What is an EPOS system?

The beauty of getWaiter! is that not only is it free, you also don’t need any complicated equipment – just a tablet and an internet connection, and you’re all set. But what about EPOS? One of the key questions people in the hospitality industry ask us is what if they’ve already got EPOS set up in their business? Can they still use the getWaiter! service?

And the simple answer is yes, of course you can. You don’t have to sync it with anything, nor buy additional costly equipment to make it all work together.

And it really is free. getWaiter! isn’t here to try sell you a costly EPOS system – the cloud-based merchant service will work with any internet-enabled tablet .

Of course, many of those so excited about getWaiter! are new ventures just starting out in the industry, because it gives them a really simple way of maximising their performance right from the off. So for those new to the business, we’ve put together a simple guide to EPOS.

What is EPOS?

EPOS stands for electronic point of sale, which normally means a computer terminal and specialist software that staff use to take payment for goods and services. They are increasingly common in the modern digital world of retailing, bringing many benefits from added security and speed of transactions, to customer insight and tighter stock control. But although the benefits may seem simple, there’s a baffling array of EPOS products out there, so how do you know what’s right for you?

The basics

Most EPOS systems are made up of a computer terminal similar to an ordinary PC, a monitor, and often a bar code scanner and a touch-screen display. This enables the cashier to enter items into the digital register, and take payment. They can also include credit card terminals, and weighing scales. But there’s more to it than that.

Software

The system has its own software which tracks every transaction, allowing users to run stock reports, spot the most popular and profitable items, and see how individual staff are performing. Some EPOS systems allow managers to access this information remotely via the internet on different computers either in the back of house, or at a completely different location. Some products will also automatically email reports to a manager’s desktop or smartphone.

Handheld order terminals

Restaurants, cafes or any venues that offer table service could benefit from EPOS handheld devices that connect to the system wirelessly. Similar to PDAs, they are small tablets either operated via a touchscreen or with a stylus, allowing waiting staff to take orders without pen and paper. These orders can then be instantly sent to the kitchens.

Kitchen displays

Busy restaurants need to turn round orders fast, and there is equipment available that can enhance the EPOS system. Kitchens can install a small piece of kit that displays orders digitally on a screen as soon as the waiting staff has spoken to the customer. Digital printers are a more cost-effective method, where orders are printed on dockets using specialist ink and thermal paper to withstand hot environments.

Staff ID buttons

These key fobs (sometimes known as Dallas keys or ibuttons) integrate with the main digital register and let individual employees swipe into the system. This both adds an extra level of security, and means that reports can be run on each member of staff’s performance.

To read about the key advantages of EPOS systems compared to more a traditional POS set-up, stay tuned for our next blog post.

And while you’re waiting, see how getWaiter! can dramatically improve customer service at hospitality venues.