Your point of sale (PoS) system plays a role in nearly all the functions of your restaurant. A device that was historically used only to accept payments has now become a warehouse of information. Modern PoS systems track everything from customer databases to financials, which  make them a valuable tool to optimise restaurant operations.

They can also integrate an extensive variety of features such as accounting and inventory management. When used effectively, your PoS system will provide an insight into areas of your business that were previously untapped. Analysing this data empowers restaurant owners to improve their operational planning.

If you’re wondering how a PoS does this, there are five of the ways in which it can streamline operational planning:

  • Automated orders
    Advanced PoS systems like Pilot’s solutions automate the ordering process. Orders are entered into the workstation at the counter or on mobile PoS devices and then automatically sent to the relevant back-of-house destination. There is also the option for servers to add specific notes on an order to clarify it. This reduces the need for servers to run up and down and streamlines the way they move through the restaurant.
  • Payroll and employee management
    Your restaurant’s PoS keeps track of employee schedules and hours worked by monitoring their login times. At Pilot, we make use of biometric fingerprint scanning to ensure hours are accurate and eliminate the risk of buddy clocking. This means that hours worked are accurately reported and automatically included in your payroll systems. As a result, restaurant owners are able to foster a positive relationship with staff. Payroll data is always accurate and you can manage staff schedules as well as leave with greater ease.
  • Financial planning
    Financial reports and planning used to be a challenge that required long hours of manual work to input information, often leaving it at risk of human error. Now, however, PoS systems track all the financials in the establishment from money spent on inventory to daily sales. The trick here is to choose a PoS provider that allows you to access and use this data. With PilotLive, our online browser-based reporting tool, restaurant managers gain access to easy-to-understand financial reports that allow a greater insight into the financial underbelly of the business.
  • Inventory management
    Gone are the days of relying on daily manual inventory counts. Instead, your PoS solution can streamline inventory management for you. It automatically deducts from inventory amounts as orders are entered into the PoS. Restaurant managers can view inventory amounts with the click of a button and even set up automated orders so that the PoS automatically sends an order to suppliers once stock begins to dwindle.
  • Forecasting and assessment
    The best way to boost your offering is to understand what you can improve on. With the data analytics provided by your PoS, you can streamline operational planning by identifying weak areas and possible wastage. You can view how servers move through the establishment to see where problem areas lie, determine which menu items are performing well and which are underperforming, and determine best and worst days for the restaurant. This lets you optimise your restaurant and improve the appeal of your establishment with more personalised promotions.

With all the advances in the PoS landscape, these systems have become state-of-the-art solutions that can assist with growth and operational planning when used correctly. But this isn’t all these intuitive systems are capable of doing.