The Complete Guide to Restaurant POS Systems
Choosing restaurant POS systems has become essential in today’s fast-paced and competitive hospitality industry. The right solution does more than just process transactions—it helps streamline operations, simplify inventory management, and improve every aspect of the customer experience.Â
From order entry and payment processing to staff coordination and real-time reporting, a reliable point of sale system can make daily operations smoother and more efficient. Boston North Company works closely with restaurants across New England to help them find the right POS solution that fits their business needs and budget. Explore our solutions to get started.
What Makes a Restaurant POS System Different Than Others?
A restaurant POS system is a specialized point-of-sale platform designed specifically for the fast-paced, service-focused environment of food and beverage operations. Unlike a standard retail POS, a restaurant POS supports tasks unique to hospitality, such as table management, kitchen coordination, menu item customization, and handling split checks. It’s not just about transactions; it’s about creating a smoother workflow from front-of-house to back-of-house.
These systems manage everything from order entry and card processing to sending tickets to the kitchen and printing receipts. Modern systems offer real-time updates on orders and inventory, helping staff move faster and reduce costly mistakes. Advanced features like kitchen display systems (KDS), custom floor plans, and support for gift cards enhance both service and operations. For restaurants aiming to streamline service and scale efficiently, the right POS system is essential.
Key Features to Look For in a Restaurant POS System
Choosing the right restaurant POS system goes beyond just ringing up sales—it’s about having the tools to manage operations, streamline workflows, and improve the overall dining experience. Whether running a quick-service spot or a full-service dining room, here are the key features that make a difference:
- Seamless payment processing, including debit card and mobile wallet options, to offer guests faster and more convenient checkout experiences
- Online ordering integration for handling takeout and delivery directly through the POS system
- Real-time inventory management to track stock levels and reduce waste
- Built-in table management and customizable floor plans to improve seating efficiency and service flow
- Support for complex menu items, including modifiers, combo pricing, and custom orders
- Kitchen display systems (KDS) that replace printed tickets with digital screens for faster, more accurate food prep
- Multi-channel reporting and analytics that provide insights into sales trends, staff performance, and customer habits
- Compatibility with essential hardware like receipt printers and customer-facing displays
- Customizable loyalty programs and gift cards to drive repeat visits and enhance the customer experience
These features help restaurants stay organized, respond in real time, and deliver the kind of service today’s customers expect.
Restaurant POS Solutions Offered by Boston North Company
At Boston North Company, restaurant operators will find a range of POS systems designed to meet the needs of different service models, business sizes, and day-to-day challenges. From quick service counters to full-service dining rooms and multi-location operations, the right system can make a big difference in how efficiently a business runs. Here’s a closer look at our most recommended restaurant POS system available through Boston North Company.
Our Pick: SpotOn POS
SpotOn POS is a great fit for both full-service restaurants and fast-paced, quick-service environments. It supports seamless online ordering, flexible menu customization, and real-time reporting that helps managers stay ahead during busy shifts. With strong support for multi-location restaurants, SpotOn enhances the customer experience with tools like loyalty programs and contactless payment. Its all-in-one design is especially useful for restaurants looking for a complete and intuitive solution.
Choosing the Right POS for Your Restaurant Type
Every restaurant operates differently, so choosing a POS system that matches your specific workflow is key. Whether you’re running a fast-paced counter-service spot or managing multiple full-service locations, the right features can make daily operations smoother and more profitable.
- Quick-service restaurants need fast checkout, real-time reporting, and easy menu item entry to keep lines moving and reduce wait times.
- Full-service restaurants benefit from integrated table management, detailed floor plans, and kitchen display systems (KDS) to coordinate orders efficiently.
- Multi-location brands require strong location-level controls, central inventory management, and unified reporting across all stores.
- Mobile vendors or pop-ups often prefer cloud-based systems that offer lower monthly fees, minimal setup, and compatibility with mobile hardware options.
- For all types, features like seamless payment processing, customizable gift cards, and built-in customer relationship tools are essential to support growth and enhance the customer experience.
Get Your Restaurant POS System with Boston North Company Today
Restaurant POS systems can make a noticeable impact on day-to-day operations—streamlining service, improving order accuracy, and enhancing the overall customer experience. Whether running a single-location eatery or managing multiple locations, solutions like SpotOn provide the flexibility and tools restaurants need to succeed.
Each system brings unique strengths to support everything from quick service restaurants to full-service dining. Boston North Company helps restaurants across New England select, install, and maintain POS systems that align with their goals. Contact our team today to find the right solution for your restaurant.
Tracking and managing inventory has never been easier with this fully integrated application. Set alerts for when inventory is low, reminding you to replenish items. LexgiaPOS Inventory also allows you to define minimum stock levels for any and all products, prompting the system to create automated shopping lists with every item that must be replenished. Check for the most popular items and plan restocking accordingly.
Delivery service is a valuable asset for any business, as it conveniences customers and creates another avenue for profit. LexgiaPOS Driver is a fully integrated application developed for restaurants as well as their drivers to foster a seamless delivery process.
Quickly and easily assign drivers to certain deliveries or delivery routes within the system, speeding up the process. They can be informed anywhere at any time with SMS alerts, allowing for route changes and quick turnaround time. The system provides real-time driver status and allows you to collect data to measure driver performance.
LexgiaPOS's S customer loyalty application allows businesses to create customized loyalty programs based on the best interests of both their consumers and the business itself. Loyalty rewards can be based on a variety of factors, including enrollment, customer visits, a fixed spent amount, specific menu items, and menu category.
LexgiaPOS CDS is a customer facing display that they are able to interact with during checkout. The easy and fast technology provides high levels of service and convenience for customers, allowing for less delay at checkout and increased consumer satisfaction. Equipped with a tip processing feature and required digital signature, the system provides quick service that is both enjoyable and more secure. The application can also prompt customers to opt-in to your loyalty program if you choose, driving more signups.
Self-order kiosk checkouts allow for customers to fully engage with the order and checkout processes independently, creating a more convenient customer experience while simultaneously lifting pressure from the front-of-house staff. LexgiaPOS Kiosk quickens the process of making and dispatching orders by communicating directly to a second display system located in the kitchen. The application eliminates extra steps by enabling direct communication from your consumers’ fingertips to the eyes of the kitchen staff.
LexgiaPOS KDS is a system specifically designed for catering to needs inside the kitchen. Always in direct communication with the front-of-house display, both systems can stay connected even without internet, allowing for no interruptions to the flow of your workday.
If your restaurant serves pizza, LexgiaPOS KDS allows your customers to customize a pie down to the slice and make their topping choices as elaborate as desired. Customers can also receive SMS text alerts directly from the kitchen so that they are notified as soon as their order has been completed. The kitchen display system allows for optimal efficiency and a significant reduction of error and waiting time.
Excessive wait times can lead to customer dissatisfaction, lack of repeat business, and loss of sales. LexgiaPOS Waitlist is a fully integrated application within the operating system that tracks and manages your business’s bookings and guests to ensure minimal wait time and maximal communication with your customers. Equipped with a wait time calculator and synced with the statuses of your tables, the application remains constantly updated and can keep your customers in the loop as well by sending SMS text alerts regarding the status of their wait.