Buying the right point-of-sale system for your restaurant is one thing, but then ensuring it’s set up properly, is another story. The setup of your restaurant POS system has to do with the hardware more than the software, so it’s understandable those who may find the software intuitive and easy to navigate may have a problem setting up the hardware components.
For this matter, simply choosing the right hardware for your restaurant can be tricky if you aren’t 100% educated on all the different pieces of hardware which will make up your POS system. For example, there is always debate about how many ticket printers a restaurant needs. Unless you own or manage a very small restaurant, one ticket printer isn’t enough! RedFynn, or any other restaurant POS company you ask, will recommend you have a ticket printer for every area of your restaurant. The bar, the prep line, and the chef should all get separate tickets which pertain to their specific area. This is one of the best ways to prevent lost or undelivered tickets.
Another thing you will need to consider when you are setting up your restaurant’s POS system is what type of ticket printers, order-taking devices, and actual point-of-sale devices (such as iPads or computers).
Printer Setup
You can choose from thermal printers or impact printers with most POS manufacturing companies. There are advantages and disadvantages of each, so be sure to ask your salesperson about the differences. And consider little extras which can save you a lot of money down the road, such as a splash guard for the printer in your bar or prep area.
Table Service Setup
The table service POS piece of the total package is important as well. Most systems use iPads, although there are other digital devices which can do the same type of work. Mainly, you need to look for equipment which is easy to setup and use. Fast connections are important as well because this hardware and software are the only way orders will be transferred quickly and correctly from the floor to the kitchen, bar, and/or prep area.
Point of Sale Setup
The actual cash register is another important setup concern. It must be centrally located but also unobtrusive for the flow of your restaurant floor. You’ll need equipment to be durable enough to print receipts, take cash, and run credit cards at the final point-of-sale. You’ll have a whole new set of concerns if you decide to include the final POS as a table service.
No matter what POS system you choose, the setup will be a major part of its installation and proper operation. Restaurant POS setup will have to do with all of the individual hardware pieces, the connections between them, and the software which makes everything run properly. You’ll need to understand how all these individual parts work together and then do the installation yourself or have your restaurant POS system installed by an expert (highly recommended).
