Glossary

Point of sale (POS)

A point-of-sale system, or POS, is the software and hardware a restaurant uses to ring orders, take payment, and capture every sale as data.

Why the POS is more than a register

Beyond processing payment, the POS records what sold, when, at what price, and in what combination. That data is the raw material for menu mix, average check, and labor forecasting, making the POS the analytical heart of the operation.

A menu and a POS work best in sync: prices, items, and 86 status should match across both so the floor and the data never disagree.

  • Rings orders and processes payment
  • Captures menu mix, average check, and sales by day part
  • Should stay in sync with the printed and digital menu

Example

An operator pulls a month of POS sales, sorts items by units sold and margin, and uses the report to re-engineer the menu, promoting two stars and cutting a dog.

See also

Related

Build your restaurant menu now

Describe your restaurant and get a structured, editable menu with a hosted QR link and print-ready layout. Free to start.

Start building