Reasons Why Restaurants Should Adopt SaaS

Smaller enterprises, especially restaurants, need to maximize their IT budget to remain profitable and competitive. One way to expand your IT budget is to use Software as a Service (SaaS) for your point-of-sale system.

Software as a Service (SaaS), like any other mobile app or tablet, is downloaded over the Internet and is available in restaurants through a subscription. Unlike on-site software that is traditionally installed and maintained on a local computer, SaaS point of sale (POS) is leased to customers.

Importance of SaaS

SaaS has gained popularity in many industries in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. SaaS offers benefits ranging from low investment and reduced IT burden to easy access, integration, and scalability. Sellers looking for a world-class POS platform should consider adopting the SaaS model as a cost-effective and efficient alternative.

According to Forbes, in 2018 SaaS technology will replace the leading business computing solution: Infrastructure and Platform Services. However, despite this growth, SaaS still looks new to many restaurant owners and businesses. As cloud systems such as SaaS become more prevalent, restaurant owners have found that these solutions offer more advantages over their previous pre-POS products.

11 Solid Reasons Why SaaS is Perfect For Your Restaurant

Here are some of the top reasons you should know how SaaS helps you take your business to the next level.

1. Speed

Managing new software can be difficult, but when you first start, PoS systems tend to be very depleted. Working with an old program means much more time for training staff and repairing defects, which is most often used for other parts of the business.

On the other hand, SaaS solutions are ready to use. For SaaS, starting means connecting to the Internet. That’s all. Every connected device is a new potential command center. If you don’t have internet access, don’t worry. SaaS easily stores your data so you can sync it later after reconnecting to the internet.

2. Flexible and Customizable Software

Unlike on-site systems, cloud POS terminals are designed in consideration of changing situations. It takes minutes instead of hours to set up a card layout or add a new menu item, and it syncs directly with all connected devices.

If an existing cash register breaks down, repairs can be delayed for days while waiting for an IT technician to arrive. If your tablet is damaged or you need to add a new device to the cloud, you can download the SaaS app in seconds and start using it right away.

3. Reduced Prior Investment

Traditional POS requires restaurants to invest in hardware and software that cost tens of thousands of dollars. And the process doesn’t end there. IT pros should set up hardware and servers and teach their teams how to use them before installing software. Maintaining and updating the system with new features requires additional costs.

However, SaaS users pay monthly or yearly subscriptions to use the apps of their choice, which are usually targeted towards Android tablets or iPads for users. Buying a tablet for a restaurant can be a significant investment, but it is much more cost-effective compared to traditional POS terminals.

4. Reduced Operating Costs

Most restaurant owners are aware of the high costs and challenges associated with upgrading and maintaining traditional payment systems. Vendors often offer future cost savings to provide a long-term promise to pay off future expenses.

If you are unsatisfied with the POS terminal, you can withdraw at any time without losing your investment. The threat of cancellation, coupled with a competitive marketplace between SaaS vendors, provides better customer service as vendors still have to make money through their operations. To this end, SaaS vendors are constantly releasing updates to address issues, improve POS, and serve active customers.

5. Easy to Install

Setting up a SaaS POS is much easier than setting up an existing system. Most vendors come to make sure the system is working properly and knows how to use it, but IT professionals do not need to install the software.

The complexity of setting up a restaurant will depend on the type of system and features required. Standard wiring and networking are required to connect terminals, printers, and additional equipment, but once the network is set up correctly, you can download software from the restaurant to the restaurant-related device. Internet.

6. Anywhere Access

The POS cloud system allows homeowners to remotely access all information about the POS system, rather than sitting physically at a restaurant’s computer and retrieving data. Because POS SaaS software is available online, users are not trapped in local data.

SaaS allows users to log in to their accounts and connect to their data in real-time from anywhere on any device with internet access. This flexibility is not available with traditional POS terminals and is very useful to current owners and operators.

7. Anywhere Technical Support

SaaS is transforming restaurants Traditional POS requires expensive IT staff to maintain and troubleshoot in the field. In addition to cost, restaurants with old payment systems may not work until an IT professional arrives to solve a specific problem. This complex restaurant operation can be a burden on guests.

SaaS technical support provides the same remote access as the user, eliminating the need for on-site repairs and faster support. Depending on your needs, the restaurant manager or staff can call for assistance and help the technician fix the problem over the phone when repairing.

8. Guaranteed Service

If you have a serious problem with your old PoS system, it could mean your business is going back to the Stone Age. I don’t know exactly when the system will be online again and I feel bad. Trust us.

SaaS providers provide guaranteed uptime for their applications because the software can only take breaks when they want to. This means the PoS system is always ready to work with you.

9. Availability

The SaaS solution is a major upgrade over the clumsy old system, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. This is because moving to a PoS system in the cloud means removing multiple programs (or dozens) by combining features into one product.

Instead of paying large one-time payments whenever a new program or feature is needed, SaaS runs a lower monthly payout. This means you don’t have to invest in software that may or may not work.

10. Regular Software Updates and Troubleshooting

Unlike the “product” model of traditional POS terminals, the “service” aspect of SaaS means that cloud service providers are constantly troubleshooting and updating software to solve problems and improve functionality.

SaaS updates can be added to all internet-connected tablets and terminals without waiting for IT to install the update itself. These updates, typically included in monthly POS subscriptions, allow restaurant owners to improve their software without compromising guest service functionality.

11. Improved Data Security

The local computer stores all of its data in a traditional cash register system that may contain complete and unencrypted credit card information and customer information that has been disclosed to hackers. Since website servers are also limited by storage capacity, customer information will eventually be removed from the hard drive to free up space.

Because SaaS systems rely on cloud servers, they provide unlimited storage. Also, most cloud POS systems have an advanced encryption process that does not require storing credit card information in the system. Finally, restaurants using SaaS don’t lose any information in the event of a system failure because the data isn’t stored on the local computer.

A Word on POS SaaS

For a restaurant reliant on a point-of-sale system, a cloud-based POS software can simply the effort involved in reward, recognizing, and engaging customers. A POS SaaS solution achieves all this while giving restaurants the means to adapt to evolving customer experiences, fast. For example, managers can look at analytics to modify promotions and menus within hours rather than days. Plus, they can address overarching customer points like paying at the table instead of having the option of contactless payments or long wait queues.

SaaS POS can also help restaurants lower the upfront cost on software. Automated patches, upgrades, and updates allow them to enjoy IT expense and complexity. This also means more capital available to spend on marketing, staff training, guest entertainment, and other aspects of the business to make the operation more profitable. With solutions like these, restaurants can nimbly adjust the venture and make new introductions faster than ever before. The best restaurant SaaS POS will inter-connect all aspects of the business, including back office, front house, and kitchen activity.

Conclusion and Key Takeaway

If you want to boost up your business, invest in SaaS software, save money, save time, increase employee satisfaction, and protect your data. Providing your employees with state-of-the-art equipment and using the right systems in your company is a great way to give your company a competitive edge.