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Written by Christine St. Pierre
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Thursday, 07 February 2008 11:56 |
A POS system that uses handheld technology, lets waitstaff interact more with customers and gets orders to the kitchen in an instant.
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Each month, we’ll be looking at technology products specifically aimed at the restaurant industry. This month, we delve into POS technology – something that varies for each industry as well as from product to product. For restaurants, the ideal POS system would be one aimed exclusively at restaurants, and not one that can be adapted from, say, retail. |
What Is It?
“We truly understand the needs of restaurant owners. Everyone here has restaurant experience in some capacity,” said Jerry Cibley, president of Write Touch POS, a company that offers two POS systems – Restaurant Manager and Write-On Handheld. Restaurant Manager is an integrated POS system that allows restaurants to run a seamless operation with efficient order management and communications. The intuitive touch screen offers an easy-to-use ordering system and a table layout screen showing the current status of each table.
Write-On Handheld, an add-on module to Restaurant Manager, is a patented handheld device that uses a handwriting interface where a restaurant’s entire menu is based on abbreviations. For example, PR = prime rib, Bud = Budweiser, FM = filet mignon. When a waiter begins taking an order, he’ll start writing the abbreviations on the handheld device and the closest options for matches appear on screen or there’s a “find” button to search for choices. If a customer orders prime rib, the waiter simply writes PR and the word “prime rib” appears on the screen. He’ll select prime rib, then the size options appear and he can ask the customer what her preference is. Once that is selected then the options appear for how it should be cooked, followed by sides, salads and dressings. This can be done seamlessly without any hesitations and is probably faster than writing it out. Cibley stressed that the waiter can maintain better eye contact with the customer while using the device, as opposed to jotting it down on paper. Orders are instantly sent to the bar and the kitchen allowing the waiter to start taking orders at another table. If the restaurant uses runners to deliver drinks and food, customers can receive their orders very quickly.
Supported Hardware & Cost Of Ownership:
“We want restaurants to increase their profitability,” he explained. “We don’t just sell hardware - we sell a complete solution.” Restaurant Manager is a completely integrated restaurant POS system. Like any technology product, there’s rarely one set price that covers everything. POS modules include table service, bar tab service, quick service and pizza delivery, and add-ons comprise of customer loyalty, gift cards, reservations and inventory control, to name a few. All modules have à la carte pricing. A four terminal system runs to about $24,000 with installation and each handheld is priced at $2,000. Cibley explained that a restaurant housing about 95 seats would require three terminals and a separate take-out terminal. Five terminals would suit a restaurant with a few hundred seats.
The company offers a three-year warranty on the hardware and provides one year of software support available 365/7/24 if customers have an issue. Cibley added that 99% of the support is done through a high-speed Internet connection and remote access.
Target Market:
It’s ideal for any size table service restaurant with full liquor. Cibley noted that they specialize in independent restaurants. Rather than targeting a certain market, perhaps his target customer is anyone that “wants to improve the dining experience of their guests, wants a faster turnover and wants to eliminate confusion of food orders.” When using these POS systems, he explained that waitstaff tend to get better tips and customers are happier with the servers’ attention. Without customers feeling rushed, one restaurant was able to shorten lunch service per table from one hour and 17 minutes down to 47 minutes, he added.
Unique Features:
The system can also accommodate the unique pay at the table concept. “This is the only industry where you give your credit card to someone you don’t know and they walk away with it for at least five minutes,” he stated. There’s a credit card swipe device on the handheld which lets customers keep the credit card in their view. The waitstaff can carry a small, wireless printer clipped to their belts which will print out two copies of the receipt.
Online ordering is an integrated process with Write Touch’s POS systems. A customer can go to the restaurant’s website and place an order from the menu, with options to add or remove certain ingredients or make special instructions. It will ask the customer for a credit card and the processing is encrypted and safe. Cibley explained that this can eliminate a middleman - calling the restaurant during busy hours to place an order, which then needs to be sent to the kitchen. Orders can be made hours in advance with a pickup time, and once the order is submitted it’s sent directly to the kitchen. By having this feature totally integrated and transparent, a new menu item only needs to be entered into the system once. Upon entering, prompts will ask if the item should be made available for the POS, website, take-out, etc.
About the Company:
Write Touch POS is based in Sharon, MA, and sells server-based POS systems solely for the restaurant industry. They can be reached at www.writetouchpos.com or (781) 784-0776.
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Technology 
