Restaurant POS System Hardware – What’s Needed?

It takes more than a superior point-of-sale (POS) system to ensure the continued success of your business. It also takes a combination of solid POS hardware to keep everything running as smoothly and as efficiently as possible.

So what do you need? The answer is—it depends. Each business has different needs from the specific peripherals that make up their systems, to the number of terminals required, and the configuration of their network.

Let’s consider a few questions that a restaurant operator might ask when choosing POS hardware.

Do I need a Kitchen Printer or a Kitchen Display Screen

Kitchen screens allow for a paperless environment, which can remove clutter from the kitchen. However, a Kitchen Display Screen can have limitations on the number of orders that can be displayed simultaneously. Depending on the speed of service this may or may not be the right solution for your business.

Cost is also a factor. Kitchen Display Screens typically run about two to three times the expense of a Kitchen Printer, but because no paper or ribbons are required, the extra expense will typically pay for itself in 12-18 months.

How Many Kitchen Printers/Screens Do I Need?

The most successful implementations are those that have a printer for each food prep station—food, drinks, and desserts. That way no one has to move a ticket to a new station risking potential time loss, missing tickets or miscommunication.

What Kind of Printer Do I Need?

A thermal printer selectively heats special thermal paper to make black text and images appear. The impact printer uses a print head and ink ribbon to put ink on the paper. Thermal printing paper can become discolored in hot kitchens, so an impact printer is suggested there, whereas, a thermal printer is great for printing quickly and saves on ink. It’s perfect for printing customer receipts, and can be used in the front of the house.

What Type of Cash Register Drawer Do I Need?

You’ll need a reliable drawer, because you plan on holding A LOT of cash. Consider one that is built to last, fits your space, matches your volume, and is mountable.

At BEPOZ, our systems are created to work together as a bundle, or you can purchase hardware separately. We provide:

  • Mobile tablets
  • Mobile inventory/ordering
  • Enhanced thermal printing
  • Kitchen Display Screens
  • ID Verification scanners
  • Customer inquiry terminals
  • Payment terminals (There are options for signature capture and pin debit)
  • Customer Displays
  • Biometrics / fingerprint readers
  • Barcode scanners
  • And more

There are a number of hardware device communication protocols that are industry standard. Make sure you know them and that they support the peripherals you buy, or ask us. We’re here to help. Our specialists are committed to helping operators by recommending and delivering quality hardware solutions for restaurant and retail businesses—from procurement, through implementation, ongoing support, and maintenance.