Point-of-sale (POS) software systems have many benefits for retail businesses and restaurants alike. However, if you run a busy restaurant, POS software can be custom designed to help keep every aspect of your business organized—from hosting to serving to back of house to financial records—so your day to day operations run seamlessly.

For instance, POS systems typically come with basic features for small to medium restaurants. This will typically include touch screen monitors, cash drawers, barcode scanners, and printers with keyboards. However, larger restaurants that may also have bakeries or gift shops as part of their business, can add features that separate work terminals between the different areas and needs of your establishment. Here are the many ways POS software can help restaurants:

1. Theft control

Theft is a very common issue at restaurants. Whether it’s employees making food for themselves for free or not charging customers for certain items, theft can cause considerable profit loss. However, with a POS ordering system in place, restaurant owners and managers can track all items in (and not in) each and every order made and served.

2. Financial reports

Producing quick and detailed reports is a very handy perk of POS systems because they record every aspect of your business (i.e., sales, inventory, profit loss, etc.) in real time. Plus, you’ll have a live electronic record of your ongoing business anytime you need it. No need for hard copies or file cabinets.

3. Cuts down order time

POS systems can be customized to streamline the time between when a food order is placed and when it’s delivered. Take for example a restaurant that has servers placing separate drink (or bar) and food (appetizer, salad, entree, dessert) orders. If the server can input all information into a POS terminal, the system will ensure the coinciding orders reach the proper department so all items in the order are placed at one time and all the food and drink for a single order is prepared simultaneously.

4. Error reduction

If you own a restaurant, there are bound to be errors made and food and profit lost. Either on behalf of the servers, chefs, or customer, with POS systems a living copy of the order as taken can be referred to as needed in order to reduce errors (i.e., kitchen or bar mistakes) at all prep stations.

5. Seamless scheduling

It takes many individuals to make a busy restaurant work seamlessly. Often times, schedules can be misread or employees may suddenly call in sick or unavailable for shifts. However, with an electric, real time calendar, managers and restaurant owners are alerted to a sickness or missed shift immediately so they can make concessions. Plus, all employee contact info and availability is stored in the software so staffing can be adjusted as needs arise.