According to The 2016 Smart Decision Guide to Restaurant Management and POS Systems (which is now available for complimentary access), next-generation restaurant management and POS systems are having a profound impact on business operations, guest satisfaction, revenue growth and overall profitability in hotel and resort operations.
These advanced technologies are bringing more change to food and beverage services than anything since the 1980s, when restaurant operators shifted from cash registers to POS terminals. The technologies encompass both software and hardware — most notably, the introduction of tablets. Whether standard-issue, all-purpose models or devices specialized to the task at hand, tablets make it possible to put full POS terminal functionality in the palms of servers’ hands.
According the research, more than three-quarters (78%) of restaurant managers cite the benefits of POS mobility as the top reason to upgrade their technology capabilities. Yet the benefits of POS mobility are certainly not the only reason that so many hotel operators are upgrading their restaurant technology capabilities.
The growing need to accept new payment methods, including chip credit cards and e-wallet apps, also ranks as high priority in many peoples’ minds. The need to comply with new data security requirements is another compelling reason that so many restaurant operators are making the leap to a next-generation system.
So, too, are the benefits of migrating from on-premise installation to cloud-based deployment. In addition, many operators are drawn to the improved user interfaces — and increased flexibility and customizability — that have become the hallmark of next-generation solutions.
For some, the biggest selling points are improvements in features and functionality. These improvements are evident in the expanded ordering and payment processing capabilities. They are evident in the built-in inventory control and labor management capabilities. In some cases, they are evident in the marketing, guest relationship management and loyalty program management capabilities.
Just as important to many are the robust data analysis and performance reporting capabilities that many solutions now offer and which can help them better manage their operations and identify more opportunities for improvement.
To that point, hotel operators can capture an enormous amount of valuable guest information from POS transactions, including those taking place across the property’s eating establishments. By enhancing guest profiles with restaurant POS data, hotel operators may have the opportunity to further maximize the value of guest relationships.
The 2016 Smart Decision Guide to Restaurant Management and POS Systems is now available for complimentary access.