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Writer's pictureLucas Liu

Checklist for the Right Self Service Kiosk POS system (7 Things to Look For)

Updated: Feb 11, 2022

With the restaurant industry changing drastically due to COVID 19, restaurant owners have had to take a long look at making changes to their restaurants in order to adapt to the times. With changes in the amount of business they’re receiving, hygiene measures enacted, and staffing changes many are contemplating using self-service kiosks to take orders.



InfiKIOSK in action at Seoul Taco in Chicago


Cloud based


Cloud-based POS systems are the standard in foodservice as they are ubiquitous nowadays. Their rise in popularity is due to their wide-ranging capabilities. With a cloud-based POS, owners can monitor sales remotely, track inventory, and review customer activity.


Using a cloud-based POS offers flexibility for restaurant owners, allowing you to multitask and manage other issues while still being able to check the health of your operation.


In addition, good cloud-based systems offer even more flexibility when they are capable of integrating 3rd party apps into the system. By being able to add non-native apps into your system, you have more control over creating a tool that is the best fit for your specific restaurant or even location.


The InfiKIOSK for example is cloud-based, powered by Square software. One final rule of thumb for cloud-based kiosk POS systems would be to make sure your restaurant has a fast and reliable internet connection. This will help the system function faster, better, and keep lines moving.


Human support


A common misconception around self-service kiosks is that they eliminate the need for human labor. However, this is completely false.


Even though order taking duties are now assumed by a machine, human support is still needed for any on-site troubleshooting of the kiosk, assisting both customers and staff alike. Human staff can also be redirected to focus on other tasks in the restaurant such as customer service, hygiene, or operations.


Dynamic Menu


McDonald’s data shows that customers are likely to spend up to 20% more when they order from a kiosk. This presents a unique upsell opportunity that can be customized dynamically.


Just like a waiter reads the day’s specials to diners, a kiosk can display and prioritize your restaurant’s most popular items, higher-margin menu items, or impulse add-ons like desserts or extra servings.


Should you choose a kiosk POS for your restaurant, be sure to have the ability to upsell items in some way. Or maybe you want to do something else like display nutrition facts, either way, make sure this feature is available.


Ease of Use


The whole goal of a self-service kiosk is to enhance the customer experience via a modern order taking system that reduces time waiting in line. Therefore, the kiosk you choose should be easy to use.


A kiosk should not be one-size-fits-all, when demoing a product or in your search make sure that it has the features that make sense for your restaurant. If you own a QSR, the kiosk for you shouldn’t cater to full-service dining. Or if you run a coffee shop, make sure that your system isn’t better suited for a pizzeria.


Payment Processing


Not all restaurant kiosks come with payment processing capabilities, some only provide you with the hardware. Apart from having a card reader and receipt printer, ensure that the kiosk you choose is capable of implementing a payment processor such as Square or Toast.


*InfiKIOSK comes preloaded with the reliable Square processing system for our self-service kiosk.


Easy Implementation


Self-service kiosk POS systems are fairly new in the restaurant world. Therefore putting one together yourself at first can seem daunting.


When purchasing, clarify the company’s service model. Will they send someone to install themselves, do they provide adequate support post-purchase? Some companies send you their kiosk to install yourself, make sure that it’s easy enough to install and not too time-consuming.


Also, and maybe most importantly, confirm whether or not your kiosk comes with a card reader and/or receipt printer. If they don’t, is the kiosk compatible with a wide range of add-on equipment?


Security


Finally, how secure is the information exchanged on the kiosk? Is payment information safe, is the payment processing Payment Card Industry (PCI) certified? These are important questions to consider when deciding on a brand.


Want to know more about the benefits of QSR Kiosks? Check out our article QSR Kiosks: The Future of Ordering


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