Your Restaurant Needs a Mobile Point of Sale System, Here's Why
In today's fast-paced world, technology is rapidly changing the way we do business. In the restaurant industry, having a mobile point of sale (mPOS) system has become increasingly important. With the rise of food delivery and takeout services, as well as the need for efficient payment processing, restaurant owners can no longer rely solely on traditional cash registers.
A mobile POS system allows for greater flexibility and convenience, both for customers and staff. In this article, we will explore why your restaurant needs a mobile point of sale system, and how it can benefit your business.
Benefits of a Mobile Point of Sale System
Increased Efficiency
With a mobile POS system, servers can take orders and process payments from anywhere in the restaurant, including right at the table, eliminating the need for handwritten tickets and trips back and forth to a stationary terminal. This results in faster table turnovers and shorter wait times for customers.
Improved Accuracy
By inputting orders directly into a mobile device, the risk of human error is reduced. Orders are sent directly to the kitchen, reducing the chance of miscommunication and ensuring that the order is prepared exactly as the customer requested.
Enhanced Customer Service
With a mobile POS system, servers can spend more time interacting with customers and providing a personalized experience. They can answer questions, make recommendations, and quickly process orders without leaving the table, resulting in a more efficient and enjoyable dining experience.
Increased Sales
Mobile POS systems can help increase sales by allowing servers to take orders and process payments on the spot. This means that customers can order additional items, such as drinks or desserts, without having to wait for the server to return to the table with a stationary terminal.
Better Payment Security
Mobile POS systems are generally more secure than traditional cash registers. They encrypt payment information, making it more difficult for hackers to steal sensitive data. Additionally, many mobile POS systems offer features such as tokenization and point-to-point encryption, further protecting customer payment information.
Use Cases for Mobile Point of Sale Systems
Table-side Ordering
With a mobile POS system, servers can take orders directly at the table, using a handheld device. This allows them to input orders more quickly and accurately, resulting in faster service and increased customer satisfaction.
Line Busting
During peak hours, long lines at the cash register can deter customers from making a purchase. With a mobile POS system, employees can process payments while customers are still in line, reducing wait times and increasing sales.
Outdoor Events
Many restaurants participate in outdoor events, such as food festivals and farmers markets. A mobile POS system allows them to process payments on the go, without the need for a stationary terminal.
Takeout and Delivery
With the rise of food delivery and takeout services, it's important for restaurants to have a way to process payments on the go. A mobile POS system allows drivers to accept payments at the customer's doorstep, making the process more efficient and secure.
Table-side Payments
After a meal, customers often have to wait for their server to bring the check and process the payment. With a mobile POS system, servers can bring the check and process the payment directly at the table, reducing wait times and improving customer satisfaction.
SumUp's Card Readers are the perfect mobile point of sale system solution. Take card or smartphone payments from anywhere and opt to add on a convenient receipt printer. Photo credit: @cookielab_cl
Customization and Scalability
Mobile point of sale systems offer customization and scalability to fit the needs of small and large restaurants. With customizable features, such as menu items and modifiers, you can tailor the system to fit your unique business needs. This can help you to improve efficiency and accuracy in order-taking and payment processing.
Mobile point of sale systems also offer scalability to grow with your business. As your business grows, you can add new features and functionality to your mPOS system to meet your changing needs. This can help you to stay competitive and meet the evolving needs of your customers.
Security and Support Features
Mobile point of sale systems offer security and support features that are essential for any restaurant business. These features include PCI compliance and data security measures, live customer support and technical assistance, and regular software updates and maintenance.
PCI compliance is a set of security standards that businesses must follow to protect customer payment data. By using a mobile point of sale system that is PCI compliant, you can ensure that your customers' payment data is secure.
Live customer support and technical assistance are also important features of a mobile point of sale system. If you encounter any issues with your system, you can rely on the support team to help you resolve them quickly and efficiently.
Regular software updates and maintenance are also essential for keeping your system up-to-date and secure. By keeping your software up-to-date, you can ensure that your system is running smoothly and that any security vulnerabilities are addressed.
Implementation and Training Considerations
When implementing a mobile point of sale system, it's important to identify your specific business needs and priorities. You should also evaluate the level of technical expertise required for implementation and provide comprehensive training materials and ongoing support for staff.
Identifying your specific business needs and priorities will help you to choose the right mPOS system for your business. You should consider factors such as the size of your business, the number of employees, and the types of payments you accept.
Evaluating the level of technical expertise required for implementation is also important. Some mPOS systems are more complex than others, and you may need to hire a technical expert to help you set up and configure your system.
Providing comprehensive training materials and ongoing support for staff is essential for ensuring that your mPOS system is used effectively. You should provide training on how to use the system, how to troubleshoot common issues, and how to ensure that customer payment data is secure.
A mobile point of sale system offers several benefits for your restaurant business, including flexibility, improved customer experience, increased efficiency and accuracy, and customization and scalability. By understanding the use cases for mobile point of sale systems, considering security and support features, and providing comprehensive training and support for staff, you can choose the best option for your unique business.
