Restaurants are struggling to meet staffing demands in the waning days of COVID-19 restrictions. As they return to normal and begin seating full or nearly full dining rooms, wait times are increasing while table turnaround rates are falling sharply. This is why it’s the perfect time to consider adding a mobile restaurant point of sale (mPOS) solution.
Restaurant owners already have enough on their plates to be dealing with the aftermath of 2020, and lack of employees shouldn’t be anywhere on that list. However, the reality is that small businesses everywhere were turned upside down during the pandemic, and staffing remains a constant struggle. Fortunately, an mPOS solution has the power to lift the heavy burden of being overworked and understaffed.
There are clear advantages to using an mPOS system in your restaurant. Here are four of the main benefits.
Offset the expense of changing hardware
Sometimes the reality of upgrading POS software is that the old POS hardware must also be refreshed. While it is possible to make do with legacy hardware in a modern mPOS solution, it is not ideal. Fortunately, switching to an mPOS system takes all the hard work (and guesswork) out of technological adjustments, and costs, thanks to the grand invention of tablets.
iPad tablets are the most effective piece of hardware used in a mobile-friendly restaurant POS system. Although expensive at the outset, the iPad offers award-winning support and a high level of security. Its versatility, and the ability to access cloud-hosted POS tools, will have your iPads making up their costs through a rapid ROI.
Create a new way to take and process orders
Utilizing iPad tablets as your POS device of choice is where you will see the physical signs of combating staffing shortages with tech. Tablets that can access your online menu and send orders directly to the kitchen will drastically reduce the time it takes to fill an order. Servers can remain focused on more tables without cutting corners on the service provided, and that makes for plenty of happy customers.
In a mobile POS setting, the ordering process will likely look something like this:
- The server approaches the table with an iPad that has your online menu open.
- As the customer dictates their order, your server simply taps it into the screen.
- Once finished, your server taps to send the order to the kitchen.
- The kitchen staff receives the order via a tablet-based kitchen display system.
- Since no handwriting needs to be decoded, the staff quickly prepares the dishes to perfection.
- The server is notified on their tablet that the table’s order is ready for pickup.
- Order is verified and delivered.
- At the end of the meal, payment is accepted digitally on the tablet, and a digital receipt is sent.
As you can see, the deployment of mobile-based POS technology decreases the time and steps needed to fill customer orders. Once in place, your new POS solution will drive sales upwards no matter the status of your hiring rates.
Train staff to ramp up faster
How do you train your staff to use the new features and devices, all while shortening the learning curve? Too little training leads to errors and a lack of confidence in the POS system’s ability to perform, and lengthy, inefficient training will take up valuable time.
The best answer to this question is to take advantage of the training provided by your POS partner. Any training given must be conducted initially, with the ability to access the training for new hires in the future. Given the likelihood that your staff uses much of the mobile technology you are now adding, the learning curve is likely to be shallow and the training a painless push towards productivity.
Ensure the POS software supports mobile devices
One common misconception surrounding POS technology is that if it is new, it will include support for the cloud and mobility. This couldn’t be further from the truth, as many restaurant POS systems still rely on wired, in-house systems. Although these are more robust than legacy POS terminals, they will fall short when it comes to catering to a mobile-savvy dining crowd.
There are several features to look for that ensures a full suite with mobile options:
- Cloud-based data storage
- Mobile (touchless) payment apps
- Virtual terminals
- Web-based menus and invoicing
- Support for mobile devices, including browser-friendly report viewing
Finding a restaurant POS system containing these items will give you the necessary foundation for going mobile. And with mobile capabilities, you will be able to take a bite out of your restaurant performance issues by letting your POS system become a part of your staff.
Partner with a mobile restaurant point of sale provider
Your customers are longing to return to your dining room after dealing with the pandemic. They want to sample your cuisine and to be catered to by your high-quality staff. But with fewer numbers of staff on hand, you will need the help of cutting-edge yet affordable mPOS technology to bridge the gap between staffing and service.
At talech, we make possibilities happen. Choosing us as your POS provider gives you the power of today’s restaurant point of sale features with the guidance of a business-savvy partner. From start to finish, you will receive the most effective input from a business and technology perspective to get you through your staffing shortages so you can retain your reputation as a restaurant that delivers on its promises. Contact us to learn more or to take part in a free demo.
