most relevant to your business. You should also want to consider the ease of use and compatibility of the system with the existing devices.
How much does a Handheld Ordering system cost?
The cost of a tablet POS system can vary depending on several factors such as the type of tablet you choose and the features included. Some tablet POS systems have no up-front costs as long as you already own a tablet or iPad that you want to use as a POS system. Other tablet POS systems may have an up-front cost for the hardware ranging between £500 to £5000.
What are the ongoing costs of a tablet POS system?
The ongoing costs of a restaurant order pad can vary depending on the system you choose. Here’s some ongoing costs you should consider:
- Software subscription fees: Many tablet POS systems charge a monthly or annual fee for the use of their software.
- Payment processing fees: If you use the tablet POS system to process payments from customers, you may be charged a fee for each transaction.
- Hardware maintenance and replacement: Over time, you may need to repair or replace the hardware used in your tablet POS system.
Compare the costs of several different systems to find the one that best fits your budget in both short and long term.
How do I choose the right tablet POS system for my business?
Choosing the right tablet POS for restaurant is one of the most important decisions you make. Here’s some important factors you should consider:
- Features: Find a POS system that offers the features that are most important to your business, such as order management, payment processing, inventory management, staff management, and customer loyalty programs.
- Ease of use: Choose a tablet POS system that is intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy for staff to learn how to use it.
- Compatibility: Make sure the tablet POS system is compatible with your existing devices and business tools.
- Cost: Consider the up-front and ongoing costs, including software subscription fees, payment processing fees, and hardware maintenance and replacement costs.
- Scalability: Look for a system that is easily scalable, allowing you to add or remove devices as your business grows or changes.
- Customer support: Pick a solution that offers reliable and responsive customer support to help you resolve any issues that may arise.
- Security: Opt for a POS system that uses secure payment processing and data storage methods to protect your customers’ information.
- Integration: Consider whether the new system can be integrated with other business tools and software, such as accounting software or customer relationship management (CRM) systems.
- Customizability: It’s important to choose a solution that offers a high degree of customisation, allowing you to tailor the system to meet your specific business needs.
Research and compare several different tablet POS systems before making a decision. Read online reviews and ask for recommendations from other restaurant or food business owners.
For almost 20 years, 3S POS has offered one of the most flexible EPOS systems to international brands such as Caffe Concerto, Maroush, Comptoir Libanais, Pepe’s Piri Piri, GDK and thousands more delighted customers.
If you are looking for handheld orderPAD that will not just help you take orders easily, but grow your business and bring repeat business, book a free demo with our sales team.