5 common mistakes in choosing a pizza pos
TRANSCRIPT
CommonMistakes
in choosing a
Pizza POS
5
(and how to, you know, not make them)
1. Forgetting the "Pizza" PartJust because XYZ software is used in "thousands of restaurants"nationwide, doesn't mean it will work for your pizzeria.
Pizza is different in so many ways!• Complex ordering processes with sizes, crusts, toppings, modifiers,
substitutions (don't even get us started with halves, thirds and quarters).• Pricing all these variations correctly when the customer wants extra
cheese on half, hold the onions on the other half and add double
pepperoni over all.
• Expect to track inventory and food costs? Your POS should be able to
recognize that you use less sausage on a 5 topping pizza than on a 1
topping.
• Coupons! (Did you just cringe?) Just think about the complicated pizzacoupons and all the restrictions on # of toppings, type of crusts, etc. that
you want to control.
• Delivery adds another huge dimension to your needs for sophisticated
pizza delivery software to track customers, drivers and cash.
There's no general restaurant POS system that will do all that.
2. Confusing "Free" with "Good"
Whether you're just starting out or you've been in business for years, you don't want to
pay too much for technology. So it's tempting to go with the lowcost or even FREE
pointofsale systems offered by credit card processors and mailorder websites.
Keep in mind that these solutions are rarely fullfeatured. The frustration you'll find
working around their limitations and the lack of controls over critical areas are likely to
outweigh the low initial cost.
3. Paying too much for "add on"Features
Look for a system that incorporates the core features you want,
and try to negotiate some of the "extra" modules as part of your
system purchase.
• Don't pay extra for credit card processing software if you can
get it free with a "preferred" processing partner (as long as
they'll give you good rates).
• You might want to hold off on inventory software until you get
a few months underway with the system, as many operators
don't end up investing the time to really use inventory fully.
• Look for a company that offers an integrated online ordering
solution, so you won't have to pay custom development fees or
special integration fees to get this critical piece working.
4. Trying the DIY Approach
Got a nephew that's a whiz with computers?
...It may be tempting to try and save money by piecing
together used or bargain hardware, or by skimping on
implementation and training services. This usually
ends up in frustration for both the restaurant owner,
who doesn't understand why things don't work, and the
vendor, who isn't prepared for the variations in
equipment and environment.
If you've got more time than money, lots of patience
with technology troubleshooting and you don't mind
spending Friday night on the phone with tech support,
you might save some money this way.
5. Ignoring the POS CompanyRelationship
"Relationship? I'm not getting hitched I'm just buying a pointofsale system"...
But with equipment this connected to the heart of your business, touched everyday by your employees and customers, responsible for your cash, you can betyou'll be emotionally involved in one way or another. Take some steps to ensure itwill be a good relationship before you get committed.
Look beyond your sales rep to the people you will be dealing with after the sale:• Will you have a dedicated account manager you can call? • How will the technical support staff respond? • What resources does the company put into ongoing software development, and will you have any input into the future direction? • Is the company large enough to stick around long term, or will your investment be obsolete next year if they go under? • Are they people you think you can work with?
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