The Best POS Systems for Cafés in the UK
While owning or managing a coffee shop is an exciting opportunity, you should never underestimate the sheer amount of work it requires. Running a...
The Best POS Systems for QSRs in the UK
Running a restaurant is not for the weak of heart. Many have tried, and many have failed, often due to the overwhelming stress of maintaining seamless operations while keeping up with competitors.
QSRs are a core part of the restaurant world, and the fast-paced nature of the business means one mistake can lead to a series of tumbles and falls, causing serious disruption to the day-to-day operations.
But fear not, hospitality tech is here to save us. In 2024, Point Of Sale (POS) Systems have become a pivotal part of restaurant operations. The value of POS systems is expected to exceed $30B by 2030.
A POS system is a combination of hardware and software designed to process transactions, manage sales, and control several aspects of your company's activity. In hospitality, they're beyond a luxury, they are an absolute necessity.
A powerful POS system can help your QSR hit its objectives by streamlining operations, improving order processing, and ultimately boosting your profits.
In this blog, we'll run through some of the best POS systems for quick-service restaurants in the UK to help you find the perfect fit for your business.
Before we get started, we’ll briefly run through the main benefits of using a QSR POS system. A few of the key benefits include:
Okay, now let’s run through the top POS systems for UK-based QSRs, covering the main features and capabilities.
The Redcat ePOS system is a reliable and easy-to-use platform designed to boost the efficiency and accuracy of your front-of-house. The popular restaurant POS system includes functions for running a QSR, cafe, bar, or franchise restaurant.
With a central management dashboard, QSR owners and managers can get a full view of day-to-day operations while making sure service stays fast and efficient upfront. The software can be run locally or via the cloud with built-in redundancy for reliability from internet outages and a poor-performing network.
Redcat offers hardware with a modular design adaptable to various POS solutions. Options include a foldable counter POS solution, a retractable wall-mounted system, and a pole-mounted or wall-mounted touch POS solution.
The software is robust and feature-rich with capabilities specifically focused on improving the operational efficiency of hospitality businesses. With features including cloud-based multi-site functionality, performance tracking, and delivery management tools - Redcat is far more than just a simple point-of-sale solution.
All orders can be tracked and displayed on a production monitor; perfect for the quick-moving nature of fast-casual restaurants. You can display up to eight orders at a time, set up a notification sound for when orders are ready, record order time, and more.
Overall, Redcat ePOS is one of the best POS systems for QSRs in the UK, with plenty of restaurant-specific features, an intuitive design, and a range of integration capabilities.
Case Study: Nando’s Australia
To improve customer connection and engagement, Nando's sought to create a unified loyalty system to build and maintain a loyal customer base. However, with four different POS systems in use across their restaurants, integration became increasingly complex and costly.
As a result, they opted to standardise all locations under a single POS system, embarking on one of the largest POS rollouts in the Australian Quick Service Restaurant industry.
Nando's chose Redcat for its all-encompassing POS, Data Management, and integrated Loyalty solutions, as well as its strong local presence, flexibility, and project management expertise. The cost of transitioning to a single POS system and implementing the Loyalty solution turned out to be much lower than expected.
A successful trial was conducted in 30 restaurants in Western Australia, leading to immediate increases in revenue and profitability, which validated the decision to extend the rollout to all stores.
A dedicated Redcat project team, including a Project Manager and operations and support specialists, oversaw the conversion of over 230 restaurants across Australia, completing the entire process in less than four months.
The Clover Network POS system is a popular choice among Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) because of its versatility and ease of use. Designed with small to medium-sized businesses in mind, Clover offers a range of hardware options, from compact countertop setups to mobile devices that allow for flexibility in various restaurant environments.
The intuitive interface is perfect for your quick-service restaurant, simplifying the process of taking orders, processing payments, and managing daily operations. Your employees can get up to speed quickly so you don’t have to worry about a steep learning curve or any sort of disruption to your daily operations.
For a QSR, having access to real-time data on sales, inventory, and customer preferences can be a game-changer. The data and analytics features provide detailed insights that help you understand peak hours, popular menu items, and overall sales trends.
Clover offers different hardware devices such as handheld POS systems, countertop POS solutions, kiosks, full stations, and kitchen display systems. The POS system also comes with integration capabilities to connect with your existing tools and technology.
For example, Clover can easily sync with online ordering platforms, allowing you to expand your reach and offer delivery or pickup options without the hassle of managing separate systems. Overall, the Clover Network POS system is a popular and powerful choice for fast-casual restaurants, bars, cafes, and more.
Case Study: Out the Dough
Angelo Lonardo is the CEO and co-founder of Out the Dough, a family-run cookie dough company based in Concord, California, known for its wide variety of cookie dough flavours that can be enjoyed baked or raw.
In May 2020, Out the Dough was featured on Good Morning America’s “Deals and Steals” segment, which led to a surge in sales. Thanks to Clover Online Ordering, they were able to manage and fulfil the sudden increase in demand without overwhelming their operations, allowing the business to scale efficiently in response to their newfound popularity.
Lonardo appreciates how Clover has supported the growth of his business and helped it adapt to a rapidly changing market. There was no need to search for a new POS system to handle the influx of orders—the Clover Online Ordering solution was already integrated.
“Clover has been a huge part of our business ever since day one,” Lonardo said. “It’s super helpful. It’s an amazing, amazing asset to the company.”
Square POS is known for its simplicity and flexibility, and as such, is a great choice for quick-service restaurants. One of the main advantages of Square is its user-friendly design, making it easy for staff to learn and operate, even with minimal training.
Square offers a pay-as-you-go model with transparent pricing, which is particularly appealing to those who want to avoid hefty upfront costs or binding agreements. This flexibility allows you to scale your QSR as needed, adding more terminals or upgrading its services without a major financial commitment.
Square POS also holds powerful integration capabilities, allowing you to effortlessly connect with other software solutions and tools, making it a comprehensive option for QSRs. The system provides real-time analytics and reporting, giving you insights into sales trends, popular items, and employee performance.
This data is invaluable for making informed decisions about staffing, menu adjustments, and promotions. Square also offers built-in features for inventory management, customer engagement, and even payroll, all within the same platform, giving you to power to manage your full operation with ease.
Case Study: Scaffidi’s Restaurant & Tavern
Frankie DiCarlantonio operates Scaffidi’s Restaurant & Tavern, along with four other brands in Steubenville, Ohio. He turned to Square in search of a technology partner that could provide a modern POS system to streamline his carryout and delivery services while boosting staff efficiency. His goal was to reduce costs—covering everything from subscriptions and labour to paper—and to automate and expand his business.
Frankie now uses Square to manage his restaurants, incorporating the KDS and handheld POS, online ordering, and tools for invoicing (for catering), loyalty programs, and gift cards.
With these tools, his team no longer faces congestion around a central POS station, and diners enjoy quicker, more efficient service. The results have been impressive, with a 22% increase in alcohol sales, 12 hours saved per week, 35% fewer refunds, and 57% fewer mistakes. Business is thriving.
Toast POS is a powerful solution tailored specifically for restaurants, making it an excellent choice for QSRs hoping to boost efficiency. The restaurant-focused design addresses the unique needs of food service businesses and the system is known for its speed and reliability.
Toast POS comes with deep powerful features for kitchen operations, with tools for sending orders directly to the kitchen as well as options for customising menus, prices, and promotions.
Toast also shines in its comprehensive data analytics and reporting capabilities. For your QSR, understanding sales trends, peak hours, and popular items is essential for optimizing operations and maximising your profits. Toast delivers detailed reports that can be accessed from anywhere, giving you the insights they need to make informed decisions.
Furthermore, Toast offers robust integration options, including loyalty programs, online ordering, and delivery services, all within the same platform. This all-in-one approach not only streamlines operations but also boosts the customer experience, making Toast POS a valuable tool for any QSR looking to thrive in a competitive market.
Case Study: Velvet Taco
Velvet Taco had 11 operational locations and was looking to expand. With the Toast POS system in place, they were able to easily grow to 30 locations with no disruptions to operations.
Velvet Taco’s current operation now runs much smoother, and every location is easily managed from the cloud-based POS system.
Goodtill, now part of the SumUp family, is a versatile and intuitive POS system that caters well to Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs). The POS system has a user-friendly interface, designed to be easy for your staff to navigate, especially important in the fast-paced world of QSRs.
The POS system allows for quick and seamless order taking, making it easy to manage everything from straightforward transactions to more complex orders with customisations. You can easily reduce wait times with Toast POS, keeping lines moving and your customers satisfied.
Goodtill is also highly customisable, allowing you to tailor the system to fit your specific needs. Whether it's creating a menu that reflects a wide range of items or setting up promotions and discounts, Goodtill provides the flexibility needed to adapt to changing customer demands and business conditions.
Goodtill also includes data reporting features. The system provides detailed insights into sales patterns, customer behaviour, and staff performance, helping you better understand their business and make data-driven decisions.
Goodtill also integrates smoothly with other business tools, including accounting software and online ordering platforms, creating a cohesive ecosystem that streamlines operations and improves overall efficiency. As such, Goodtill is a strong contender for any QSR looking to optimise its service and boost profitability.
Case Study: Cafe2U
Cafe2U is the UK’s leading mobile café operator, with 78 mobile outlets, each run by a local franchisee.
The company saw its best-ever financial quarter after the initial COVID lockdown restrictions were lifted in Spring 2020. Thanks to its mobile operation, Cafe2U was able to bring its unique offerings of hot drinks, food, and refreshments directly to non-traditional locations like industrial estates, office buildings, and special events.
With the support of Goodtill b, enterprising franchisees were able to seize new opportunities that emerged, such as home deliveries and orders placed through the Goodeats mobile platform. This platform allowed customers to pre-pay before the van arrived, enhancing social distancing and speeding up order fulfilment.
Lightspeed POS is a robust and feature-rich system that’s well-suited for QSRs in the UK, offering a blend of efficiency and customisation tools that cater to the fast-paced nature of the restaurant industry.
The highly intuitive interface simplifies the order-taking process and ensures that transactions are handled quickly and accurately. In a QSR environment, where speed and precision are critical, Lightspeed’s design helps minimise errors and decrease wait times, allowing your staff to focus on delivering great customer service while keeping the line moving smoothly.
Another major advantage of Lightspeed POS for your QSR is its powerful inventory management capabilities. The system provides real-time tracking of ingredients and supplies, helping your restaurant stay on top of inventory levels and avoid running out of popular items. This feature is particularly valuable in a quick service setting, where a sudden shortage of key ingredients can disrupt service and disappoint customers.
The POS solution also comes with comprehensive reporting and analytics features, providing you with deep insights into sales performance, customer preferences, and operational efficiency. The system generates detailed reports that can be customised to meet the specific needs of your business, whether it’s tracking peak sales hours, monitoring employee performance, or analysing menu item popularity.
Lightspeed’s ability to integrate with other business tools, such as loyalty programs, online ordering platforms, and delivery services, makes it a great solution for your QSR. This all-in-one approach helps you streamline operations, improve decision-making, and ultimately drive growth in a competitive market.
Case Study: Poke House
Poke House began as a dark kitchen in Milan in 2018, founded by Vittoria Zanetti and Matteo Pichi, who recognised the potential of poke bowls in the European market. Combining their passion for the Hawaiian dish with their hospitality industry experience, they opened their first location.
Since then, Poke House has expanded from a single site in 2018 to 130 locations by 2023, and while their needs have evolved over the past six years, Lightspeed has remained a reliable partner throughout their growth.
“With 130 locations, our needs are now very different from when Poke House first opened, but Lightspeed is still proving to be a great solution,” said Alberto Vernazza, Chief Operating Officer.
PowerEpos is another feature-rich POS system designed for restaurants of all sizes and types. The user-friendly interface makes it easy for staff to adapt, and the range of management tools can help you significantly boost your QSR’s day-to-day operations.
With PowerEpos, taking orders and processing payments is a smooth and efficient process, helping to decrease wait times and maintain customer satisfaction. The POS system also supports quick modifications and customisations, making it easy to handle special requests without disrupting the flow of service.
The real-time inventory tracking and management capabilities can help you maintain optimal stock levels at all times. Automated tracking and alerts mean you never have to waste time manually counting stock and sending out notices.
You can also access data and reports with PowerEpos to get insights into your QSR’s performance. The system generates reports that help you understand sales trends, peak times, and the popularity of different menu items.
For QSRs looking to enhance their service, streamline operations, and boost profitability, PowerEpos offers a well-rounded and reliable solution.
Case Study: Red Fox & Peacock Ltd
Red Fox & Peacock Ltd operates several prominent establishments, including The Queens Hotel, The Eagle at Weeton, The Ship at Freckleton, Lytham House, and The Elephant with Liberty Tavern, with a strong presence on the Fylde Coast and a notable location in Liverpool.
From the outset, Red Fox & Peacock chose PowerEPOS to establish a reliable and efficient foundation for their Point of Sale (POS) operations. The goal was to ensure seamless order processing, attentive customer service, and overall operational efficiency, all of which are essential for delivering consistently exceptional hospitality.
By adopting PowerEPOS early on, they also aimed to gather valuable data, make informed decisions, control costs, and lay the groundwork for future expansion while maintaining their reputation for excellence in the hospitality industry.
PowerEPOS provided a comprehensive solution tailored to enhance Red Fox & Peacock's operations. This included the implementation of PowerEPOS tills and POS software for efficient order processing and point-of-sale management.
The integration of PowerEPOS solutions—featuring tills and POS software, Predicttile for cash management, and "Insights" for reporting—has led to a significant transformation for Red Fox & Peacock. As a result, the company has evolved into a more efficient and effective operation, with a clear return on investment demonstrated through improved operational efficiency and better data utilisation.
Revel Systems is a highly flexible cloud-based POS system perfectly suited to restaurants in the UK, including QSR’s and fast casual spaces. The POS solution comes with plenty of features specifically catered towards the unique demands of fast-paced food service environments.
With an intuitive interface, your staff can quickly get used to working with the POS solution to improve productivity, accuracy and efficiency. The system offers real-time tracking of inventory, so you and your management can easily keep an eye on stock levels and reorder supplies before they run out.
Another significant advantage of Revel Systems UK is its comprehensive reporting and analytics tools. For QSR owners and managers, having access to detailed data on sales performance, customer preferences, and employee productivity can make a huge difference in how your business is run. Revel’s reporting features allow you to analyse trends, identify peak times, and understand which menu items are most popular.
The versatile and comprehensive solution is a great option for QSRs looking to stand out in a sea of fast-paced restaurants.
Case Study: Grind
Grind is a London-based restaurant chain known for its speciality coffee, cocktails, and food, operating from 10 locations across the city. What began as a single espresso bar determined to disrupt London’s competitive coffee scene has now expanded to include 3 café-bars and 7 restaurants.
Grind was an early adopter of the Revel platform, choosing to replace its original ePOS system with Revel when it launched in the UK market in 2013.
Co-founded by a tech professional, Grind recognised early on the need for a scalable ePOS solution to support the company’s growth. It was crucial to provide operators with real-time data for decision-making, boost staff efficiency, and minimize costly errors.
Revel’s powerful real-time reporting capabilities have been instrumental in saving Grind money by providing actionable data on the fly, whether it’s identifying slow sales periods to adjust staffing or pinpointing menu items that aren’t selling.
To maintain order accuracy as the business scales, Revel’s Kitchen Display System (KDS) has significantly reduced errors in the kitchen.
SpotOn POS is a dynamic system that offers substantial benefits for QSRs. With a user-friendly interface designed to prioritise speed and efficiency, it’s perfectly suited for fast-paced restaurants. The popular POS system allows for quick input of orders and rapid transactions.
The wide range of tools includes features for inventory management, reporting and analytics, shift management, cost control and more. You can also adjust and organise the interface to whatever suits you best.
The cloud-based POS system also comes with cellular backup features - allowing you to stay running even when your internet fails you. SpotOn also includes multi-unit management for restaurant owners who need to oversee more than one location.
SpotOn POS also excels in its integration capabilities, allowing QSRs to connect with various other business tools and services. Whether it’s linking to online ordering platforms, customer loyalty programs, or accounting software, SpotOn provides a cohesive solution that boosts your overall business operations. SpotOn also offers multiple hardware options, depending on your needs as a restaurant.
As such, SpotOn is a great option for QSRs in the UK. All in all, it leads to faster transactions, boosted efficiency, improved customer satisfaction, and ultimately, improved profits.
Case Study: Pat’s of Henderson
When a hurricane forced the restaurant to close for repairs, Pat’s of Henderson took the opportunity to reimagine their front-of-house operations. With a loyal following of locals and tourists alike, Pat’s needed to make sure they could accommodate guests without overwhelming their kitchen and staff.
Pat’s used SpotOn and implemented a reservation system, reducing wait times. Going reservations-only meant Pat’s could efficiently manage the flow of orders to the kitchen so every guest got their meal on time.
In the fast-paced world of quick-service restaurants, having the right POS system is essential to keep operations running smoothly and efficiently.
Whether you're looking to improve customer experience, streamline order processing, or enhance your reporting capabilities, the best POS systems in the UK offer a range of features designed to meet the unique demands of the QSR industry.
By choosing a system that aligns with your business needs, you'll be better equipped to handle the challenges of a busy service environment, ultimately leading to increased customer satisfaction and business growth.
At Redcat, we provide IT solutions for hospitality businesses looking to improve day-to-day efficiency, boost customer satisfaction, enhance employee satisfaction, and ultimately increase profits. Don’t hesitate to reach out today for more information.
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