Must-have POS Hardware for restaurants and cafes

There is so much more to running a café or restaurant than offering a great ambiance and delicious food to the patrons – you have to be operationally efficient as well. This is where a good POS (point-of-sale) system can be a game changer for you in every sense of the words. It can streamline the total process starting from taking orders to managing inventory and processing payments. However, only using the right software would not be enough in this case. You also need the right hardware to go with it to unlock the actual potential of the software.

POS touchscreen monitor or terminal

The terminal is always at the heart of every POS system. In most cases, it is a touchscreen monitor which plays the role of central command centers. This device lets your staff input orders, access the backend system, and process transactions. The most important factors that you need to look for in this case are durable designs, which are especially important in fast-paced and busy kitchens, compatibility with the POS software you are already using in your establishment, a responsive touch-based interface, and a sleek design especially when it is facing the customers. Most businesses in this case prefer robust all-inclusive terminals that have inbuilt card readers and printers. However, some also prefer to use iPads or tablets as well!

Receipt printer

This is the digital age but even now printed receipts are necessary for the majority of food service operators. You can use them in your kitchens along with KDS (kitchen display systems) or give them to the customers as records of their transactions. Thus a good receipt printer is something that you simply cannot dispense with. There are two kinds of receipt printers – thermal printers and impact or dot matrix printers. Thermal printers are quiet and fast, which is why they are ideal for front-of-house operations. The latter are ideal for kitchens because they can handle moisture and heat.

Cash drawer

Contactless payments are on the rise these days but in so many areas cash is still the regular method of payment. This is why a sturdy and secure cash drawer is so important for taking care of cash transactions and storing coins and bills safely. It is always better if the drawer is made of steel because that makes it more durable and it should have several coin and bill compartments as well. It must also integrate with your POS so that it can open automatically and it should be under key and lock security.

Barcode scanner  

This is an optional feature in this case but useful. It may be commoner in retail establishments but they are becoming more useful in the food service sector as well. This is especially so for quick-service restaurants and cafes that sell retail items and packaged goods such as merchandise or coffee beans. They are useful because they can speed up checkouts, help manage inventory, and reduce human error. However, you must always select a scanner that is compatible with the POS system you are using and can read both 2D (two-dimensional) and 1D (one-dimensional) barcodes if needed.

Kitchen printers or KDSs

They can help streamline operations between back-of-house and front-of-house and this is why you must have them in your café or restaurant. KDSs are digital screens that display orders in real time thus reducing paper wastage and making your business more accurate. Kitchen printers are more of traditional setups that print orders on receipt papers. They are the ideal option for more traditional or smaller kitchens. KDS setups are especially beneficial in fast environments where efficiency and speed are critical.   

Card readers or payment terminals

Diners these days expect flexible and seamless payment options. Having versatile card readers that are capable of supporting chip cards, mobile wallets like Google Pay and Apple Pay, and contactless or NFC (near-field communication) systems. These systems must have mobile or wireless capabilities that allow payments to be made at the table itself, encryption for security and PCI (payment card industry) compliance, and options for capturing signatures and tipping. Based on the POS provider whose services you have availed your card reader could come with the software itself – it may also be offered as third-party integration.

Apart from these, you also need customer-facing displays and backup and network devices in this context. Customer display screens enhance the total experience and add transparency as well! Backup and network devices offer you the dependable connection that you need to operate all the hardware properly.