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If you have expanded your restaurant to multiple locations, we understand, every day is now an adventure for you. Your day starts with taking account of the inventory, managing menus, tracking previous day sales, and coordinating multiple teams across all your restaurant’s locations.
But do you find yourself getting increasingly frustrated with the never-ending workload, issue resolution, and reviewing all location reports while also ensuring customer satisfaction? This is a common growing pain that multi-location restaurant owners typically face.
Many owners like yourself use point-of-sale (POS) systems to streamline operations and get real-time insights, to make their life easier. In fact, according to the National Restaurant Association, 76% of restaurant owners believe that technology can give them a competitive edge in the market.
Managing multiple locations requires an effective approach: a multi-location POS solution. This blog will help you explore multi-location POS systems, how they compare with traditional POS solutions, and what features you should look for when investing in such a solution.
Traditional POS systems are often designed to manage operations within a single location or use an on-premise server for multiple locations. In this case, you can keep track of customer data, sales, and inventory updates only when you are at specific restaurant locations.
This results in your multi-location restaurants working in silos - as separate entities, running on reduced operational efficiency. Additionally, traditional POS systems may demand the installation of separate servers for every location, which can significantly impact your ability to scale up to become a restaurant chain.
A multi-location POS system can enable you to centralize operations across multiple restaurant locations. It streamlines key processes such as inventory management, sales tracking, employee scheduling, and customer data management. The system operates on a cloud server that can be accessed from anywhere. All the information stored is encrypted and secure and can only be used by authorized personnel with access to the network.
For a better understanding of how a traditional POS system compares to a multi-location POS system, let’s take a look at the table below:
While multi-location POS systems offer an edge for managing restaurant operations across multiple locations, choosing the right system to suit your unique needs is essential. Point-of-sale software providers often have a long list of features catering to restaurants of all scales and sizes. Here is a list of must-haves in a multi-location POS system you should look for to choose the best one tailored to your restaurant’s needs.
As a small restaurant owner juggling multiple branches, managing everything can feel like a constant struggle. Imagine dealing with scheduling conflicts or running out of popular menu items during a busy shift.
Centralized store operations are one of the most crucial features for managing multiple locations. A multi-location POS system offers key features such as real-time data analytics, inventory management, staff scheduling, menu updates, performance reporting, CRM tools, and streamlined order management to enhance efficiency, customer satisfaction, and growth across multiple restaurant locations. With real-time data reports at your fingertips, you can stay ahead of potential challenges like never before! This is also going to keep your customers satisfied, all while you stay flexible and on-the go.
Effective inventory management cannot happen when you work with data from individual locations; you need them consolidated in a single platform.
When you're running a multi-location POS system, inventory management may not be the most exciting part of the job, and hence a POS system can play a crucial role here. The real-time tracking feature allows monitoring stock levels, ensuring all the products are available whenever they're needed, minimizing the risk of stockouts or overstocking. Consolidating inventory data will also help you gain insights regarding sales, products performance and trends, allowing you to make informed decisions. Also, if the system detects that you're running short of any supply, it can alert and you can reorder before running out of it completely.
With cloud-based inventory stock transfer, it is easy to move things around according to your convenience. A multi-location POS system helps you track stock levels, minimizing waste and preventing shortages. In this way you'll stay prepared during demand surges while avoiding overstocking and improving overall efficiency.
A multi-location POS system is built to support multiple stores or branches while maintaining complete control over operations like promotions, pricing, and inventory from one place. It is interesting to note that according to Valassis Research, 54% of guests tend to return to the same restaurant over time. However, 20% switch to different places due to special offers or coupons, while 12% look for restaurants with more affordable menu options.
For example, if you notice a dip in visits at a specific branch, you can launch a targeted offer to draw customers back in. It also allows you to respond swiftly to changing demand patterns—redistributing popular items to locations where they're most needed. Offering personalized pricing and promotions can ensure customer satisfaction and more flexibility in handling orders and inventory.
Maintaining consistent payment security methods across all your branches can be a constant struggle. If even one of your locations uses outdated POS software, it can become an easy target for cyberattacks, putting your customers' payment data at risk. This inconsistency not only exposes you to hefty fines for non-compliance with PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) but also endangers your reputation and erodes customer trust. Complying with PCI DSS is crucial as it demonstrates your commitment to protecting customer data, helps prevent costly breaches, and ensures you meet legal and industry requirements for handling payment information.
A multi-location POS system like OneHubPOS provides centralized payment management and ensures all locations have the latest security updates. It automates compliance with industry standards and offers real-time monitoring, allowing you to detect and address potential threats quickly.
Managing menus across multiple restaurant locations can quickly become a complex task, especially when each location operates with its version of pricing, promotions, and menu items. For example, you decide to run a seasonal discount program for loyal customers, but this gets miscommunicated to one of the locations and they start giving out discounts for all the customers.
This inconsistency can snowball, leading to lots of sales going down the drain and your profits taking a hit. A multi-location POS system with centralized menu management lets you update menu items, pricing, and promotions from a single platform, ensuring consistency across all locations.
Managing staff across multiple locations often leads to scheduling conflicts, inconsistent time tracking, and complicated payroll processes. This can result in performance inefficiencies and increased labor costs. Such scenarios can also create frustration among employees and confusion around role-specific responsibilities.
The multi-level employee management system solves this by providing a centralized platform to track employees’ schedules, their performance metrics, and provide cross-location flexibility across all your branches. It also allows you to assign role-based access, ensuring that staff members can only access data relevant to their positions.
Seamless operations behind the scenes at your restaurant hinge on a robust POS system that integrates effectively with various applications. For example, if your POS connects with a popular delivery service, you can automatically update inventory and manage orders in real time, reducing errors and streamlining workflows. Additionally, integrating with your accounting software ensures that every sale is accurately recorded, while linking to your CRM helps you track customer preferences and tailor promotions.
OneHubPOS is built to tightly integrate with your existing workflows and vendors, so you don’t have to revamp your entire system. We are open to customisation, integrations and modifications to make your restaurant management easier.
In a traditional POS system, managers must manually compile and compare separate reports on sales, orders, and profits from each location to get a holistic report on the restaurant performance. In contrast, a multi-location POS automatically consolidates data from all branches into a single, comprehensive dashboard.
OneHubPOS’s reports allow you to instantly view and compare key performance indicators across locations, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions in real-time. For example, you can quickly spot which menu items are bestsellers across all branches, compare labor costs as a percentage of sales between locations, or identify underperforming outlets that need attention. This bird's-eye view enables more agile and effective management, helping you optimize operations, allocate resources efficiently, and drive growth across your entire restaurant network.
Rushing into choosing a multi-location POS without evaluating key factors can lead to serious issues, such as operational inefficiencies, unexpected costs, and overwhelmed staff. These challenges can disrupt the management of multiple locations, resulting in lost sales and dissatisfied customers. To avoid these pitfalls, it's essential to carefully consider the factors that will support your business's growth and efficiency.
Let’s explore six key considerations when choosing a multi-location POS system.
Imagine having the power to get a birds eye view of your restaurant’s functioning efficiency when you are on a vacation. This is possible with cloud-based POS systems wherein your data is synchronized across locations in real-time. A 2024 Restaurant Industry Trends report reveals that 76% of US restaurants have embraced this technology, enabling owners to effortlessly monitor sales, inventory, and operations without being tied to one location. This flexibility can be a game-changer for your business.
Picture this: You’ve found the perfect POS system, but then you discover hidden fees that derail your budget. Understanding the total cost—including setup, subscriptions, and transaction fees—is crucial. In the case of OneHubPOS, the transaction fee charges are as low as 2.3% + 10 cents, along with features such as extensive reporting, order, menu and inventory management, and 24/7 support. Evaluate what each system offers against your budget to ensure you invest in a solution that meets your financial requirements and delivers value to your restaurant's unique needs.
Small restaurants need to seize sales opportunities whenever possible, like a Saturday night rush or a festive season rush. What if your POS suddenly crashes at that time? Pure panic! Unless you have reliable and 24/7 support at your fingertips. OneHubPOS offers ongoing 24/7 assistance to swiftly resolve issues, keeping your operations smooth and your customers happy. With the right support, you can focus on delivering exceptional dining experiences without worrying about tech glitches.
What is the next step to running multi-location restaurants? Expanding to a chain of restaurants. Whether opening new locations or converting franchises, your POS should evolve seamlessly with you. A scalable system allows you to easily add locations, staff, and customers without major overhauls. With a OneHubPOS powered cloud kitchen, you can do just that. Its adaptability ensures that your growth is supported at every step, helping you to scale confidently.
When your individual restaurant systems such as accounting, delivery, and inventory management don’t communicate effectively, it leads to data silos. This fragmentation makes it difficult to track orders, manage inventory levels, and maintain accurate financial records across multiple locations.
OneHubPOS solves these integration challenges by seamlessly connecting with all your restaurant location’s existing essential systems. Additionally, OneHubPOS works with various payment partners and supports delivery and shipping logistics. In addition to its live integration with Payrix, Cardconnect, and built-in integrations with delivery and marketplace apps like Kitchenhub, Senpex, and UPS, it also works with your preferred or existing payment partners and supports Android hardware. This makes it seamless to absorb a multi-location POS into your current systems.
Reports are crucial for restaurants operating at multiple locations, as they help track, expand, and grow. A multi-location POS system provides instant data on inventory, staff performance, and sales trends across all sites. Managers can quickly adjust stock levels, optimize staffing, and modify menus based on live data. This agility allows restaurants to reduce waste, control costs, and capitalize on emerging trends, ultimately boosting profitability and customer satisfaction in a dynamic market.
When used right, a multi-location POS solution can be a powerful ally for your multi-location restaurant business. It streamlines your operations, making inventory management and team communication a breeze. With real-time insights, you can focus on what you love most—delivering great food and memorable experiences to your guests.
OneHubPOS’s multi-location POS is a cloud-based solution that can answer all your concerns, help you achieve operational efficiency, and be the backbone of your business's success and growth. Its flawless order-to-pay workflow, centralized dashboard, seamless integration, and secure payment processing capabilities are the right combination your multi-location restaurants need at an affordable price.
Choose the modules that fit your requirements and get started today. Benefit from reduced expenses, improved profitability, trust in transparent pricing structures and foster long-term relationships. Sign up for a demo today to learn more!
A multi-location POS system benefits restaurant chains by enabling real-time inventory, sales, and staff management across all locations and centralizing operations. It increases business efficiency, consistency, and scalability, allowing restaurants to expand while maintaining uniformity and streamlining processes.
You should look for features such as centralized store operations, omnichannel integration, employee management, and secure payment processing. Additionally, ensure that the tool offers flexible integrations with other systems, such as accounting and inventory management.
Yes, a multi-location POS for restaurants can enhance customer experience by providing consistent menu offerings and enabling smooth transactions across all locations. It ensures secure payments through EMV and NFC technology while also offering transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Additionally, it allows seamless integration with multiple payment partners, making it easier to manage your setup.
The challenges include complex data migration, staff training, and high upfront costs. Additionally, ensuring seamless integration with other operational tools across different locations can take significant time and effort.
Sahana is a seasoned GTM leader with a passion for building startups. She excels in crafting GTM strategies for tech products, driving revenue growth.
