Is your pizza restaurant POS system helping you grow your business with:
- Online platform integration?
- Reporting dashboards?
- Analytics dashboards?
- Payment processor integration?
If you need to revisit your point-of-sale (POS) system or don't have one yet, we're going to explain how to choose one, as well as the costs and other factors that will make your decision-making process easier.
How to Choose a Restaurant POS System for Your Pizza Shop
You'll find dozens of companies willing to sell you a pizza POS system, and if you don't know the ins and outs of how these point-of-sale systems work, it's challenging to know which is the best fit for your business.
A few features to consider and questions to ask vendors before buying a POS are:
Does it Integrate With Other Systems?
Your restaurant POS software should connect with other systems that you use to streamline your operations. For example, your POS may connect with online ordering platforms to provide a seamless integration that allows you to:
- Monitor sales from one easy-to-use system
- Capture sales from online and offline sales
Online ordering is the easy, fast way for people to order pizza. Since Domino's began offering online orders in 2007, it's now the norm for people to order their pizza online. Over 3 billion pizzas are consumed in the United States alone each year, and many of them are ordered online.
If you want to avoid third-party platform commissions, you'll want to use a POS that allows for custom branding on their online ordering platform.
Integrations are just the start of what your point-of-sale system should help you achieve.
Does It Allow for Item Customizations?
Your pizzeria's menu is unique, and you'll need a system that offers full item customization. Some guests may order an "everything pizza," but in the description, they may ask you to hold the mushrooms.
Sit down and think about when customers call you and ask to order a pizza.
- Do customers have special requests?
- What are the most common customizations?
With the answer to both of these questions, you can then consider whether or not a POS offers the item customization options your consumers demand.
You want to be sure that the ordering experience is as seamless and robust as possible. If your system doesn't offer item customization or is too cumbersome for users to use, they will order from another pizzeria instead.
Which Payment Types Are Accepted?
Today, customers expect to have a wide range of payment options when ordering from restaurants. To meet customer demand, it is crucial to ensure that you consider payment options when choosing a POS system for pizza shop sales.
For starters, make sure that the system has built-in payment processing features. This will help ensure payments are seamless and fast.
Your POS system should accept multiple payment methods, including:
- Cash
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Gift cards (if applicable)
- Mobile wallets
The more payment methods you can accept, the better.
Make sure that you understand the provider's rates and pricing for payment processing, so you can consider these costs when narrowing down your options.
Does the System Offer Detailed Reporting and Analytics?
Data is invaluable for restaurant owners. It helps you understand sales trends, customer behavior and more. Having a POS system that provides detailed analytics and reporting can help you:
- Understand your slow periods
- Identify menu items that aren't performing well and should be removed
- Get a clear picture of your in-house dining and off-premise deliveries
- See which pizza toppings are your best-sellers and which ones are ignored by customers
- Identify your busiest hours
When comparing POS systems, inquire about their analytics and reporting tools. Some platforms offer more detailed data than others.
For example, Toast offers a POS system for pizzerias that allows you to set your delivery zone and provides detailed insights from customer data. Their AI-powered insights can help you better serve customers by anticipating their needs. You'll also get to know your regulars and their go-to orders, so you can provide better service.
It's helpful to have a list of data you want to track, so you can determine whether the system will meet your needs.
Is the Customer Support Team Responsive?
When choosing a pizza POS system, one thing that many shop owners overlook is the importance of choosing a provider with a responsive customer support team.
Your POS system will be needed for every order a customer makes. What happens if the system malfunctions or you have issues with certain functions or features? What if the hardware stops working entirely?
You want peace of mind that you can reach customer support quickly and easily if a problem arises.
Before you make a decision, take the time to reach out to customer support and gauge their response time. Learn more about which channels they offer and how support works once you're up and running. Find out if their support is available 24/7 to assist with any issues that you may face.
How Much Will the POS System Cost?
Naturally, your budget will also play a role in which POS system you choose for your pizza shop. For every system you consider, be sure to get pricing information as early on as possible to help narrow down your options.
Find out how much it will cost for:
- Hardware
- Software
- Installation
- Training
- Any other fees that you may have overlooked
POS technology is an investment, but it shouldn't break the bank. You will have one-time fixed costs ($700+) as well as monthly costs for the software (typically $60-$250/month).
Gathering all pricing information will help you compare and narrow down your options to find ones that will fit your budget and needs.
Summary
These are the most important things to consider when choosing a pizza shop POS for your restaurant. We also recommend taking advantage of any virtual or onsite demos that may be available, so you can get a first-hand look at how the system runs. Consider ease of use and how you'll handle staff training to find a solution that will work well for your pizza shop.