Hospitality is a dynamic industry with so many moving parts, and with that comes the need to adapt and get ahead of the competition. Gone are the days of jotting down orders and setting reminders to stay on top of compliance - we’re now in the digital age of hospo where Point of Sale (POS) systems and restaurant management software takes care of the admin.
We’ve rounded up 5 tools to move your hospitality business in the right direction, and to help stay on top of everything you need to not only get customers through the door, but to keep them coming back for more.
1. Lightspeed
Lightspeed is a popular cloud-based POS system with features that allow you to manage your at-table, online, and delivery orders with ease. The table management features let you build a model of the restaurant layout to match the seating plan, giving more visibility over which tables are available - especially when there are inevitable blind spots. The reporting and inventory features make it simple to track stock and manage team performance, all in one place.
The financial reporting shows you exactly what works and what doesn’t, so you’re able to make informed decisions based on how your restaurant is performing. Since Lightspeed works through the cloud, you’ll be able to manage multiple locations remotely, giving you more time and freedom to make necessary changes.
Pricing: Manage is recommended for cafes and small restaurants - $120AUD per month
2. Revel
Revel is another widely used POS system, and was actually the first iPad system to hit the market! The tableside ordering means you won’t need to jot down orders on a notepad, or try to remember them (as impressive as that is) - servers can simply tap on the items being ordered, and fire it straight through to the kitchen. The restaurant layout is quickly set up, and makes it easier to move customers around and manage multiple tables at a time.
Revel also enables employee management and scheduling features to keep on top of rosters, as well as other administrative tasks. Along with these features, the app also has flexibility around payment options which allow customers to pay as they choose.
Pricing: Starts at $99USD per month
3. Mobi2go
Mobi2go is also cloud-based and helps restaurants to manage their ordering, delivery, loyalty programs, and performance insights - making Mobi2go a well-rounded solution. The system can be embedded right into your existing website and even integrates with your current POS system. From here you can build a customised app to push your restaurant brand even further, and take your customer experience to the next level.
Mobi2go enables simple tableside ordering, but one thing that stands out about their offering is their kiosk ordering system. With a kiosk you’ll be able to reduce the queue for customers, and increase order spend, by providing a seamless ordering experience.
Pricing: Get in touch with the team to determine pricing for your hospitality business.
4. posBoss
posBoss is another system operated by iPads, making it an easy way to place orders and process payments without all the cables. The setup is painless, and the 1 hour personalised POS training gets the system up and running, with the whole team trained in under half an hour. Additionally, the menu can be set up in just a matter of hours.
The comprehensive dashboard shows a snapshot of performance in real-time, and gives complete transparency into what is and isn’t performing well. The paperless ordering system gives you the option to remove unnecessary waste from dockets, helping align with your sustainability goals. Another standout feature is the option to add the Regulr app, which makes mobile ordering and click & collect even easier for your customers.
Pricing: The Medium pricing package is recommended for physical venues with multiple team members - $65NZD per month
5. Safe Food Pro
Compliance in hospitality can be daunting to manage, but Safe Food Pro takes out all the guesswork by providing a simple yet powerful food safety app. Without the need for tedious paperwork, everything can be done in the app using the digital Food Control Plan.
The app provides Covid-19 specific forms to ensure that you and your staff are following all the rules relevant to your business. Features like automated temperature monitoring notifies you when temperatures are outside the set limits, so you won’t need to check manually. Managing a long list of compliance tasks is made simple with the scheduling feature, allowing you to streamline your operation and stay safe at all times. The management dashboard and business insights gives a full overview of performance, allowing you to back your decisions with data.
Pricing: Starts at $65NZD to get smaller businesses up and running.
These 5 solutions will steer you in the right direction and set you up for success. If you’re looking for more resources to take your business to the next level, the Restaurant Association of NZ has some of the most helpful information in the hospitality industry.
If you’re on the lookout for free applications to get ahead of the game, and move your business into the digital world, check out our blog to find Free Software & Tools That Will Change Your Business for the Better.
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