Are POS Systems Overkill for my Quick Service Restaurant (QSR)?
Do I really need a POS system for my simple quick-service restaurant?
That seems to be the burning question among many cafe and coffee shop owners who are yet to take the POS plunge. Let's begin by clearly defining the word "need". We use the word "need" every day pretty loosely. "I need new shoes" or "I need a haircut" or "I need to go outside for a while". The reality is that we don't truly "need" most of the things we say we do. We "want" them. We want them because they serve some purpose in our lives and make us feel satisfied and ultimately less "needy".
So ask yourself what it is that you "want" for your QSR. After all, you already have everything you truly "need" or your QSR would be out of business.
- Do you want to increase your speed of service to avoid having guests waiting in line and possibly turning away?
- Do you want to build customer loyalty through incentives and gift cards?
- Do you want to communicate promotions to your customers based on their purchase history or demographics?
- Do you want customers to place orders on the web to keep team members off the phone and serving guests?
- Or do you simply want to increase controls and operational efficiencies within your QSR?
I would bet that you want all of the above. You might even feel as though you "need" all of the above! But, so often QSR and coffee shop owners limp along with a basic cash register. They feel that the business is not complex enough to merit the expense involved with robust POS systems. They feel that POS systems may be more than what they "need" in their QSR. That's actually true because they don't even "need" the basic cash registers they are using... It could be a cigar box and serve the same purpose.
But, certainly not you; you're much smarter than that. You realize that you already have everything you "need" and are now focused on things you "want" for your business to sustain its growth and success. Right???
Do you really "need" a POS system for your QSR? No! Do you really "want" one? Most likely - Yes! You want one because you understand the power of information. You know what has made your business a success and what will take it to the next level. You know what you "want"!!! You just know that you don't "need" it. You're right. You don't.
You want to be the best at what you do. This goes well beyond what you sell and deeply into how you sell it. Plenty of places have coffee. Plenty of places have sandwiches. Subway and Panera (for example) have both for a fairly low price. So, what makes your QSR relevant?
I know that you have a long list of answers to that question. Otherwise, your QSR would not exist. But, I also know that one of your answers is not "My old cash register...". It looks bad. It slows down your operation. And, most importantly, it gives you none of the information you want (or need) to either help your QSR stay relevant or take your QSR to the next level.
If you have asked yourself some of these burning questions and find yourself wanting to learn more, click the button below to request a FREE consultation with an industry professional who can help you find solutions.