It appears that the new trend for POS systems is again leaning towards table side systems. Business operators have seen the advantages to having a system that allows servers to take the customers order and send it to the kitchen from the table. this will save the customer from servers forgetting the order or from forgetting to put the order in the POS. The table-side version will also expedite the process saving the time it takes for a server to take the order to the POS. Another feature is that the server can order add ons without waiting in line at the computer terminal. A system that allows you to take orders at the table could help ensure all items are rung in and eliminates verbal orders to the kitchen. Business owners believe that the trend for table-side POS will only increase as the concept could save big dollars in the long haul. Most of the table side systems also take payment, this could eliminate the need for a cashier and save the customer and the server time. Long gone are the days of a server bringing you the wrong check, or the wrong credit card receipt. With a table side POS time and money are saved through efficiency. Information for this blog were gained from Hospitality technology magazine December 20th 2010 article by Christina Volpe.
Reflection
When i read this article I was convinced of the efficiency of the table-side POS. I also could see how a business could save money using this system. The big question I was left with was would you lose the servers personality with these handheld units? Would servers become order takers? I would use the analogy of a couple going to a nice dinner and ordering a bottle of wine, the server returns to the table with an electric bottle opener. Now some people might think this to be cool, however if you have ever seen this done with an electric opener you would quickly realize that the romance of opening a bottle of wine is somewhat lost. Sometimes efficiency is not everything, ten servers sending tickets back to the kitchen at the same time can cause a small catastrophe. Waiting in line at a POS builds accuracy in a server and timing, handhelds almost seem as though they might create a free for all.
