Wireless Point of Sale Systems: Restaurant POS Software That Increases Profits

In a high cost and competitive market, it's no wonder that those in the hospitality industry want technology to help them increase revenues. But how can wireless point of sale systems and wireless mobile computing help them achieve this?

Wireless mobile computing can help in many ways. One such instance is by eliminating the need for serving staff to line up at a specific POS terminal to place orders. By utilizing wireless handheld devices, serving staff are more productive since time spent during the order taking process is decreased. Wireless mobile computing also allows serving staff to place orders instantly, and then go directly to the next table, thereby increasing table turns. And because serving staff are more productive, significant savings can be seen through decreased labor costs.

Another drawback to stationary POS terminals is that serving staff usually place a number of orders at once to the kitchen, overwhelming kitchen staff. Placing orders tableside eliminates this problem, as orders are more evenly spaced. Plus, when orders are placed tableside, order taking is more accurate and less food is wasted. This directly translates into decreased food costs. Serving staff can also spend more time with customers, which significantly increases up-sell opportunities.

Utilizing wireless point of sale systems & wireless handheld devices in a hospitality environment also allows managers to approach staffing in a more cost effective and efficient way. Instead of scheduling a large number of serving staff who are responsible for all the order taking and food delivery, a wireless POS solution allows restaurant owners the opportunity to hire just a few skilled staff, give them larger sections, and make their primary focus greeting customers, taking orders and up selling. Non-serving staff can then be hired (at significant payroll savings) to dispatch food and clean sections. When serving staff are able to remain on the floor, the result is superior customer service and again increased sales through up selling and faster table turns.

One Canadian company has revolutionized the wireless POS industry in a creative and innovative way. Toronto based Volante POS Systems uses PC notebooks (not much bigger then a handheld) and the entire point of sale software is loaded on the unit and it runs as a terminal with peer to peer, data synching etc. PDA's don't work in this manner- they require writing to the unit (in other words, new code, separate product) plus they're not robust enough for Food and beverage. Volante has evolved its software into the peer to peer architecture, and now POS software can be loaded onto a small wireless notebook with amazing results. The technology is without peer in the point of sale industry.

This approach can work exceptionally well in venues that aren't traditional table side establishments, such as stadiums, trade shows, casinos, arenas, race tracks and outdoor sales areas (such as rooftop patios for instance) where conventional POS terminals aren't practical nor feasible.

Wireless POS solutions truly allow hospitality leaders to enter the 21st century, giving them an extra edge in a fiercely competitive industry.