Any successful business owner is familiar with budget restrictions. Restaurant owners are often tasked with finding technology to address new needs as they arise without breaking the bank. As the industry shifts, restaurants are striving to meet increasing demands. Many are considering upgrading their POS system, but need to find affordable technology.
A cheap POS system doesn’t necessarily mean a low-quality POS system. Affordable, high-quality POS systems do exist. You just need to make sure that the one you choose can address your business needs.
Here are some factors you’ll want to consider when assessing a POS system to identify if it is an affordable, high-quality system or simply cheap:
SaaS Model Software
There are different reasons why a POS system may be affordable. Some are cheap because they lack basic functionality, however some are affordable simply because they’re offered on a different pricing structure.
For example, the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model doesn’t require a business to pay upfront for the software. Restaurants pay a predictable monthly subscription fee for the rights to use the software application. In some cases, restaurants can even run the SaaS application on hardware they purchase separately. However, there are some systems offered under this model that bundle the hardware and software together, and the SaaS subscription covers both.
Offline Mode
In a hospitality environment, downtime can be detrimental to your bottom line. If the internet connection goes out or there is a network connection disruption, it’s critical that you can continue to use your POS system.
You should make sure that the affordable POS system you are considering includes an offline mode, which allows business owners to continue running their business, even if the internet connection is unstable. A POS system with this feature stores all your data locally in the event of an outage, and pushes data back up to the server whenever the connection is restored.
On-Site and Remote Support
No form of technology exists that is entirely fail-safe. POS technology requires maintenance and servicing in order to continue operating at full speed. You never know when an issue will arise, so it’s crucial that you have both on-site and remote support options.
It’s also important that your provider is responsive, and can address any issues quickly and effectively. This can help minimize downtime, which is important if you want to remain profitable. Make sure you aren’t sacrificing high-quality support in a cheap POS system.
Ongoing Development
In addition to making sure you aren’t sacrificing support, you never want to sacrifice the ability to meet future needs as they arise. You can recognize the difference between a high-quality, affordable POS system and a low-quality cheap POS system by looking at ongoing development.
Developers are constantly working to ensure that the software has everything business owners need for a successful operation. As the industry changes, they will continue to innovate and update the software so that restaurant owners can run their businesses effectively.
Efficiency and Cost Savings
Look for a POS system that can help you find additional savings and allow you to stretch your budget further. You need the ability to identify areas where you can cut costs and increase control over your expenses. That way, you can devote more of your profits to growing your business.
Reporting and Analytics
It’s important that you have a deep visibility into your operations so that you can make smarter, data-based business decisions that increase your profitability and help you stay competitive. Look for a POS system that offers dashboards for operation analytics and detailed reports so that you can stay informed.
NCC offers affordable, high-quality SaaS POS solutions designed to help restauranteurs stay in control and increase profits. For more information on our solutions and how they can help your business, contact NCC today!
