pcAmerica’s restaurant point of sale systems aren’t just for employees anymore. Quick service and casual dining restaurants now have the option to set up individual terminals or kiosks where customers can place an order. The new self service interface allows diners to input their orders on the point of sale system and then print a ticket with a bar code to be scanned at a separate checkout or to swipe a credit card and securely pay at the terminal.

The intuitive, attractive interface is easy to use and engages diners during the ordering process. It also encourages larger orders by giving customers extra time to peruse the menu and discover new items they’d like to try. In turn, restaurant owners and managers are able to reduce printing costs of menus and boost profits by processing more orders with less staff.

Market research shows that implementing a self-service system means a better customer service experience for patrons. One published study found that when given the option, 89 percent of 1,000 people surveyed would “sometimes” or “always” choose a self-service kiosk over a full-service option. And nearly 70 percent of the respondents reported a very high satisfaction rate when asked about their self-service experience.

Although this technology is still gaining a foothold in the U.S., diners are already looking forward to seeing self-service terminals in their favorite quick-service restaurants. A second study found that 68 percent of people thought self-service would be faster than waiting in line to place their orders, while more than 60 percent of people believed this ordering would be more accurate. People also reported that they liked the privacy and control over the ordering process.

Quick service restaurants that would like to enable self-service terminals in their establishment should contact their pcAmerica sales representative at 1-800-722-6374.

There’s nothing more frustrating than looking for a missing receipt, especially when it seems so easy to let those small slips of paper get jumbled together or stuffed into pockets. But it’s holiday time, so lost receipts are more than just annoying, they can prevent shoppers from making returns and cause unnecessary anxiety.

If you haven’t already enabled the digital receipt option on your POS, it’s a good time to give it a try. pcAmerica’s Cash Register Express™ and Restaurant Pro Express™ have the capability to email customers digital receipts and vendor purchase orders in lieu of traditional paper ones.

Shoppers are rarely able to keep track of all the receipts they receive, but these proofs of purchase are important, especially as holiday shopping time begins. If a receipt is lost among wrapping paper and gift bags, shoppers may simply print out another copy instead of being forced to keep or re-gift an item they would rather return. The ability to make hassle-free returns moves customer service lines faster and increases the chance that people will shop at the store again. These email records also allow customers to keep, sort and retain purchase information for tax purposes or to double check credit card statements.

Offering digital receipts also gives businesses the opportunity to collect email addresses of their customer base, which can then be used to email coupons, promotional information and other announcements.

In addition to easing the stress that accompanies a missing receipt, e-receipts are also better for the environment. Each year, 9.6 million trees are cut down to produce receipt paper, according to Alletronic.com. In addition, the thermal paper that receipts are printed on cannot be recycled because it is heavily treated with chemicals. Businesses will also save money – the more digital receipts a business issues, the less receipt paper it needs to purchase.

E-receipts are a smart choice for businesses and their customer base. Please contact your account manager at pcAmerica at 1-800-722-6374 to find out how you can start issuing digital receipts.

Whether it’s a printed, recited from memory or written on a chalk board, reviewing the menu is one of the first steps to an enjoyable meal at any restaurant.

Since menus play such an important part of the dining experience, it makes sense that they are taken just as seriously when considering how to input and manage a menu in a point of sale system. Careful consideration should be given to how items and modifiers are categorized, so that servers can easily and quickly navigate the screens with as few clicks as possible to get the orders placed quickly.

Restaurant Pro Express™ makes inputting and managing menus easy, regardless of their length. Restaurants that offer menus depending on the time of day can automatically set the system to switch between the different options. The menu option is flexible and not just limited to breakfast, lunch and dinner—it can be configured for any offerings—brunch, late night, desserts, etc. Users also have the option to manually switch to a different menu at anytime.

The software also has the capability to run holiday menus. A Christmas menu can be planned and programmed in advance for the holiday, then set to automatically turn on and off at the designated times.

Restaurant Pro Express™ allows for shortcuts to reduce the amount of time the server spends at the terminal. For example, the “reorder round” functionality saves time by allowing servers and bartenders to reorder several drinks without having to manually reenter them.

pcAmerica support staff will input a restaurant’s menu for a fee, saving time and ensuring it is done right the first time.  Prices vary depending on the complexity of the menu, so please contact you account manager for a quote at 1-800-722-6374.

Bars run the gamut from noisy and fun to more laid-back or refined. But regardless of what kind of crowd is drawn, no one wants to wait a long time for a drink.

Restaurant Pro Express™ has a bar tab feature that helps keep the drinks flowing. A bartender or server can start a bar tab by swiping the customer’s credit card, which will pre-authorize the card before the patrons are served their drinks. Many bars will store credit cards with open tabs behind the counter, which can lead to confusion, misplaced or forgotten cards at the end of the night. Instead of holding the credit card behind the bar until the tab is closed, Restaurant Pro Express™ only requires one swipe, so the card may be given back to the patron after opening the tab.

A server or bartender can also start a tab for guests just at the bar for drinks or appetizers while they wait for their table.  Tabs are listed by name in alphabetical order and can either be closed out at the bar or transferred to a table. A bartender can also use the Quick Tab button for guests who are ordering one drink and paying for it immediately.

Customers tend to be more conscious of their purchases if they pay for a drink every time they order one, so bar tabs are good for your bottom line. It’s easier for revelers to say “this round is on me!” if they are putting it on their tab and then paying at the end of the night. It’s also more convenient for the customer because they only tip the bartender or server once, when they close their tab.

Tabs also help safeguard establishments that tend to get extremely crowded or are prone to theft. For bars that draw large sports crowds or busy college establishments, it’s common for customers to sit at a table and drink for the duration of a game or night out. Even the best servers, on busy days, may lose track of their tables. Occasionally after a long game or too many beverages, a group could “walk out” without paying their check, leaving the bar tab to absorb the loss or the unlucky server to pay the bill. Tabs ensure that the establishment is paid for the food and drinks consumed, even if the person walks out without officially paying their check.

Bar codes are an easy way to automate a business, track assets, sort documents and manage inventory. Consumers are familiar with bar codes on items they purchase, but what appears to be a random series of lines and spaces is actually a goldmine of information for a store

If your store is still inputting prices into a computer or looking up what’s in stock from a manually maintained list, it’s time to think about how bar codes can make things easier.

Bar codes are one of the first steps a business can make towards a faster check out. pcAmerica’s Bar Code Express software integrates with its Cash Register Express™ point of sale system. Bar Code Express imports inventory information from the system and prints bar codes on any laser printer or Bar Code Blaster. Employees may select different labels or even design their own label.

Once the bar codes have been printed and applied, a bar code scanner and inventory control software help manage and locate inventory.  We’ve all waited while an employee looks around the stockroom for an item that they thought was in the back, only to be disappointed when we’re told that they would have to order it. Now, employees can simply look up the information to check if an item is in stock and even see where the item is located in the stockroom.

These types of bar codes are especially useful for stores that carry items that don’t lend themselves to individual bar codes. For example, a hardware store could make a bar code scan sheet that assigns codes to loose items, like nails, rope or wires. When a customer brings a handful of screws or a length of rope to the register, the employee simply scans the code on the sheet, enters the quantity and the line keeps moving.

Bar Code Express integrates with several bar code scanners, ranging from simple handheld units to table top and multi-directional laser bar scanners. pcAmerica’s point of sale software is also compatible with several different bar code printers.

Bar Code Express is available for a nominal fee. For more information, please call your pcAmerica sales representative at 1-800-722-6374.

The holiday shopping season is practically here. Brick and mortar retailers have started hiring seasonal help and holiday promotions are finalized. In several weeks, shoppers will start pouring into shopping malls and retail stores, looking for the best deals and checking off their lists.

For retail centers, Black Friday doesn’t just signify the start of the holiday shopping season—restaurants in and around retail centers are busy preparing for the influx of shoppers, adding staff during peak hours and ensuring inventory levels are adjusted for added diners.

With several weeks to go before Black Friday, there is still time to install and train employees on a mobile POS solution, which will shorten wait times during high traffic days. A mobile POS will turn tables quickly, move lines and relieve stress on employees, who can then take a few extra seconds to have a pleasant exchange with each customer, answer questions or make menu recommendations.

The benefits of a technology upgrade are clear when you consider the alternative – long wait times will strain servers, who will feel pressure to work faster. Frazzled staff may not provide the enjoyable experience customers desire, especially after hours of fighting crowds and hauling bags. Stressed employees will make more mistakes in an effort to increase their table turnover, and these errors will take more time, money or resources to fix.
Systems installed by November 1 will give employees ample time to be trained and practice with the new POS, ensuring smooth service when the holiday season gets underway at the end of the month.

Long after the holiday season is over, an investment in a mobile POS will continue to pay off. Severs who can provide a higher level of service will earn extra tips, which will help retain staff and raise employee morale.

For more information about how you can upgrade your POS to Restaurant Pro Express™ Mobile, please call your account representative at 1-800-722-6374.

Mobile payments are projected to grow to $1.7 trillion by 2017, so forward thinking companies and retailers have already started to adapt. Visa has released a set of incentives for merchants to use mobile options, MasterCard has formed a partnership with Google and Google Wallet and PayPal recently struck a deal with 15 retailers, including Toys R Us, Barnes & Noble, Abercrombie & Fitch, Jamba Juice and others, to give consumers the ability to pay with their mobile phones.

There are several mobile payment platforms available, and pcAmerica customers can choose from three applications that work with the company’s POS packages.

Restaurant Pro Express™ and Cash Register Express™ accept payment through Google Wallet, a mobile payment system that stores credit cards, loyalty information and gift cards. Currently, there are more than 300,000 merchant locations that accept Google Wallet, including Bloomingdales, Subway, McDonald’s, The Home Depot and 7-Eleven, among other major retail and restaurant chains.

The software also integrates with Paydiant, a software-only, cloud-based solution that gives restaurants and retail stores the ability to accept mobile payments and offers using their existing POS infrastructure. Paydiant’s mobile payment platform allows banks, retailers and restaurants to incorporate mobile wallet capabilities into their own iPhone® and Android™ applications. A number of retailers in Colorado, Massachusetts, New York and South Carolina have already started using the integrated solution.

pcAmerica’s POS packages also work with ISIS Mobile Wallet, an ultra-secure mobile payment functionality that includes several safeguards against theft or fraud. Users are protected with a remote wallet locking function, a pin-protected wallet and secure element safeguards that protect from counterfeiting cards stored in the wallet. The platform is currently launching in Austin and Salt Lake City, but ISIS ready phones will soon be available through AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.

Don’t get left behind when mobile payments take over. Please call your account manager for more information at 1-800-722-6374.

The demand for mobile payments is growing.

In 2012, worldwide mobile transaction values topped $171.5 billion, nearly a 62% increase from last year. Gartner, Inc., a leading technology research company, estimates that by 2016, the mobile payment market will have 448 million users worldwide.

Although mobile payments are still more of a novelty right now, things are evolving fast. In just a few years, some people may stop carrying their credit cards entirely, in favor of NFC-based payments. If your store or restaurant is not equipped for this, it may actually hinder your business.

It sets your business apart.

Let’s face it: new technology is cool and exciting. So when the first person pays for their lunch with their smartphone, other people will notice and want to get in on the action. Mobile payments are still picking up steam, so stores and restaurants that start accepting them now will earn a following of forward-thinking patrons.

Not convinced? Consider this: one study showed that in January 2012, there were more than 101 million smartphone users in the U.S. By adding a mobile payment option, restaurants and retailers make it easier than ever for smartphone users to make purchases, even when they’ve left their wallets at home.

Waiting is excruciating.

People expect to wait, but that doesn’t mean they like it. A recently published survey showed that too long of a wait is one of the top retail customer complaints. Nearly 94% of respondents say a reasonable amount of time to wait is 5-10 minutes or less.

During peak business hours, mobile payments will help speed up the check-out process and ensure that lines stay as short as possible. An emailed receipt means an even shorter wait, no printing and signing necessary and no fumbling to change the register tape.

pcAmerica’s point of sale packages integrate with three mobile payment platforms: Google Wallet, ISIS Mobile Wallet and Paydiant. For more information about how your restaurant or business can start accepting mobile payments, please contact pcAmerica at 1-800-722-6374.

According to the New York Times, Americans spend 37 billion hours waiting in line every year. That’s a lot of hours, so it’s natural that all of this lost time elicits annoyed responses: heads shaking, eyes rolling and complaining. Lines can be frustrating for the shopper, diner and employee.

Busy shoppers and hungry people have better things to do than wait around, so long lines may result in people deserting their items in-store or looking elsewhere for a restaurant with less of a line. Adding more staff can be expensive, so it seems like an easy fix would be to tell employees to work faster, which often makes a bad situation much worse.

Working as quickly as possible for hours at a time will also lead to an increase in mistakes and eventual burn out, meaning a higher turnover rate and lower company morale. Obviously, telling people to work faster is not a viable, long term solution so retailers and restaurants need to find other ways to mobilize their lines.

Since customers expect a positive customer service experience that does not waste their time, restaurants and retailers should consider a line busting mobile solution that will reduce customer check-out time or waits for a table at a restaurant, increase customer throughput and support coupons and discounts.

A mobile solution with line busting capability is a practical, long-term solution that will ensure shorter lines, less waiting and a more pleasant experience for shoppers, diners and employees.

For more information about how a mobile solution can help reduce lines at your restaurant with Restaurant Pro Express™ Mobile, please call pcAmerica at 1-800-722-6374.

pcAmerica’s anticipated mobile point of sale solution, Restaurant Pro Express™ Mobile, is now available. Restaurant Pro Express™ Mobile includes all of the features business owners expect on a stationary point of sale terminal on an Apple© iPod touch© or iPhone©. It will also be available for Google Android devices in future releases.

RPE Mobile, powered by MobiMagic, is ideal for a variety of hospitality environments including restaurants, bars, nightclubs, stadiums or any environment where wireless POS capability is needed.

Restaurant Pro Express™ Mobile’s tableside ordering and payment functionality helps reduce wait times and mistakes made due to improperly inputted orders. The time saved lets servers spend a few additional minutes at each table upselling desserts, drinks and sides and providing a higher level of customer service.

The stylish, intuitive interface is easy to learn and use. Servers have the ability to take orders and send them to the kitchen, without ever leaving the table. The software also includes the option to split checks and securely process credit card payments through an attached encrypted credit card reader. Wait staff may print receipts with Epson’s Mobilink™ wireless mobile printer or email diners a paperless receipt option. The mobile ordering system also supports various taxation rules, discounts and happy hour pricing.

The mobile POS solution works in conjunction with traditional pcAmerica POS terminals and synchronizes guest checks and menus in real time, so servers can place orders tableside but also view their open tabs and make changes at the POS station.

Restaurateurs have the option of buying a license or pay monthly for each RPE Mobile installation. The monthly service also includes technical support.

For more information about implementing Restaurant Pro Express™ in your establishment, please contact your pcAmerica representative at 1-800-722-6374.