Most restaurant owners know that one of the most important aspects of running a successful eatery is making sure that orders are taken correctly and then transmitted properly to the kitchen.
One of the most common issues is that wait staff might make mistakes when inputting orders into the system. This can lead to Kitchen nightmares, with customers receiving the wrong food or even nothing at all. After all, what’s the point of preparing a delicious meal if it’s not the dish that the customer actually wanted?
There are a few different ways to take orders in a restaurant, but by far the most popular method is using a kitchen point-of-sale (POS) system.
How POS Kitchen Systems Work
A kitchen POS system is a specialised software application that helps your waitstaff take orders and transmit them to the kitchen. These systems typically include a handheld ordering device, such as a tablet or smartphone, that your waitstaff can use to input customer orders.
Once an order is entered into the system, it is transmitted wirelessly to the kitchen printer. This helps ensure that orders are received promptly and prevents errors that can occur when orders are written down on paper and then delivered to the kitchen.
POS kitchen systems also typically include features that make it easy for your staff to upsell customers or add items to their order. For example, the system may prompt your waitstaff to suggest a particular appetisers or dessert when a customer orders a certain entree.
That said, how can you cut down on waiter errors with a kitchen POS system?
Make sure your waitstaff is properly trained on how to use the POS system.
This might seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many restaurants don’t take the time to properly train their employees on using the POS system. As a result, mistakes are often made.
Use an order confirmation system.
Many modern POS systems have the ability to send an order confirmation to the kitchen after it’s been inputted. This is a great way to cut down on mistakes, as it gives the kitchen staff one last chance to check that the order is correct before it’s prepared.
Use visual cues.
When an order is input into the POS system, make sure that a visual cue appears on the screen (e.g., a red light or an alert sound). This will help to get the attention of the waitstaff so that they can double-check the order before it’s sent to the kitchen.
Set up a backup system.
No matter how well you train your staff or how simple you make your menu, there’s always a chance that errors will happen. That’s why it’s important to set up a backup system, such as printers at each kitchen station so that orders can be reprinted if they’re incorrect.
Keep it simple.
The simpler the POS system, the less opportunity there is for errors to be made. Avoid using POS systems that are overly complicated or that have too many features. Stick to the basics and you’ll be less likely to run into problems.
Encourage communication.
If a mistake is made, encourage your waitstaff to speak up and let the kitchen know about it. The sooner the problem is discovered, the easier it will be to fix it.
Takeaway
If you’re looking for a way to improve the accuracy of your waitstaff and reduce customer dissatisfaction, consider investing in a POS kitchen system. These systems can offer a number of benefits for your restaurant, including higher sales and improved customer service.
