If you are running a bar, one thing you’ll notice is how fast-paced things can get. One moment you are having a slow day and the next, you have a flood of customers putting in their orders almost at the same time. This can cause chaos and failure to keep track of a thing or two. A bar POS system helps you keep up with the pace of your business and meet the needs of bars, taverns, pubs, and nightclubs.
Bars might not be the ideal place where tech gadgets are intensively required, but a good POS system can be invaluable to your business. It can help you keep track of your transaction and finances, and perhaps most importantly, it can help to boost your profit. While most POS systems will help you keep track of basic things, an efficient bar POS system can significantly cut your servers’ workload, increase efficiency and help minimize unnecessary errors. The truth is, not all bar owners have the time to research about a bar POS system, so we’ve decided to put together some features to look for in a bar POS system that can potentially positively impact your business.
Built-In Inventory Software
If you want your POS system to take a load off your shoulders, a built-in bar and liquor inventory software should be a must-have. You’ll find a real-time inventory system that keeps track of your suppliers, prices, as well as sold and available units. In a bar business, you can’t afford to run out of a popular drink, it won’t go well with your customers and it’s not good for business. An efficient bar POS system fitted with an inventory software can track all units of drinks and other items you’ve sold as well as units left. It is easy for you or your workers to lose track of units sold or those left in storage. However, an inventory system helps you avert the risk that may come with such costly mistakes.
Customizability
Sure, there are going to be times when your customers order just a soda, it’s quite an easy order to fulfill. However, that’s not what your customers will usually order. All bar owners and bartenders know there are times when customers are going to put in unconventional orders, and you’ll need a bar POS system that is highly customizable so you can engineer things the way it will best fit your business. When shopping for a POS system, look out for those that are highly customizable, as well as designed to handle a large, fast-flowing volume of orders.
Easy Menu Management
On the topic of customizability, a bar POS system with easy menu management is usually an important feature to look out for. Every bar undergoes a menu change from time to time. As a matter of fact, lots of customers usually appreciate some fresh new brew or something different from the usual. When shopping for a bar POS system, look out for one that can keep up with all of those weekly, monthly or seasonal specials you may add or remove from your menu from time to time. You shouldn’t have to go through many hassles to update your menu. A bar “point of sale” system with seamless menu management is both beneficial to you and your customers.
Customer Preference Tracking
When you have a busy day with a bar filled with customers, with servers going back and forth to take or deliver orders, it may be hard for them to keep track of returning customers and their preferences. A lot of customers would usually appreciate if their preferences are remembered. This usually involves keeping track of each customer’s likes and dislikes and giving them what they want before they even ask for it. From the customer who has a gluten allergy to one who prefers a gin Martini, you’ll earn some loyalty from customers if you can personalize your services to meet their preferences. Fortunately, a good POS system with prominent user preferences feature can help you save each customer’s name and tie it to their personal account, which allows you to access their preferences in a single swipe of a card.
As more young people are seemingly in search of a more personalized, new experience in almost every industry, your bar’s customers are not left out. A good bar POS system will help you personalize their experience and as well as track their spending habits. Keeping track of their preferences and spending habits is good to help you know when some set of customers visit your bar, what time of the day and how much they spend. This could be quite useful in helping you design user-targeted services that could boost your customer base and keep them returning to your bar.
