POS for Restaurants: EPOC POS Features

O POS system is decisive for the success of any restaurant. That is because it is what sets the pace of the operation, the speed of customer service and the efficiency of sales management.

A POS that is slow, hard to operate, with limited features and that keeps crashing all the time can be a major obstacle to the growth of the business. That is why making the right choice is so important. But how do you know which one is best?

In this article, find out which aspects to consider in this decision and get to know all the benefits of the EPOC POS. Keep reading and find out!

Leia também: How to choose the best restaurant system?

How important is the POS system for restaurants?

O POS (Point of Sale) is the system used to take customer orders, record sales, process payments and carry out other internal processes such as issuing invoices and deducting items from inventory, for example.

In other words: it is what keeps the operation running.

Without a functional, efficient POS, the restaurant will certainly face several problems that can hurt the customer experience, the sales results and even the financial health of the business.

On the other hand, a good POS has the potential to improve results and boost the business. After all, the operation flows smoothly, productivity is much higher and the manager can focus on analyzing results and drawing up improvement strategies.

Below, learn more about the benefits of implementing a POS in your restaurant.

4 benefits of a POS for restaurants

With a restaurant POS system you can cut your costs, gain more agility in the operation, modernize the customer experience with self-service and rely on trustworthy data to base your decisions on and draw up more effective strategies. Learn more about these benefits below:

1. Cutting costs and errors

An outdated POS can cause you to waste supplies and, on top of that, lead to errors both when recording orders and when closing the register. The result in both cases is the same: you lose money.

That is why it is best to have a complete restaurant POS that lets orders be recorded electronically – whether at the counter or at the tables – and sent automatically to the KDS or order printer.

That way, you avoid orders reaching the kitchen wrong (which wastes supplies) and also mistakes when opening and closing the register. As a result, the numbers always add up and you get greater financial efficiency.

2. Gaining agility in the operation

For customers, all it takes is placing an order and waiting for it to arrive. On the restaurant's side, this process involves several departments and tools:

• the service team;
• recording the order in the POS itself;
• sending the order to the prep area and the prep itself;
• inventory update;
• order delivery;
• payment recording.

In other words, there are many tasks that need to happen in sync and quickly to make sure everything works properly. And a modern POS helps with that.

Com um restaurant checkout system that is efficient, you speed up all these steps. Orders are recorded on mobile devices, computers or smart card machines and sent directly to the prep area.

3. Enabling self-service

A more modern POS even lets customers themselves decide what to order, place the order and even pay on their own.

That way, using tablets, kiosks or even their own smartphones, customers can view the menu, place the order (which is sent automatically to the kitchen) and close their tab by paying for the order.

This technology helps cut lines, optimize your investment in service and still deliver a modern experience to everyone who visits your restaurant.

That is why it is important to have a POS that integrates with digital tabs/menus and with self-service kiosks.

4. Storing relevant data about your customers and your operation

Finally, a restaurant checkout system combined with a complete management solution gives you a truly inexhaustible source of valuable information about your business and also about your customers.

After all, by analyzing data from a POS that works integrated with a restaurant management system, you can:

• identify the most profitable and most popular times;
• find out which menu items bring the most profitability;
• analyze your team's performance;
• track cash flow in real time.

That way, you can make more strategic decisions and plan the future of your restaurant with an eye on improving your operation and maximizing your profitability.

Best POS for restaurants: learn how to choose

Finding the best POS for your restaurant can be challenging. There are many options on the market and many of them have quite similar features.

To help with this decision, we have listed below some important points that can make a big difference for your restaurant.

Ease and speed

If the system is too complex, with too many details and steps to enter the

order, the waiter will have trouble learning to use it and operating it day to day. If you often hire freelancers, you should pay even more attention to this.

Besides the delay in entering the order, more errors can also happen — like forgetting to remove an ingredient, for example. This directly impacts service and can cause customer dissatisfaction.

Estabilidade

One of the worst situations a restaurant can face is having the system go down. Imagine having a full house of customers waiting to be served and simply not being able to take orders, record sales and process payments.

Having a stable, reliable system that offers support if failures happen is crucial to ensuring a safe operation and not running the risk of ending up in the red and losing your customers.

flexibility

The system should adapt to your operation, not the other way around. One of the biggest challenges when choosing a POS is precisely finding a system that delivers everything you need.

A good POS makes it possible to configure the system in the best way for your operation to be efficient, regardless of the model you choose.

If you choose a system that only works for table service, for example, and at some point you want to run an event with counter sales, it may end up limiting your business.

Reliability

The main function of a restaurant system is to automate processes like financial management and inventory control, for example. A more robust POS is usually integrated with these areas, which makes routine tasks easier and enables data analysis.

However, you need to check whether the flow of information is reliable and whether the data is consistent. Otherwise, you may end up with just as much of a headache over numbers and reports that do not “add up” as you would with a spreadsheet.

Integrações 

Also look at which integrations are available. Make sure you can integrate the other systems your operation needs: inventory, CRM, ERP, KDS, digital menu, payment methods, delivery, and so on.

Sistema na nuvem

Look for a solution that runs in the cloud. That means big savings on infrastructure and, on top of that, the convenience and flexibility of being able to use mobile pos.

Besides that, a restaurant system that runs in the cloud also lets you manage the business even without being there, tracking the number of sales and how the operation is going.

safety

When it comes to your register, every bit of security is needed. After all, it is used for all your business's transactions and can be operated by several people during a single day – which opens the door to errors or even fraud.

That is why you should only rely on a restaurant POS that brings features to standardize the opening and closing of the register, as well as to allow access only to authorized staff.

Besides that, a differentiator that can tip the scales when choosing a POS is the ability to track the numbers in real time, whether on a computer or on your smartphone.

Suporte

Finally, there is no point in having complete, versatile software if you do not know how to use it – or do not have help in case of surprises or problems.

In other words: it is essential to have careful, well-trained support to help you in those moments. Give preference to a company that offers that kind of care for you and your restaurant.

EPOC POS: meet the ideal system to boost your restaurant

O EPOC POS is the best option for restaurants. Built to meet the specific needs of this market, our solution is complete and versatile, with all the features your business needs to grow. Check out some of the advantages below!

It works for every service model

No matter what your restaurant's concept or operating model is: EPOC allows

a wide range of configurations and adapts to what you need.

We support every type of operation — standard and split tables, individual tabs and direct counter sales —, including simultaneously. That way, you have full flexibility to decide how your operation will run, and you can change it at any time without having to switch systems.

With EPOC you have endless possibilities and can use them whenever you want. For example: running tables and counter sales day to day, and offering individual tabs at private events.

Simple, intuitive usability

The EPOC POS is simple and easy to operate. Your staff will have no trouble learning to use the system. With just a few commands and screens, it becomes much faster to enter the orders. 

We also have the phased ordering feature, taken in stages. Ele pode ser configurado para orientar os atendentes, garantindo que eles lembrem de fazer personalização dos pedidos e de dar sugestões aos clientes. 

This way, the system helps you deliver excellent service that's personalized and, above all, efficient.

Works on every device

EPOC POS works on every device:

• smart POS – card machine
• Computador
• Tablet
• Smartphone 
• In the web browser

You decide which one works best for your operation!

Stable system and guaranteed support

EPOC POS offers a modern, robust and reliable infrastructure so you don't run into problems during your operation.

We serve clients of every size and guarantee the system's stability. With the option of a cloud provider and a local one, it works even without an internet connection. 

And if any problem comes up, you have guaranteed support to solve it right away.

Efficient inventory

O controle de estoque is one of the most challenging activities for restaurants, but it becomes much easier and more efficient with EPOC POS.

Our solution lets you register product recipe cards and this allows inventory to be deducted automatically as soon as the order is placed. This way, you can track everything in real time and have absolute control over your inventory.

On top of that, with an integrated, automated system, you get more reliable information, avoid errors, track everything in detail and can plan your purchasing better. That way, you avoid waste and save money.

faster service

EPOC POS integrates with other solutions that make your operation much smoother and more efficient, helping to make the customer experience even better. You'll have every feature you need to deliver fast, personalized service.

You can configure all the printers however you like, sending orders straight to the place where they'll be prepared.

Waiters simply enter the orders in the system and are notified when they're ready. This cuts down on trips back and forth and on errors, speeding up service.

You can also choose to use a KDS display for even more efficiency. Orders entered in the POS go automatically to the right production station, organized on a board with a timer and configurable alerts, boosting your kitchen team's productivity. 

The system also has a runner screen that makes order management easier.

Reports and hassle-free data analysis

EPOC POS also has a complete back office, with sales, purchasing, inventory, finance, tax, CRM and administrative modules.

With it you get visibility and control over your business and can devise strategies for continuous improvement.

You can also view your results easily and intuitively in an Analytics Dashboard. Check out data such as:

• Faturamento
• Table Turnover
• Dwell Time
• Ticket Médio
• Number of People by Time Slot
• Detailed products and services with ABC Curve
• Customer behavior and consumption profile
• Staff performance and comparison

And much more! Set up whatever filters you want and see how your operation is performing.

All the integrations you need

Our restaurant POS system integrates with all the leading tools on the market:

• Payment methods: Stone, Rede, Cielo, Safrapay, Pagseguro, Destaxa
• Delivery platforms: iFood, Rappi, Delivery Direto, Delivery App, neemo, go2go
• ERP systems: SAP, Everest and Omie
• Financeiro: F360
• On Tap: Enjoy.it, myTapp

That way, you have everything you need to run your operation and manage your business!

If you want to know how EPOC's features can be put to work in your restaurant, Talk to our consultants! We'll help you optimize your operation and achieve the best results.