There’s no doubt that a POS system is key to any successful restaurant, and today mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) has become more popular than ever. But what is an mPOS exactly? In simple terms, it is a point-of-sale system that is portable and can be used with a smartphone or tablet.
With an mPOS, you can experience many benefits, including helping bring ease-of-use directly to your customers, improving your speed of service and increasing customer satisfaction. But before you commit to a mPOS system, it’s important to understand how restaurants are using it and which mPOS system would be best suited to your operation.
In this article, we explore the pros and cons of the various mobile POS systems to help you make your decision.
mPOS: Table-side Order Entry
A tablet point of sale system is software that’s installed on a tablet or other mobile device. It packages the order entry functionality of a countertop POS into a portable device, allowing front of house staff to take orders on the fly.
This type of mPOS system removes the need for servers to memorize orders, dietary restrictions, side dishes, and other details. Instead of bouncing back and forth between tables and point of sale systems to punch in orders, servers can collect orders directly at the table - which leaves less room for error and more room for a better customer experience.
Pros
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Faster order input
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Fewer errors when taking/entering orders
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Easy to update
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Take orders on the go
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Increase table turnover & speed of service
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Expanded service area
Cons
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Less durable than dedicated POS hardware
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Limited features compared to full POS
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Prone to theft
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Requires additional network infrastructure
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Potential increased hardware cost
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Limits server multitasking
mPOS: Table-side Payments
With the right mPOS solution, payments can also be collected right at the table. Instead of having to take customers’ cards or have them come up to the counter, servers can simply bring the mPOS device to the table and accept card payments on the spot. This allows for increased speed of service and faster table turnover.
Pros
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Increase speed of service
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More transparency
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Enhanced security
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Convenient for customers
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Accurate payment process
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Potential to increase tips
Cons
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Not always user-friendly
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Susceptible to drops/damage
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Requires additional network infrastructure
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Additional hardware costs
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Needs battery + wifi
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Servers must provide support
mPOS Kiosk: Self-Serve Order Entry
A kiosk system is exactly what it sounds like — it’s a mobile POS that’s permanently set up at a table or in another convenient location. Instead of submitting orders through a server, it allows customers to enter their orders directly.
Depending on the style of your restaurant, a kiosk point of sale can streamline the ordering process and require less human interaction, which can help reduce costs and limit contact between people.
Pros
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Simplify the ordering process
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Reduced labor cost
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Increased ordering ability -- Increase sales
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Improved selling opportunities
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Safety (Less human contact)
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Faster speed of service
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Easily customizable orders
Cons
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Requires sanitation between uses
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Not always user friendly
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Requires dedicated square footage
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Limits customer experience
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Must be synced with other systems
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Additional infrastructure/hardware costs
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Must limit features for ease of use
Hybrid mPOS: Self-Serve Order Entry and Payment
Some kiosk point of sale systems also include payment functionality, allowing customers to both submit orders and pay their bill all on their own. These mobile POS systems are almost identical to the order-entry kiosks mentioned above, but with the added ability to accept payments. In many cases, servers can help provide guidance to customers in order to improve their experience.
Pros
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Simplify the entire customer experience
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Even less human contact
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Further reduce labor costs
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More payment options, including contactless payment
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Server-guided customer support
Cons
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Managing additional systems
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Increased hardware cost
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Additional network infrastructure
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Rarely accepts cash
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Customers might feel pressure to tip
mPOS: QR Codes on Consumer-Owned Devices
Instead of setting up a mobile POS on your own tablet or other device, some point of sale solutions allow you to offer order entry and payment directly on consumers’ devices. For example, RPOWER’s mPAY gives you the ability to host QR code menus, offer self-service order entry, and pay bills by sending a link or QR code directly to the customer’s device. It even allows for curbside check-in, bill splitting, and other functions that improve the customer experience.
Pros
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Extremely fast ordering and payment
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No sanitization between uses
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Reduced labor costs
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Less risk of lost/damaged devices
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Easily customizable orders
Cons
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Customer learning curve/adoption
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Potential user/device errors
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Less control/visibility over tables
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No human interaction/customer service
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Doesn’t accept cash
The Ease and Convenience of mPOS is Here to Stay
Mobile point-of-sale systems are a great way to increase your speed of service and improve the overall customer experience. These solutions can help you reduce labor costs, limit close contact, and better cater to customers’ needs.
But beyond the use of the devices, it’s important to consider how your restaurant operations might be affected once the systems are implemented. From additional infrastructure to changes in front of house duties, mobile point-of-sale systems require additional considerations to ensure they’re implemented properly. In order to get the most out of your restaurant point of sale system, make sure to choose one that offers the features, functionality, and integrations that drive your business.