POS

The do-it-yourself ethic hits hospitality: Part II

As dependence on the POS grows, expectations rise

Part I: The do-it-yourself ethic hits lodging

In restaurant settings, POS systems typically handle food orders, operate as smart cash registers, and perform other mission-critical functions such as labor management, scheduling, food ordering/inventory and even accounting.

Not all foodservice operations are created equal. For some companies, high transaction volume, a large number of point-of-sale terminals, and complex orders necessitate a powerful POS with all the frills. HT talks to some of these power users to find out what they need to keep up and running.

A point-of-sale system represents a huge investment for many companies, yet most fail to use even a fraction of the systems' capabilities. That relegates POS squarely to the expense category, when full use of the software and hardware they've bought can make POS a revenue-generator.

Your guests may be ready for self-service, but are you? According to Self-Service Takes Off, the Hospitality Industry Self-Service Technology Study (the study can be accessed and downloaded at htmagazine.com), consumers interest in self-service options at quick-service restaurants is growing, even as interest lags among restaurateurs.

Wireless point of sale pushes into uncharted territories