Restaurants looking to work different types of technology into their business should consider something that’s helping restaurants across the country: a mobile POS.

Mobile point of sale— mPOS for short — is exactly what it sounds like: a point of sale on a wireless, mobile device. This approach to sales transactions has allowed workers to do business efficiently in many different locations. Here are some ways that mobile restaurant POS can improve your business’s potential for growth and success.

Efficiency

Using mobile technology reduces wait times at many types of restaurants. For example, think of busy fine-dining restaurants. At establishments like these, every minute counts. Guests must wait to be seated. A server needs to visit every table, take orders and walk those orders over to the restaurant POS system. Once customers are ready to leave, the server needs to come back to give them their checks. The transaction itself requires multiple steps, from processing payment to signing the receipt. Because of this, customers often spend a lot of time waiting when they could be enjoying more of their experience. With a mobile POS and tableside ordering, servers can push orders directly to the kitchen from handheld devices in seconds.

Having handheld technology can also lead to better order accuracy, especially when dealing with specific order modifications. And in regards to payment, mobile, handheld technology gives customers more flexibility and peace of mind by allowing them to see transactions happen tableside with contactless payments. What’s more, mobile payment options mean their payment methods never even leave their hands. In a nutshell, mobility makes the restaurant experience more efficient for everyone.

Mobile technology also improves operations at quick-service restaurants by line-busting at the drive-thru. Restaurants that have mobile POS can serve more cars, take more orders and shorten wait times when customers reach the main window. Trimming wait times leads to happier customers.

Adaptability

Restaurants have experienced significant change with every wave of the pandemic. Technology has made them more likely to stay competitive and successful, despite lingering uncertainty across the industry. Restaurants with limited seating must continue trying to attract as many customers as they need to stay afloat. Because fewer people are going out, brand loyalty is more important than ever. This means restaurants must continue to focus on delivering good service since that turns guests into longtime advocates for your business. Moreover, with consumers still relying heavily on contactless payment and curbside delivery, it’s important to meet the needs of all customers — not just customers who dine in more traditionally. The minimal contact aspect of handheld mPOS devices like contactless payments and digital receipts improve customer satisfaction further by reducing risk. Having mobile POS technology can help a restaurant stay agile and serve more customers in the ways they prefer to be served.

Integration

mPOS System benefits go beyond the food orders area of your restaurant business. With the possibility of further integration with other business systems, mobile POS systems can help with inventory management and advanced reporting too.

Profitability

The efficiency of mobile POS systems helps increase sales. Reducing wait times either leads to more customers coming into the establishment or happier customers who may want to spend more time ordering at your restaurant. Additionally, less time spent moving back and forth between tables, the POS and the kitchen means that servers can spend more time focused on providing quality service to their guests, which can lead to more (or better) tips. These benefits also extend to dine-in and quick-service restaurants, where fast-moving lines can incentivize customers to keep coming back. Mobile POS provides restaurants with more guests while elevating the customer experience and driving sales for the business itself.

Mobile point of sale is essential to doing business in the takeout, dine-in hybrid that most restaurants have switched to. The portable aspect of this tech helps restaurants become more efficient. It also helps restaurants maintain sales by unlocking many different areas for transactions to take place. With enough efficiency and adaptability, a restaurant can make more money. And it’s clear that mobile POS and tableside technology are tools restaurants can use to achieve their business goals and deliver better, more profitable customer experiences.

Mobile POS Systems FAQs

Can I use my phone as a mobile POS?

Any android or smartphone can be turned into a mobile POS to accept payments.

Can Mobile POS work Offline?

mPOS systems are cloud-based and require an internet connection to work.

What's the difference between POS and mPOS?

A traditional POS includes a touch screen monitor connected to a cash register, with an attached card swiping device. An mPOS is a purely electronic version of this, which enables the ability to take contactless payments via a cloud-based mobile POS app.