Essay Example on TOUCH POINT THROUGH POINT OF SALE INTERACTIONS

TOUCH POINT THROUGH POINT OF SALE INTERACTIONS 350 American Public University System Touch point through point of sale POS interactions enables customers to easily provide information about themselves without feeling violated The information gathered is then used for marketing merchandising activities and to accurately identify customers and the types of products they buy The data collected at point of sale interactions are also used to increase customer satisfaction through the development of in store services and customer recognition promotions When customers uses a self service kiosk the experience is different is different form the ones used at grocery stores or in retail stores In the restaurant setting customers may access this digital technology at each table side kiosks and many kiosks may provide the convenience of separating checks for customers The POS kiosks offer a computer screen where customers can directly key in his or her orders into the kiosks This seems to be the technology of the future For example Image the servers in your restaurant taking orders at the table on an IPAD that sends the order to the kitchen in real time and checking customers out at the table instead of having to walk the credit card to be processor Ebrahimi 2015 The convenience of customers being able to complete all their transactions at their table has speed up service not only for customers but for restaurants 

The role of the cash register has advanced With automating the task of ringing up orders and then ringing out customer has came a long way Retailers using POS system as part of their management strategy has found that gathering information to be easier and convenient that ever before as to the regular cash register In a sense A POS system is a glorified cash register Syssolutionssllc com The technology that is available in these POS systems is always expanding but restaurants and other hospitality businesses differ in requirements such as For sandwich shops and other retail style restaurants a POS system can greatly increase accuracy and cut down on time per transaction compared to hastily scrawled order tabs being passed to the kitchen For quick service restaurants a POS system would be required to meet and success orders entered on terminals in the front are automatically displayed on monitors of the kitchen ready to be quickly assembled and delivered to the customer For fine dining restaurants point of sale requires a bit different They include the need to be able to create and store open checks as parties order more over time as well as track which waiter is handling which table The efficiency gains form better management can be impressive Syssolutionsllc com 

There are few areas within food service operations that have undergone more technological change than those related to revenue control The quality information has help managers in their decision making process and revenue control The enhancements in hardware and software technology makes the collection of information easy for managers The common hardware include monitors which can be used as an input and or display devices These monitors can display guest orders in the order they come into the kitchen And in the dining area of a restaurant they offer customers the option of using the touch screen to order and pay at their table which maximize service efficiency Input devices allows the server to enter guest s orders without waiting to enter manually or using the central POS station Servers can use a handheld devices that has a wireless connection to the main POS terminal Receipt printers can serve two functions such as providing a hard copy for guests and allow the server to quickly print an accurate and reliable receipt Charge Card Readers allows servers to authorize credit debit and other types of charge cards with speed They are wireless and easy to use and allow guests to pay at their tables The technology software programs can stand alone or be included as part of a larger POS system It depends on the type of operation involved 

The software are helpful to managers because they maintain revenue totals from different POS locations within one restaurant or from different POS locations within a restaurant chain They can compare products reconcile guest check totals identify the amount of revenue generated by the restaurant by day menu item shift and server They also can separate revenue by type of guest interaction such as dine in carry out drive through delivery private party banquets off site catering and bar lounge The software can reconcile credit card deposits maintain accounts receivable records and create the revenue portion of the income statement Technology has made it easy for many busy food servers to communicate with the kitchen personnel The old method where the server had to shout out orders has been replaced by workstation printers that can transmit the customer s food order information Servers can now enter the information into a POS system or the customer can enter their order at their tables and that information is sent to the kitchen I personally enjoy using the POS system at restaurants Because POS system have increased my satisfaction and they are so convenient References Increasing Your Profit Using Efficient POS Systems Retrieved from https www syssolutionsllc com pdf pmg_increase_profits pds Ramanathan K 2015 How Point of Sale System Can Improve Your Revenue and Profit Retrieved from https www justransact com pos tech blog how point of sale system can improve your revenue and profits Titterington J 2015 How To Choose A POS System For Your Food Truck Retrieved from https www merchantmaverick com how to choose a pos system for your food truck