POS Hardware: What Does Your Hospitality Business Need?

In the not too distant past, hospitality businesses could get by with a simple cash register to process payments and a notepad and pen to communicate orders. However, a shift in customer expectations and advancements in technology means hospitality businesses need to be hyper-connected to streamline their workflows and adapt to new ordering channels. 

To meet this demand, point of sale, or POS, systems have evolved from simple cash registers to powerful pieces of software and are the beating heart of hospitality businesses. They no longer just take payments and orders; POS systems can now manage and connect to everything from accounting to inventory all in one place. 

For POS systems to reach their full potential, business owners will need to invest in several pieces of hardware to facilitate their workflows and processes efficiently. No matter if you’re starting a new business or looking to upgrade your POS hardware, this article explores the must-have options for hospitality businesses. 

What POS hardware do you need?

Every hospitality business is different. However, there are several pieces of POS hardware that all hospitality businesses will need – no matter their size or style of service. To understand what types of POS hardware you’ll need and the quantities of each, you should ask yourself two basic but essential questions:

(i) How will customers place their orders?
(ii) What equipment will you need to streamline your ordering workflows?

In most cases, hospitality venues will offer one (or more) of the following order flows:

• Customer orders at the bar or counter
• Table service where waitstaff take orders
• Customer orders via a QR code at the table
• Customer orders via an app for delivery or collection

Once you’ve established your ordering mix, you’ll need to invest in several pieces of POS hardware to facilitate your processes. As a starting point, we would recommend exploring the following POS hardware categories:

• Tablet POS
• EFTPOS terminal
• Printers

Tablet POS

Tablets, like iPads, have infiltrated hospitality businesses in recent years and for good reason. Employing a POS system that can run on a tablet enables venues to streamline their order flow and sequence of service. A tablet POS will also improve order accuracy and ensure orders are made and served as quickly as possible.

Depending on the complexity of your order flows and the size of your venue, you may need to invest in several tablets to boost efficiency and effectively manage your orders. 

Ordering

For venues that offer table service, tablets are a great alternative to traditional pen and paper. Tablets and iPads enable waitstaff to take orders at the table and sync them automatically to your POS and kitchen printer. This saves time (no more running to and from the POS terminal to input orders), reduces the risk of double handling orders, and is great for customer experience. 

Tip: tablets can also be used to receive and process third-party orders from delivery apps like UberEats.

Customer-facing screen

Fast-paced venues where orders are placed at the bar or counter can often be noisy, making it difficult to hear the customers order. A customer-facing screen runs on a tablet and allows customers to view their order as the staff keys it into the POS. If something is wrong, they can notify your staff before the order is sent for production. This reduces order errors and saves on unnecessary wastage.

Interactive floor plan

Peak times in hospitality venues are hectic, and tables can sometimes be left waiting longer than necessary. A tablet POS can take the stress out of table management by mapping out your venue’s floor plan so waitstaff can easily track the progress of each table.

Handy colour coding highlights which tables need attention by flagging if customers are waiting to order, if they have received their order or if they’re waiting to pay. By providing staff with a real-time bird’s-eye view of all customers, they will know exactly who needs attention and when, so customers are never left waiting. 

EFTPOS terminal

With less than 27% of Australian’s opting to pay with cash, it’s instrumental for hospitality businesses to implement an integrated payments system, so you’re ready to accept the latest payment methods. To do so, you’ll need an EFTPOS terminal that can accept credit cards, debit cards and digital payments, like Apple Pay.

Integrating your POS with an EFTPOS terminal is the best way to facilitate fast transactions and ensures you’re always ready to accept the latest payment technology. Plus, staff no longer have to key in the payment amount as the POS automatically syncs with your EFTPOS terminal safely and securely.

Integrating your POS with your EFTPOS terminal makes it easy for hospitality businesses to:

• Accept new payment methods
• Easily split bills by cost or items ordered
• Avoid keying errors from staff
• Offer faster payments with peace of mind for the customer

Portable EFTPOS machine

Like using a tablet for table service, having a portable EFTPOS machine means you can speed up service by accepting payments at the table. After all, in today’s world, convenience is king, and transactions should be quick and easy, allowing customers to carry on with their day.

The majority of POS platforms are compatible with a whole host of payment integration partners. Your chosen payment processor will provide you with an EFTPOS terminal, so it’s important to research which ones are most compatible with your business goals.

If you only offer table service, for example, you’ll want a portable EFTPOS machine so you can easily accept payments at the table. On the other hand, if your customers only ever pay at the bar, then a standard EFTPOS terminal will suffice.

Cash drawer

While many businesses opt to go cashless, many customers still prefer to pay with cash, and it’s essential not to alienate them. Therefore, you should consider purchasing a cash drawer as well as an EFTPOS terminal so you never miss out on a sale. 

Printers and bump screens

Once a customer order is placed and has synced with your POS, it needs to be relayed to the kitchen and/or bar as quickly as possible. Two main pieces of POS hardware can streamline this process; printers and bump screens. 

Kitchen printer

Kitchen printers are a great way to immediately notify kitchen staff that an order has been placed, saving time and ensuring orders are made and delivered promptly. Epson, for example, has a range of kitchen printers suitable for all hospitality businesses. Your chosen printer can connect to your POS via Ethernet or Bluetooth and are compact, making them easy to install into your kitchen.

Bump screen

Digital bump screens run on a tablet and are a great alternative to kitchen printers. Bump screens boost kitchen efficiency and provide detailed reports on staff performance, such as their average prep time, to help drive productivity. Plus, you’ll cut costs (and help the environment) by saving on docket paper and printers.

Receipt printer

Receipt printers are necessary to provide proof of purchase to customers. However, paper-based receipts are becoming increasingly unpopular with customers, and many prefer to receive digital receipts. While digital receipts are a growing trend, it’s still essential to have a receipt printer, and there are several options to choose from.

Tip: check if your POS provider can offer digital receipts. If so, this is a great way to save on the small but regular cost of purchasing receipt paper. By sending digital receipts, you can also start building a database of customer emails to market to in the future. 

POS hardware: stay connected with Lightspeed POS

POS hardware that seamlessly integrates with your POS is the best way to ensure your venue runs like clockwork. From ordering to payments and communicating with the kitchen, POS hardware keeps your venue connected so customers receive their orders without a hitch and can quickly settle their bills.