3 Advantages Cloud POS Delivers to Restaurant Managers
Restaurant managers need flexibility and easy access to data to make informed decisions, even when they aren’t on-site. In some parts of the country, the restaurant industry was hit hard by COVID-19 and subsequent labor shortages. These challenges showed people first-hand how critical it is to have the ability to run a business remotely—especially during a crisis. Although some may say COVID-19 is a “once in a lifetime event,” the need for this type of tech applies to any event that threatens a restaurant’s viability, such as a natural disaster, closure required by a labor shortage, supply chain collapse or other issues that interfere with typical operations.
Regardless of circumstances, restauranteurs benefit from access to reports and inventory data from any location so they can keep their restaurant running smoothly, even when the dining room is closed. Restaurant cloud POS gives owners and managers this access after hours, when they are on vacation, or any time they are off-site. Cloud POS provides even greater value to business owners with more than one restaurant or location, because it’s impossible to be everywhere they need to be at the same time.
What Cloud POS Offers Your Business
1. Restaurant Cloud POS Keeps You Connected
The name “Cloud POS” is self-explanatory: these systems store data in the cloud, not only on physical backups or hard drives. Authorized users can access sales reports, inventory information, schedules, and personnel info via a secure network connection. Data is updated in real time, so restaurant owners and managers can create menus and schedules based on actual information, not estimates or projections. For example, a real-time inventory count tells you what ingredients are running low and should be reordered or which menu items should be put on special because ingredients are about to expire. In addition, data stored in the cloud is easy to back up, so restaurant owners can ensure they always have a secure copy.
2. Enhanced visibility
It’s difficult to keep a close eye on a restaurant’s operations if the data necessary to make informed decisions is only available from an on-site point of sale (POS) system. Cloud POS reports help owners and managers access the data they need, anytime, to keep the restaurant running efficiently, minimize waste and ensure there’s appropriate coverage on every shift. Furthermore, the available time to complete those tasks shrinks even more if a business is comprised of more than one location and multiple restaurants need attention, each with a different set of challenges.
Restaurant cloud POS is the solution to this issue. When information is stored in the cloud, it’s accessible anytime, from anywhere, so there’s never a bad time to review sales and labor reports or check inventory tracking information for menu planning purposes. Restaurant owners can access a complete overview of their business from one place—for example, online and in-store sales—from one portal. They can also see multi-location reports, allowing them to address issues at any restaurant location. For instance, if there’s a staffing shortage at one restaurant, but you’re another location across town, it can be rectified quickly from right where you are. There’s no need to leave and come back.
3. The Same Capabilities You Have When You’re Working in the Back Office
Restaurant cloud POS empowers users to do more than just read reports and review schedules from any location. It also provides the opportunity to pinpoint issues and address them before it snowballs out of control. For example, if the ingredient tracking shows that a main dish item is sold out, that selection can be quickly removed from the menu or swapped out for an alternative, instead of telling diners their choice isn’t available and disappointing them. A cloud POS system also gives a restaurant owner the ability to authorize purchase orders, approve time cards and make additional changes as needed. Or, if the internet goes down or there’s no service in your location, a cloud POS system allows users to work offline and sync data once the connection is restored.
See How Easy Cloud POS is with Focus
Restaurateurs may have the impression that cloud POS requires a hefty upfront cost and complicated deployment. However, depending on the vendor you choose, neither of these has to be a dealbreaker. myFocus Cloud POS offers users a feature-rich, intuitive user interface and robust reporting capabilities that complement an on-premise system or works as a stand-alone solution. For more information about Focus POS’ affordable restaurant cloud POS solutions, visit https://www.focuspos.com/myfocus/cloud-pos/.
For more information or to learn more about restaurant Cloud POS systems, contact Focus POS.
