Find out how to use this new age marketing tool at your restaurant (although we don't necessarily recommend serving it to eat...)
In case you haven't noticed, Quick Response (QR) codes are springing up everywhere -on print ads, product packaging, billboards, corporate literature, t-shirts and business cards. The Point of Sale News has even deemed the tool as "the best remote call to action a restaurant can take."
With all of the recent hype about QR codes in POS industry headlines, I decided to do some research to find out how they work and how restaurants are using them for marketing and promotions. All of the detailed technical stuff aside, here is a quick response round-up, if you will, of some of the innovative tips that I discovered.
Include QR codes...
1. On menus
While you don't want to clutter your menu with unnecessary graphics, you can definitely feature QR codes in a way that will capture your customers' attention. Unlike others signs and advertisements that may go unnoticed, your menu is typically highly visible. By interacting with your customers via QR codes while they are physically in your restaurant, your staff has the opportunity to address any questions in person.
2. On take-out menus and brochures
Including QR codes on your printed materials is one of the more common methods, and restaurants can easily apply this to their take-out menus or catering/event brochures. This can prompt customers to order in advance via their smartphones, and it makes it easier for them to explore your brand's website and online menu.
3. On to-go containers and packaging (if applicable)
You want to utilize QR codes as effectively as possible without bombarding your customers with digital marketing overload. Depending on the material/size of your to-go containers, you may be able to include a QR code on the side. Does your restaurant sell prepackaged items, such as freshly prepared salads or homemade sauces? Consider placing QR codes on them as well. Subtle, yet compelling.
4. On receipts
This is another way to reach customers beyond the payment transaction. For example, our POS partners at Citizen Systems can print a QR code on the header or footer of a customer's receipt. Their print driver is then able to scan the receipt and print out a coupon based on the key words it contains. This is a great way to engage customers in current promotions and food or beer specials.
Link QR codes...
5. To social media
Use QR codes to syndicate your restaurant brand and encourage customers to follow your social media accounts. One idea is to create a code that links to a Facebook photo album of new menu items or specialty dishes.
6. To nutritional information and recipes
Make it simple for customers to access nutritional content by placing QR codes on your menu and linking them to charts or ingredient information. Another unique tip I encountered was to direct customers to a page where they can access a recipe or "how-to" video.
7. To a landing page
Are you looking to target your customers via email? Try using QR codes that link to a landing page with a form. Ask for a name and email address in exchange for accessing a special offer or contest. This way, customers are getting something of value, and you are able to include them in future email campaigns for your restaurant.
8. To coupons
If you're using your POS software's customer program to run a loyalty initiative or frequent diner plan, you could link QR codes to a coupon for a free appetizer. Customers will be more apt to pull out their phone and scan away if you make the incentive both clear and worthwhile.
9. To a survey
Future POS has an interface to Constant Contact, a leading email marketing company, which allows restaurant owners to send out relevant emails and create professional surveys. Elicit customer feedback without interrupting the overall dining experience by linking your QR codes to a short, to-the-point survey.
10. To customer reviews
Show people how great your restaurant truly is by linking QR codes to your reviews, whether on your website or online communities like Yelp. More often than not, customers see right through blatant self-promotion, but reading about other customers' positive experiences can be a reliable motivator.
Last, but not least, here is one final suggestion...
Customize QR code use to your business
Before you go code crazy, make sure you take the time to identify key customer touch points. Hamilton Chan, CEO of a leading QR code infrastructure provider, suggests that different types of restaurants should use different applications.
For upscale restaurants, Chan suggests placing QR codes in local city guide advertisements and then directing customers to an online reservation system. In a more practical approach, he advises fast-food restaurants to feature QR codes on table tent advertisements that link to specific promotions.
Regardless of how you utilize this mobile commerce trend, make sure you are using it to engage your restaurant patrons in meaningful ways. QR codes, as with any other mobile device application, are changing the way that businesses communicate with their customers. As long as they serve some form of strategic purpose to your restaurant and are seen as being informative for smartphone users, QR codes can be a marketing ace for the tech savvy restaurateur.
To find out how one Future POS customer uses QR codes for her restaurant, click here. For more useful tips on incorporating QR codes into your business operations, take a look at this article: "QR Codes - Best Business Practices."
Photo Credits: Clever Cupcakes, CoCreatr, Dept of Energy Solar Decathlon
Sources: Pointofsale.com, POS Supply Solutions Blog, Mashable Business, Must Have Menus Blog
A brief look inside of the 2012 NRA Show!
The 2012 NRA Show kicked off on Saturday, May 5th with thousands of foodservice professionals gathered in Chicago for educational sessions, speakers, cooking demonstrations and new product information.
The sold-out show floor features more than 1,900 exhibitors, 500 of them here for the first time! On Sunday, May 6th, 42nd President Bill Clinton delivered his keynote presentation, during which he applauded the Kids LiveWell initiative, a program launched via a partnership between the NRA and Healthy Dining. For a more in-depth recap of his speech, click here.
Future POS's local Chicago reseller, “POS Partners,” has been swamped with demos as restaurateurs gather in the Future POS booth on the tradeshow floor. Manning the Future POS booth this year is “Innovative Hospitality of St. Louis”, “ Future POS of Ohio” and representatives from “Future POS of Pennsylvania.”
New technology is key at this year’s NRA Show, and Handhelds, iPads, Digital Signage and “Apps” are all the buzz. Among the other restaurant trends being highlighted are sustainability, single-servings and health food solutions.
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The Future POS booth!
“We are having a fantastic show” says John Giles, President and CEO of Future POS. “We are seeing a lot of dissatisfied restaurant owners who have stopped by the booth looking for an alternative solution to fit their POS needs, and Future POS is that solution.”
Don't forget to stop by our booth, #3849!
Back in 2010, Future POS became the first POS software provider to integrate to TabbedOut's mobile payment app. Along with ATX Innovation, the developer of TabbedOut, Future POS received an Innovative Solutions Award from the RSPA and VSR Magazine for its groundbreaking collaboration.
Over two years later, the innovative solution is continuing to simplify the way that restaurant and bar patrons pay their tabs. As smartphone use continues to amplify the "on-the-go" nature of the modern consumer, the momentum is on the rise for mobile apps and POS integration.
If you've finally decided to join the TabbedOut frenzy (hey, better late than never!), here is a series of helpful "how-to" videos to get you up and running.
Video 1: Getting Started with TabbedOut
In this introductory video, Lindsay Eulenfeld, Venue Relations Manager at TabbedOut, and Meredith Schulz, Marketing Manager at TabbedOut, offer a simple checklist to assist owners during the onboarding process. They provide a brief outline of the other videos that follow, and they also discuss how to talk about TabbedOut with your customers.
Video 2: Training for Future
This next video walks servers through the TabbedOut payment process using Future POS software. It shows how to open a guest check, how to split checks and how to settle a check when a customer forgets to close his/her tab. This is a great training tool if you and your staff are new to mobile payments.
Video 3: Frequently Asked Technical Questions
As the title infers, this video addresses several FAQ surrounding TabbedOut, including how to handle walked tabs, how to prevent fraud and how to use the other security measures that are in place for your customers. This short clip also covers ways to ensure that TabbedOut is working properly at your business venue.
Video 4: How to Make More Money with TabbedOut
Video 4 is sure to catch your attention. While it is important to understand the benefits that TabbedOut offers your customers, it is equally important that you understand how the mobile payment app can benefit your bottom line. How can TabbedOut simplify your operations? How can TabbedOut help you increase sales? Watch this video to find out!
Video 5: In Venue Marketing Basics
Have you received your TabbedOut marketing materials? Or more importantly, are you using them to your advantage? Video 5 briefly reviews these marketing basics and explains how to utilize them for customer awareness. You can even order co-branded marketing materials, allowing you to increase visibility while promoting your new flexible payment option.
Video 6: Online & Social Media Basics
The final clip in this video guide walks you through the steps of website and social media promotion via your TabbedOut Digital Marketing Kit, and offers tips on how to convert existing customers into TabbedOut users. Find out how you can utilize your online presence to inform others of your TabbedOut integration, and gain increased exposure with graphics and social networking pointers.
For customers who want to find out more about downloading and using the mobile payment app, make sure you read our blog post: "How To: Pay Your Bill Via Future POS Software and TabbedOut".
Back in February, Future POS revealed the top tradeshows for the POS industry in 2012, one of which was the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show on May 5-8 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. Now that it's less than a week away, we figured we would take some time to spotlight the upcoming event and share why it is a great opportunity for restaurant technology professionals and other foodservice experts.
The Numbers Game
Before we delve into all of the NRA Show's highlights, let's take a look at some of the stats. If you're the analytical type, here are the hard numbers straight from the show's website:
429,600: The average dollar amount that attendees plan to spend with exhibitors they connected with at the show
58,000: The number of industry professionals expected to attend the event
100: The number of countries represented in attendance
33: The percentage of new attendees each year
1,800: The number of exhibitors
900: The number of product categories represented
99: The percentage of the Top 50 chains that send representatives
Show Highlights
The NRA Show is all about smart growth for the restaurant industry, and it offers a lot of pertinent resources for both exhibitors and attendees. The four-day conference prides itself on being the only forum that offers "world-class innovations, talent and strategy from across the restaurant industry." It sounds impressive, and rightfully so.
Whether you're an experienced restaurateur looking to expand into global markets or a franchisee looking to improve profitability, the NRA Show is a great place to explore, learn and network. For restaurant technology professionals, this is the ultimate tradeshow for showcasing your products and services, marketing your company and seeking out potential business ventures.
Education Sessions
Leaving a tradeshow without any new knowledge or strategic takeaways kind of defeats the purpose of going in the first place. If you're planning to attend the NRA Show, make sure you check out some of its education sessions. Here are just a few:
- Understanding the Key Dining Needs Driving Consumer Decision Making
"Chris Elsbury, Director, Foodservice and On Premise Insights, Coca-Cola Company, and Chris Startt, Sr. Manager of Strategy and Development, Food, Coca-Cola Refreshments, will explain the DINE (Diner Insights, Needs & Experiences) findings including seven distinct dining need-state segments, helping you deliver the optimal guest experience that perfectly matches the variety, convenience, quality and value your guests expect."
- Why Mobile Matters: What Your Customers are Using and Want
"Mike Handy, President, GoWaiter.com; Chris Demery, VP-IT, OSI Restaurants; and Sarah McCary, Director, Heartland, will discuss how integrated marketing strategies, location-based systems and eLoyalty play a major role in the ways guests connect and how mobile benefits the overall customer experience."
- Supply Chain Management: Lower Costs Without Compromising Quality or Service
"Moderator David Parsley, SVP-Supply Chain, Brinker International and panelists Janet Erickson, EVP-Purchasing & QA, Del Taco LLC; Dean Gordon, Division Vice President Purchasing, Jack in the Box; and Sam Stanovich, Industry Relations Manager, National Restaurant Association will present the seven key cost saving take-aways that every operator can use in this tough economy."
Specialty Pavilions
The NRA Show's Specialty Pavilions will display all of the latest niche products/solutions. Ensure that you're getting the most out of your tradeshow experience by selecting the pavilions that are the most relevant for your business.
- American Food Fair
- Conserve Solutions Center
- Franchise Pavilion
- Healthier Kids Fare
- International Cuisine Pavilion
- Organic & Natural Pavilion
- Technology Pavilion
- NRA Booth
Guest Speakers
No one wants to sit through a rambling lecture about insignificant topics from a random hotshot or unrelated industry figurehead. If the NRA invited Howard Stern to address its attendees, we'd be a little worried. Luckily, the tradeshow will feature presentations from two renowned personas, both of whom can offer valuable insights.
- Special Keynote Presentation: President Bill Clinton, on Sunday, May 6th from 1-2 p.m. at the Arie Crown Theater. This presentation will focus on how the William J. Clinton Foundation is working to combat childhood obesity and promoting small business growth.
- Featured Speaker: Yum! Brands Chairman and CEO, David C. Novak, on Monday, May 7th. As the leader of the world's largest restaurant company, Novak has implemented key growth strategies and has taught leadership skills through his Taking People With You program.
Take a look at this YouTube video, which offers a sneak preview of the event:
You can find out more about the NRA Show by following it on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. For a complete exhibitor list, click here.
Future POS will be at booth 3849 -Hope to see you there!
Photo Credit: John Picken
When it comes to ordering food, the faster and simpler the process, the better. As a restaurant owner, you want to ensure that to-go, take-out and delivery orders are as painless as possible for your hungry, time-crunched customers. At the same time, you don't want to dive head first into a system that you aren't able to effectively manage and customize to your business needs.
While phone-in orders are still an integral part of business, they leave much to be desired in terms of order accuracy. Whether it's due to an employee mistake (or even a customer mistake, though we know that the customer is always right...right?), erroneous orders can be entered into the POS system. Or, if the restaurant is busy, the phone might not even get answered, which means that orders aren't being entered at all. Sounds like a formula for missed sales opportunities, doesn't it?
For restaurants that do a significant amount of carry-out or delivery business, providing customers with the option to place orders online may be a viable way to enhance overall service and cut costs along the way. Online ordering has gained increased popularity, especially among younger consumers. The 2012 Restaurant Industry Forecast revealed that 68 percent of adults aged 18-34 would prefer to place their orders in advance.
Here are 10 benefits of Future POS's Online Ordering interface:
1. You can increase to-go and delivery sales by simplifying the overall ordering process.
2. Decrease labor costs and cut down on phone orders (less employees needed to handle orders manually)
3. Offer customers the convenience of ordering via a PC or mobile phone
4. Improve take-out accuracy by allowing customers to place the orders themselves.
5. All orders are securely processed by your in-store Future POS system, and all major credit cards are accepted.
6. You can purchase the online ordering interface directly from us, without having to rely on a 3rd party platform (less communication issues).
7. Our design experts provide a professional, state-of-the-art website that reflects your menu and business (If you already have one, we can integrate to your existing site).
8. Customers can select and modify orders and select the location of pick-up.
9. Increase exposure for your business by directing customers to your website, allowing them to view your full menu and linking them to social media accounts.
10. We provide a web portal that you control, allowing you to manage and customize content.
Future POS also provides real time automatic inventory updates, item management and sales information. If you'd like to see an example, take a look at our online ordering interface for The Big Cheese Pizzeria & Sports Pub.
Did you know that if 25% of customers avoided the free glass of water offered at most restaurants, the entire industry would conserve more than 26 million gallons of water a year? While you may not want to go as far as denying customers the complimentary glass of water they have come to expect, you can certainly find other ways to leave a lighter footprint.
Today, aggressive ad campaigns and environmental advocacy groups have drawn media attention to businesses that are going green -and those that aren't. With heightened consumer awareness regarding sustainability practices, "going green" has become less of a positioning cliché and more of a business standard.
The National Restaurant Association (NRA) has even launched a "Conserve" initiative, which provides restaurants with educational resources and money-saving techniques centered upon environmental responsibility. So, if the "reduce, reuse, recycle" mantra isn't already on repeat in your head, here are some tips on how to go green with your restaurant POS system.
Select efficient hardware
If you're looking to significantly improve the environmental impact of your restaurant, simply remembering to turn off the lights when you close just isn't going to cut it. While this is obviously a step in the right direction, you need to go even further by analyzing all of the other aspects of your operations.
In addition to using efficient lighting and kitchen appliances, you should also use efficient restaurant POS hardware. Do some research to compare options, view cost-savings charts and discover industry best-practices. For example, using fan-free terminals will help your restaurant consume less energy and reduce costs over time.
Look for Energy Star products from companies that use renewable resources or have their own green initiatives. Consider these restaurant POS hardware options:
Use POS handhelds for order entry
Handhelds are yet another way that your restaurant POS system can help you go green, for the simple fact that they eliminate the need for notepads. Better yet, they can also reduce waste by enhancing order accuracy. Not seeing the correlation?
When servers use handhelds, they can take tableside orders without having to walk back and forth between terminals. This means that they are less likely to make errors, resulting in fewer mistakes being sent to the kitchen. Fewer mistakes = fewer items being sent back = less food waste.
Incorporate KDS and digital menu boards
For quick serve restaurants, one method of reducing paper waste is to eliminate kitchen receipts. Kitchen Display Systems (KDS), like Select Electronics ChefXML, integrate to your restaurant POS software and allow employees to view incoming orders on a visual display, rather than on a chit from a receipt printer.
How often do you change your menu? Most restaurants are continuously adapting to changing customer preferences, price increases and emerging food trends, so it's only normal for their menus to do the same. Instead of constantly reprinting your menu, consider incorporating digital signage or digital menu boards to display your menu or highlight specials. Less paper waste, more flexibility.
Implement a reusable gift card policy
Gift card programs are a great way for restaurants to boost sales and grow customer loyalty. However, using flimsy paper certificates that go from customer to dumpster has become a restaurant faux pas.
Future POS offers restaurant owners custom, durable gift cards that are rechargeable and encoded for tracking. If a customer redeems a gift card for the full balance, the same card can be reloaded and reused over and over again. Save yourself the cost (and the hassle) of constantly printing new gift certificates by opting for this wiser alternative.
For additional advice on going green, take a look at these "Top 10 Tips" for restaurants looking to conserve.
If you found this post helpful, you might also want to read some of our other "How To" articles...
"How To: Manage Employees with Your Restaurant POS Software"
"How To: Pay Your Bill Via Future POS and TabbedOut"
Photo Credits: Steve Snodgrass
Additional Sources: ConSERVE
Since Future POS was created in 1998, it has experienced exponential growth via a network of expert dealers throughout the world. This multi-national presence has led to a number of notable fine dining POS installs, some of which feature renowned chefs and famous proprietors. From an award-winning establishment in the United Kingdom to an authentic French eatery in California, here is a quick look at some of our most prestigious customers:
Installed by Amalgamated Systems in early 2012, this restaurant is owned by the parents of Lady Gaga, Cynthia and Joe Germanotta. Located in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, this Italian restaurant features family-inspired recipes and savory A La Carte items, including Pinot Grigio & Herb-Steamed Mussels, Tuscan Bone-in Rib-Eye and a Six-Layer Spinach & Cheese White Lasagna.
The Executive Chef at Joanne is Art Smith, former personal chef to Oprah and a highly successful restaurateur himself. Future POS also has numerous other installs in the city that never sleeps, including Valbella, Cafe Noir and Pepe Giallo.
This restaurant was installed in 2004 by our UK dealer, KCell. The Fat Duck has received three Michelin stars, and it was even voted as the World's Best Restaurant in 2005. Featuring a top notch tasting menu, the Fat Duck is all about creating a memorable dining experience with multisensory appeal (they recommend that guests allow 3 1/2 hours for this meal!).
Chef Heston Blumenthal, voted GQ Chef of the Year in 2010 and 2011, transformed the Fat Duck from a simple bistro into an award-winning restaurant with his unconventional, explorative technique. Often referred to as a "culinary alchemist," Blumenthal's scientific approach to cuisine is apparent in everything from the Fat Ducks' modernized British dishes to its innovative website.
Pesce -Washington, D.C.
Pesce is a seafood bistro installed by Microcomputer Systems & Support. Owned by Regine Palladin, a French restaurateur and wife to the late Chef Jean-Louis Palladin, Pesce's menu features all of the freshest ingredients from local markets.
With a prime location near Washington D.C.'s Dupont Circle metro station, this restaurant is a favorite among food critics and an ideal spot for a relaxed lunch or an intimate dinner. Among Pesce's vast array of meals is a house smoked salmon served with an apple and cucumber salad and a sautéed grouper with bok choy and a carrot ginger sauce. Seafood heaven.
Another one of our fine dining POS installs is Cavaillon, by West Coast Business Equipment. Cavaillon offers quintessential French cuisine and a Prix Fixe (a complete meal at a fixed price) on certain days of the week. Thanks to Chef de Cuisine Michael von Euw, Cavaillon was awarded "Best Menu Makeover" in San Diego Magazine's 2011 "Best Of" issue.
Recently, Cavaillon has created a "Farewell to Foie Gras" tasting menu, which is dedicated to highlighting the well-known delicacy until it is officially banned in California due to certain legislations. The restaurant also sells Chef Michael's VE chocolates and offers professional catering services.
Some food for thought...
As you can see, Future POS has some prominent fine dining installs, which attests to the versatility of our software. It is evident that these acclaimed restaurateurs and expert chefs take their businesses very seriously, and the fact that they chose Future POS speaks volumes about our software's advanced capabilities.
For your reading pleasure, here are some resourceful publications in the epicurean category:
Photo Credits: Charles Haynes
Back in February, Future POS of Pennsylvania hosted an educational breakfast that focused on improving repeat business for our customers. While I've already covered the importance of customer loyalty in previous blog posts, I'd like to take things a step further by offering some insights into two additional promotional trends for restaurants: mobile marketing and social media.
Mobile Marketing
From preliminary advertising to payment processing, the mobile technology craze has impacted all of the stages of the consumer buying cycle. If you look at the mobile revolution from a strategic standpoint, it has opened up a world of possibilities for restaurants -especially when it comes to targeting their customers and sending out cost-effective messages.
Moreover, innovators in the realm of mobile apps have had a significant impact on the shift towards increased mobility, and these technologies have established smartphones as the crux of customer contact. So, where does the POS come into play?
Third-party solution providers have integrated with leading POS companies to offer mobile payment options and relevant offers and rewards to customers. For example, Future POS integrates with Constant Contact, which offers email marketing solutions that allow restaurants to boost customer communication.
Future POS was also the first to integrate TabbedOut smartphone technology with our software, allowing restaurant customers to pay their bills via an iPhone or Android. Through apps like TabbedOut, merchants can position themselves in the customer's consideration set by linking to social media and existing loyalty programs to deliver mobile messages.
Social Media
Say what you will about society's use of social media, but its profound impact on both the B2B and B2C industries is hard to deny. One could even argue that social media has caused many executives to reevaluate the way they approach marketing altogether.
Today, companies are relying more and more on social media sites for consumer engagement, and it's not hard to see why. At the end of 2011, Facebook alone had over 845 million active monthly users. So, how can restaurants benefit from all of this social media hype?
One of the great things about most social media platforms is that they promote customer interaction with your brand. By creating an online social presence for your restaurant, you can elicit useful feedback. Use your social media accounts to ask questions, and monitor your pages regularly for customer recommendations, reviews and comments.
If you want your social media accounts to act as instrumental business tools, you have to treat them as such. Analyze your following on a frequent basis, and keep track of how your follows are responding to certain posts and updates about your restaurant.
Here is an article that explains how to use Facebook's "Insights" tool to measure the success of your business page.
Above all else, incorporating social media into your restaurant's marketing strategy will allow you to increase overall awareness. You can upload images of top-selling items, advertise current deals, announce job openings and even keep tabs on your competitors.
Use your Facebook and Twitter pages to drive customers to your website, prompting them to learn more about your menu, locations, upcoming events, etc. Restaurants can also use these platforms to run contests, i.e., offering a discount to customers who "Like" your page or retweet your current specials.
A noteworthy example of innovative restaurant marketing is Future POS's own customer, Bocktown Beer and Grill. Combining all of Pittsburgh's food and beer favorites into one dining experience, Bocktown has been recognized for incorporating mobile technology and for utilizing social media and mobile apps to communicate with customers. In addition to regularly updating its blog, this restaurant is also active on Facebook, Twitter and FourSquare.
Looking to jump on the social media band wagon or maybe even improve your restaurant's current social media strategy? Here are two articles that reveal how several well-known restaurant chains are using social media:
"Restaurants Reach Out to Customers With Social Media"
"How Restaurants Are Using Social Media to Their Advantage"
Photo Credits: Phil Campbell, Elias Bizannes
Before you go mimicking the managerial tactics of Donald Trump and attempting to apply them to your unique workforce, take a step back and observe the controls you already have in place. While your restaurant POS software can't substitute for adequate management and thorough supervision, it can definitely be a useful complementary tool.
So, if your idea of controlling labor is stapling a hand-written "Rules" checklist to every visible surface, you may want to pay attention as Future POS reveals "how to: manage employees with your Restaurant POS software."
Help them help you
If it's feasible, invest in new technology. For many quick serve restaurants, integration into kitchen display systems (KDS) or video display units (VDUs) can be extremely beneficial. These systems output orders to a visual display rather than a remote printer. Flashing, beeping, color-coded orders and employee name displays can all be incorporated. Not only does this simplify the job of your kitchen staff, but it provides you with useful information on prep times and worker efficiency.
Also, seek out advice when you're struggling over a certain management issue. You can even take a look at the National Restaurant Association's "How-To Series," which highlights some helpful techniques.
Utilize your restaurant POS software's employee reports
Your restaurant POS software keeps track of a lot of relevant, actionable information -so use it! How can you manage your employees if you aren't taking note of what they are doing on the job? Here are just a few of the reports that Future POS includes:
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Employee Wage Report: This creates a payroll style report, and it allows you to view employee punches, tippable sales and declared tips. You can specify a pay period and search by name or workcenter.
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Employee Promo Sales Report: You can use this report to view sales statistics for certain employees based on department or item. This report is useful for running sales contests, because it allows you to keep track of which servers are selling the most based on a specified date and time period.
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Activity Report: The activity report tells you who did what and when. You can search for any specified activity, and this report will show which employee performed the operation and the dollar amount. To ensure better user accountability, the activity report is used as an audit trail that tracks common sales functions.
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Labor vs. Sales Report: This breaks down sales, labor, wages and labor percentages, and it can be used to determine efficiency and profitability. One benefit of this report is that it helps managers to identify times of day that are over or under scheduled.
Take advantage of employee messaging features
Employee messaging is an error-proof way of ensuring that your staff is receiving certain information. Through our restaurant POS software, this function displays a pop-up message to the user when they sign-on or clock-in. So for example, let's say that you have established a new closing policy, and you want to make sure that all employees are aware of the change. You can compose your message, monitor who has viewed it and even schedule repeat alerts.
The best part about this feature is that it will deselect employees after they have viewed the message, and it will delete the message after all selected employees have viewed it. This way, employees can't claim that they were unaware.
Set security levels to control user access
Believe it or not, you can use your restaurant POS software to control what your employees can access by setting security levels. With Future POS, each button on every screen has a security level (0-100), and employees have assigned security codes. For example, an employee may have a security code of 1, meaning that he or she can only use the buttons with a security level of 0 or 1.
On the other hand, a manager might have a security level of 20, which means he can perform any button function from 0-20. You may want to set up “levels” of security that will allow different jobs to be performed, like this example below:
- 0 - can clock in only (Bussers, Dishwashers, etc.)
- 1 - can ring in orders, print checks, basic POS functions (Servers, Bartenders, etc.)
- 2 - can do above, plus low-level management duties (voids) (Managers, trusted employees, etc.)
- 3 - all the above, plus all management reports (Managers only)
- 100 - all the above, and all functions (Owners only)
Additionally, Future POS's Class Security protects the back office and can be used to allow or deny employees access to certain functions.
Incorporate surveillance, just in case
Unfortunately, not all employees are as trustworthy as they may seem, and sometimes it is necessary to take further precautions. After all, why invest in training and developing your staff if they are secretly undermining your authority? When it comes down to it, business is business, and not all managers can afford to give every employee the benefit of the doubt.
Consider using a built-in surveillance system with your restaurant POS solution to oversee your business operations remotely when you can't actually be there in person. The biggest benefit of integrating your surveillance system to the POS is text insertion, which inserts in live time the transaction data for the items sold via the system and allows you to "search" the video. With Future POS's interfaces to Remote Eyes and Ready Distribution's Talon DVR, you can set up cameras in multiple locations to monitor overall security and employee productivity and to view what the camera is seeing at the front of the house from the back office.
Stay on top of employee scheduling
Yet another way you can use your restaurant POS software to manage your employees is through scheduling. For instance, with Future POS's built-in scheduling feature, you can prevent employees from clocking-in early or clocking-out late. With our schedule maintenance, you have the option to categorize employees by job code, and shifts can be edited, added and deleted based on your preferences.
Photo Credit: star5112
Coffee shops and cafes are all the rage these days, and for good reason. Where else can you kick back, enjoy free Wi-Fi and get your daily caffeine fix, all while listening to the latest Indie tunes (or better yet, open-mic performers) and being captivated by thoughts of "going green?"
Ok, so this stereotypical scenario may not be everyone's cup of tea, especially when you're looking to grab your coffee and get on with your day, but you get the picture. Whether you're looking to pull up a chair and stay awhile or get in and get out, most coffee shops have options to meet the needs of all types of customers with all types of schedules. And the options don't end there..
If you've ever waited in line at your local coffee shop, you've likely heard the rambling orders that make most barista's eyes roll; for example, "I'll take a skinny, white-chocolate frappuccino with soy milk and two shots of espresso, hold the whipped cream." Orders can get somewhat complicated, and with so many different options, you need a bold, innovative hospitality POS solution that can rise to the challenge.
According to Hoover's online database, the U.S. coffee shop industry includes approximately 20,000 stores and $10 billion in combined annual revenue, most of which comes from the big-name corporate entities. So, how can independent owners compete when there's a Starbucks on every corner? Here are some tips, all of which involve your hospitality POS system:
Get to know your customers
For independent coffee shop owners, understanding the dynamics of your customer base is key, and it can help to differentiate you from the corporate competition. If you have a group of local customers who frequent your business on a daily or weekly basis, why not get to know them and observe their buying habits? Consider creating some form of customer loyalty program via your hospitality POS system, and use this to capture repeat business.
For example, with Future POS, you can assign your customers to certain loyalty plans, track the dollars that they have spent and even send out promotional offers and rewards through third-party interfaces like Constant Contact. Programs like "Buy 10 coffees and get the 11th free" have shown success, and you can use your hospitality POS system to print a message at the bottom of customers' receipts to let them know where they stand.
Leverage your strengths
Does your coffee shop have a laid-back, intimate atmosphere? A specialty, one-of-a-kind latte? Or even a weekly live music performance? Identify what makes your coffee shop unique and leverage those elements to your advantage. Film a brief promotional video of one of your top barista's making a popular drink, and run it on a digital signage display. Use your hospitality POS system's reporting features to identify best-sellers, and seek out opportunities to promote these to customers.
With Future POS's price scheduling maintenance, you can create a coffee "happy hour" and configure discounted prices for a certain time and day of the week. If on Wednesdays you feature the best in local, live entertainment, you could offer half-priced cappuccinos and use your POS system's customer data to send out details.
Involve your employees
Your employees are the gateway to your customers, and their actions and overall work ethic are highly visible, especially in a small business setting. Employees are also an incredibly valuable resource when it comes to getting the 411 on the status of your operations. Take the time to ask them for their feedback, and to ensure that all training and learning tactics are in place.
Your hospitality POS system plays a big role here; not only do you need to make sure you have a solution that's customized to your needs, but you also need to confirm that employees are well-trained on that solution. Future POS includes a training mode that allows employees to practice on a demo version of the software (this is great for learning how to enter all of those complicated drink orders!).
You can also use your employees to personalize the experience for your customers. When an employee enters a customer order into the hospitality POS system, have them ask for a name. By attaching an actual name to the order, rather than a generic number, your customer can be addressed personally upon pick-up.
Make it fast, make it right (...the first time!)
I can't emphasize this last section enough. Coffee lovers can be surprisingly picky; most of them have places to go and people to see, and they don't have the time or the patience to wait around. Here are some pointers for fast, accurate orders via the POS:
- Create intuitive menu screens that are customized and easy-to-use
- Use buttons that simplify order entry (separate for lattes, espresso shots, teas, etc.)
- Track everything! (types of coffees and teas, ingredients, time and attendance)
- If feasible, include more than one order terminal
- Speed up payments with preset tender amounts and customer lookup
Photo Credits: David Joyce, Wovox Team