Selling Point

As more customers opt for cashless modes of payments in F&B outlets, hoteliers are seeking point of sale solutions that offer them convenience, security, scalability and efficiency.

- Bindu Gopal Rao

When was the last time you handed over your shopping to the checkout cashier at a retail outlet and saw the person whip out a calculator to total your purchase? Sounds outdated, doesn’t it? That is because technology has made this process redundant with the introduction of systems like point of sales (POS).

And why just retail outlets? Today, most business, where payment transactions take place use POS systems. This includes hospitality establishments, most of who have successfully leveraged it to replace traditional and time-consuming processes. Moreover, after the demonetisation move, diners are increasingly using cashless modes of payment. So, if ever there was a time for F&B outlets to go for a POS system, in case they had not already invested in one, that time is now.

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE 

Before selecting a POS, it is important to know the kind of operations it will be used for. “The requirement of a fine dining eatery is different from a casual deli, due to the retail sale component, or a QSR, because of speed in serving customers. The next thing to know is its scalability – if you are planning a multi location or multi-city expansion,” pointed out Anurag Katriar, executive director of deGustibus Hospitality (which owns F&B concepts like Indigo, Indigo Deli, Tote on the Turf, Moveable Feast and Neel). “The reliability of the vendor and the technology platform used is also important to know. Look for the system’s user-friendliness, data security features, the reports it generates and after-sale technology support.”