One of the most important decisions when opening a restaurant or bar is: which service and sales control format should you use?
That's because this choice impacts not only the customer experience, but also the efficiency of the operation and the business's results.
The individual tab is one of the options and has several benefits. Keep reading this article to find out how it works and why to use it in your establishment!
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What is an individual tab?
The individual tab is a way to control and record each customer's consumption separately in a restaurant, bar, or nightclub.
In this system, the attendant opens a tab for each customer when they arrive at the venue. This way, the consumption record is kept individually, making service more organized, simplifying order management, and speeding up payment.
The tab can include information such as:
- tab number
- customer name
- items ordered and their quantities
- unit price and total of what was consumed
It can also carry notes about the service, such as changes to dishes and other customer requests.
There are different tab formats you can use: paper tabs, cards, wristbands, and digital or electronic tabs. Basta que tenham um número único, um QR Code ou um código de barras para identificação do cliente.
Learn more: Tab formats: find out which one is best for your business
How does the individual tab work?
Individual tabs can be classified into two types: prepaid and postpaid. A escolha entre uma e outra deve levar em conta o modelo de negócio, a organização da operação e a experiência do cliente. Saiba mais a seguir:
Prepaid tab
In this model, the customer pays before consuming. Ou seja: adquire um valor em créditos na comanda e pode utilizar à vontade. Basta apresentar a comanda ao atendente para descontar o valor do que deseja consumir.
It's most common in bars and nightclubs, since it speeds up service, improves control, and avoids lines at the register at the end of the night. The downside, however, is that customers may end up spending less because they don't want to top up again.
It's also common for customers to have some balance left on the tab. In this case, you can refund it or set a deadline for the customer to use it on another visit, which helps build loyalty.
Leia também: Electronic tabs for bars: how do you use this technology?
Postpaid tab
In this model, the waiter or attendant opens a tab for the customer when they arrive at the venue and records everything they consume. At the end, the customer presents the tab to have the total calculated and pay.
It's typically used by restaurants, bars, pizzerias, cafés, and snack bars. The advantage is that customers can order and consume without worrying about payment right away.
This makes the experience smoother and can encourage them to buy more, since it's easier to simply order another round, for example, than to go through the trouble of topping up the tab before consuming.
On the other hand, this system can cause lines at the register and carries a greater risk of errors and losses. This can be solved with self-service options such as EPOC GO. Com ele o cliente faz o pedido e o pagamento sem precisar aguardar atendimento.
Leia também: Electronic tab for restaurants: discover the benefits
6 reasons to use individual tabs
If you're still unsure whether adopting individual tabs makes sense for your restaurant or bar, check out our list of benefits below!
1. Accuracy in recording orders
You know when there's a group at a table and everyone wants a different dish and drink? The chances of it turning into a mess are high: the waiter writes down the wrong order, forgets that someone wanted their juice without ice, doesn't know who ordered what.
Individual tabs make recording far more accurate. Since each customer has their own tab, there's much less confusion and fewer errors. It's much easier to know what each person consumed and deliver it correctly.
2. Faster service
With a prepaid tab, customers have more freedom to consume and the attendant only needs to deduct the order, which speeds up service considerably and prevents lines.
With a postpaid tab, the attendant has quick access to what each customer ordered. This makes order delivery more efficient, since there's no confusion or delay.
On top of that, the waiter can offer personalized service, addressing customers by name and making suggestions based on what they've already ordered, for example.
3. Greater control
With an individual tab, it's easier to track each customer's consumption.
This benefits the customer, who knows exactly what they consumed and can keep an eye on spending. And it benefits the business too, since sales records are more accurate, reducing fraud and errors that can hurt revenue.
4. Easier order customization
Since everyone has their own tab, customizing orders is easier.
There's no risk of the waiter forgetting or mixing it up with someone else's order. So the customer can swap ingredients, add an item, include a note for the kitchen, and be sure the request will be honored. The experience becomes more personalized and satisfying.
5. Splitting the bill is simpler
Individual tabs also make paying easier. Everyone has their own with a record of what they consumed, so there's no need to recall each person's order and do the math to split the bill. That puts an end to disputes, speeds up payment, and shortens lines at the register.
6. Consumption data and customer profiles
If you use a system with customer registration, individual tabs also let you collect data and run analyses to understand your customer profile and their consumption patterns.
It's very simple to identify which items sell the most and which aren't so popular, for example. With that, you can adjust the menu and design promotions and customer loyalty strategies.
In short, the main benefits of individual tabs are a better customer experience, more efficient service, fewer errors and less fraud, and insights that drive sales.
Although it's a highly advantageous system, it's worth noting: always consider your business's needs, such as its concept, audience profile, and the dynamics of your operation.
If it makes sense, count on EPOC to bring all these benefits to your business. Learn more below!
EPOC: individual tabs for more efficient service
EPOC is a POS system that is complete and flexible, with everything you need for greater efficiency in your operation.
We are the most complete individual electronic tab solution on the market. Choose the format that's simplest for your customer and most effective for your business:
- Prepaid or Postpaid
- With customer registration or Without customer registration
- Comandas NFC cashless
- Comanda eletrônica RFID
- Digital tab in the app
You can also use individual tabs at the same time as table or counter service. In other words: EPOC adapts to what your business needs to be more profitable.
If you'd like to explore all the features of our POS and find out how we can help your business grow, fale com nossos consultores!
