5 Things to Look for in a Pizza Point-of-Sale Software System
If you're in the pizza business, you know that your point-of-sale needs differ from those of other verticals. For starters, pizzerias often require special delivery options and menu modifications that allow for speedy service and accurate order completion. When the phone is ringing off the hook and orders are flowing in nonstop, employees need a software system that allows them to keep up.
With all of the options available, you may be wondering where to begin your search or how to distinguish between the costs and benefits of competing systems. Before you rush into making system tradeoffs that you may later regret, make sure you read Future POS's pizza point-of-sale checklist.
5 Pizza Point-of-Sale Software System Must-haves
1. Local support
When you're looking for a software provider, it is more beneficial to choose one that operates through a dealer network and not a single corporate location. When it comes to system maintenance and troubleshooting, proximity and after-hours support are two important factors. If you stumble upon a problem that requires a swift resolution, you'll be hard-pressed to find the same degree of service from a corporate entity as you would from a local dealer.
2. Durable hardware
Let's face it -not all pizza shops operate under the same conditions as a pristine, five-star restaurant. While there are definitely high-end pizzerias, there are also smaller establishments with a more rugged appeal. You want to make sure that you purchase hardware that can sustain heavy use, a greasy atmosphere and the occasional spill. For example, Future POS partners with several hardware manufacturers, such as Posiflex and POS-X, which offer quality, durable products. You may even want to select a spill resistant touchscreen as part of your point-of-sale solution.
Check out Posiflex's video, "Can Your POS Solutions Withstand These Torture Tests?"
3. Order tracking and delivery
Another "must" for a pizza point-of sale software system is the ability to track order types, i.e. eat-in, delivery, pick-up. Not only is this useful for reporting purposes, but it also simplifies things for the front-end user. Future POS provides an "Order Type" button, as well as a "Pick-up Pay Now"/"Pick-up Pay Later" option.
For the pizza industry, delivery orders have obvious significance; therefore, you want to make sure that your point-of-sale system has the necessary delivery features. While you're searching, ask yourself these questions: Does the system allow me to assign orders to drivers? Does it maintain customer contact information? Does it track the minutes that have elapsed since the order was placed? Future POS does all of this and more through its dispatch screen, and it also allows for pre-orders by offering hour/day delays.
4. Software features
Aside from selecting a pizza point-of-sale software system with robust hardware, you should also be on the lookout for certain software features. If you've already decided against providing your delivery drivers with GPS devices, then you may want to consider an interface to Microsoft MapPoint for directions. Future POS also provides a free interface to Quick Books, Caller ID, and frequent diner and coupon options -all features that can prove to be very beneficial for your business.
5. Easy-to-use screens
When you're looking for a pizza point-of-sale software system, usability is essential. The easier the system is to use, the faster your orders can be accurately entered and processed. Another thing to look for is the level of flexibility you have when it comes to screen columns. Future POS offers multi-column modifiers, which save your employees the hassle of having to click from screen to screen or search for buttons on different menus. You can include up to six columns to choose crusts, toppings, sauces, etc. Take a look at our example pizza dataset, shown below.
Click here to read a testimonial about how Future POS helped to streamline operations for Cemeno's Pizza in Joliet, Illinois.
Photo Credit: rob_rob2001