Home > Restaurant Equipment, Supply & Marketing Articles > Restaurant Management and Operations > The Importance of the Point of Sale (POS) System
Author: Monica Parpal
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Point of Sale (POS) equipment is the computer-based order-entry technology many restaurants use to capture orders, record data and display or print tickets. Restaurant servers, bartenders and cashiers can all use POS systems to easily enter food and beverage orders.
POS Capabilities
The POS acts as a cash register as well as a computer. In fact, the POS can consist of multiple stations, including credit card terminals, receipt printers, display screens, hostess stations and server stations. Having a POS system in place can add convenience, accuracy and save time in busy situations. In fact, is has the ability to perform a multitude of functions, including the following: * Calculate cash due for every order entered * Record the method of payment * Keep track of the cash in the cash drawer * Create hourly and daily sales reports * Allow hourly employees to clock in and out * Calculate labor and payroll data * Record daily check averages for each worker * Keep track of menu items sold * Record information on repeat customers
How Employees Use POS Systems
Keep in mind that some systems work differently than others. User processes will be different depending on restaurant type and service style. The following steps represent the general process of taking an order with a POS system: 1. The employee enters in his or her name or user code into the initial touch screen. This allows the worker to access the system. 2. The employee begins a new order or check by entering in food items the customer orders. For full service restaurants, the employee is also able to choose a table number and add food to an existing check. 3. The POS sends this all order information to the kitchen or