Are Docket Rails Done?

Most certainly, docket rails are soon to become an artifact of the hospitality industry.

Just as cash registers have made way for touch screens and tablet based point of sale systems, paper tickets are being replaced with the KDS (Kitchen Display System) or bump screen.

Key benefits:

• Improved speed and efficiency
• Order tracking - who’s ordering, who’s waiting
• How long they’ve been waiting
• Distribute orders to particular stations
• Lower cost - no printers, no paper, no ribbons
• Easy order history retrieval

Although having been around for a while, up until recently kitchen display systems were beyond the reach of most smaller cafes and restaurants, due to the required on site hardware and expensive licensed software. Learn more system differences explained.

The delivery model is changing, meaning KDS can now be supplied at a fraction of the cost to the older installed systems.

Screens and tablets can now simply synchronize via the Internet.

So along with kitchen printers and paper tickets, order docket holders have had their time in the sun.

The shift is underway, early adopters are well into the take up phase of this technology. So if you're interested in avoiding the paper shuffle, to improve your order docket management, it's time to make the move to the virtual spike.

This video is getting a lot of interest, it shows how easy it is to make the transition away from paper based ordering processes.

For more information visit: splitability.com

Speed - A Key Metric

There's lots to consider when choosing an on-line point of sale system for your business, but there is one factor that stands out.

Speed of Operation!

It's a benchmark that ranks above all others. Button images help make for a fast system, as they allow for quick recognition of menu items.

Consistent design improves navigation speed.

But whether you use a single register or multiple tablets, an important detail that also feeds into the speed equation is:

The time it takes for the POS to do a full reload 🔄

That is, the time taken to do a complete reload of the app from scratch to taking and sending orders.

The above video shows a POS system that has both lightning fast operational speed as well as fast refresh and load times. Starting the app from scratch to printing orders is done in around 2 to 3 seconds!

Whether cold booting a computer or powering up a device after it has run low on battery level, app refresh & reload is an unavoidable process you'll need to do from time to time. So be sure to do some tests when doing your system trials, otherwise you may be setting yourself up for some frustration down the track.

Want more speed? Ensure you have fast printers: Lean more.

Turbo-charge your operational processes with a fast point of sale system.

For more information visit: splitability.com

POS & Kitchen Display Systems

Predominantly used in quick service restaurants, Kitchen Display Systems aka KDS are increasingly being used more widely in hospitality as the barriers to using them such as cost are falling dramatically.

The benefits are clear:

• No lost tickets - the virtual spike holds all orders
• No unreadable tickets - all orders in double size text
• Retrieve any ticket that is accidentally cleared
• Improved service times
• Category selection on a per screen or per station basis
• Faster operation - instant updates
• Save on back of house operational costs

Paperless equals environmentally friendly.

Form more information: https://www.splitability.com/kitchen-display-system/

www.splitability.com

Restaurant & Catering Magazine - Tablet Tips

The March edition of Restaurant & Catering magazine asks five key questions to those considering tablet POS systems:

Restaurant POS Systems Tablet Tips

Five questions to ask when considering tablet POS systems:

Can you add more devices?

As your business grows or to cope with rush hour, being able to add tablets or pop out your smart phone and start ordering is a real advantage. But should you need to pay to add more devices? SplitAbility’s subscription model is simple. For $60/month, you can use as many devices as you like, download the app and you’re good to go!

Which platform?

Platform agnostic equals future proof. For example, payment terminals like CBA’s Albert require a native Android app. SplitAbility is certified to run on the Albert as well as iPad integrated payment terminals.

How easy are menu changes?

Agile venues change their offerings daily, so you’ll need to propagate entire menu changes to all devices effortlessly. SplitAbility allows you to edit your online menu/s (Google Drive Spreadsheet/s), then push it live to all tablets with a single click.

Can you use the data network?

Wi-fi signal levels vary as your venue fills. True cloud-based tablet systems seamlessly switch to the mobile data network if required, allowing recovery from wi-fi black spots.

What’s the track record?

Talk to businesses that use the system you’re considering, check review sites as past performance is a good indication of how well a tablet system works. With a 100 per cent uptime record over five years and now processing thousands of transactions per hour, SplitAbility POS is unmatched when it comes to reliability. SplitAbility uses Google Cloud Infrastructure with App Engine and Firebase providing its lightning fast operation and stability.

Call 1300 ANY POS (1300 269 767) or visit www.splitability.com

Albert EFTPOS terminal

Merchants who use Comm-bank's new Albert terminal can now install and run SplitAbility POS as a fully integrated native payments App.

The new mobile POS solution can benefit hospitality businesses who seek to streamline their processes and improve efficiency.

CBA signed off on the App last week after a certification process including:

• Technical requirements.
• Security compliance.
• Business reviews & in house testing.

What exactly does this mean for merchants who take card payments?
A one minute video is worth 1.8 million words :-)

A users guide to the Albert can be found here: Albert merchant user guide.

Businesses looking for terminal devices that offer more than just card payment processing may be surprised to find what can be done on the Albert.

Payment services Comm-Bank.

Key benefits:

• One subscription - unlimited devices.
• Take orders and payments from the same device.
• Sync with Apple iPads/phones, Android tablets/phones or Windows devices.

• Print using Albert's printer or send tickets to an external printer.
• Per customer bill splitting.

• Manage tabs with menu items.
• Order ahead with fast.cafe.

Technical:

Albert runs version 4.0.x of the Android operating system also known as "Ice Cream Sandwich". It has various security enhancements applied and requires Apps to comply with SEAndroid restrictions before being allowed on the App bank.

For more information visit: splitability.com

Consistent UI vs Responsive Design

Designing software to run on all devices has its challenges.

Users have an expectation they'll be quickly able to understand an applications functionality from the get go. Point of Sale (POS) systems are no different, speed is achieved through presenting users with simple single touch functions with little or no screen flipping.

Larger screens and tablets make navigation easy, but for smaller devices it's another story, especially if the layout is different.

Familiarizing yourself with software is time consuming and if layouts present differently, some trial and error is required before the nuances become apparent.

You know the drill, having mastered the software on a desktop, you then have to repeat the process on mobile devices. I'll try this button, oops not that one, swipe left, oh wait I know it's here.. somewhere! On it goes. So after becoming familiar with the layout and functions on one device, should you then have to learn it again on another?

Different screen sizes present two options for developers:

• Use a consistent user interface with pinch & zoom.
• Have a responsive design or native interface that matches the device size.

Each strategy has its advantages and disadvantages, the down side of responsive design is that the navigation structure is different for each screen size. Users must relearn how to navigate the product for each form factor, it can be confusing and tends to slow the process down.

What gives users the edge when operating software is navigation understanding i.e. where to next, how it works. If they know and understand the click layout, they don't have to relearn how to navigate the system.

Consistent user interfaces.

On desktops & touch screens:

Smart phones:

Tablet devices:

Responsive user interface design makes sense in a lot of situations however point of sale is not one of them. Pinch and zoom allows users to do what they want. It enables fast simple transfer of knowledge across all platforms.

A consistent user interface has clear advantages:

• Pinch & zoom is well understood.

• It's ingrained in all modern devices.

• Offers the benefit of speed across all devices.

Cross platform functionality is a must when considering technology upgrades, but be sure to look at how the user interface maps from one device to another.

Last month we looked at the system differences in the three categories of point of sale systems.

This post gives an insight as to why we allow pinch & zoom across all devices and screen sizes.

For more information visit: www.splitability.com

System Differences Explained

This article attempts to demystify what "cloud" means in the context of a point of sale systems.

Just over two years ago we did our first trade show at Melbourne International Coffee. Our POS system had been in production for around a year, we had clients using it, but it was still quite a new product.

This picture shows some of the cheery people in the stands that were around us.

I'm not in the picture.. I'm taking it :-)

More pictures..

In 2014, most of the incumbent POS providers were of the "installed" variety and not big believers in the cloud. The initial entrants attempting to crack the online delivery model had yielded some spectacular failures and the existing suppliers were quick to point this out. It tainted the whole on-line space.

We've exhibited at a number of hospitality trade shows since then, one thing has changed:

Everyone has a Cloud based POS solution now!

But what makes for a cloud based POS system?

Ask five people what the cloud is and you'll get five different answers.

There's an abundance of resources out there to explain the benefits of the cloud, so we're not about to repeat that here.

So what exactly differentiates the various types of POS systems out there?

POS systems can be grouped into three distinct families:

• Installed

• Hybrid

• True Cloud

Installed POS Systems:

Installed systems require on-site server hardware and software to operate. The software is proprietary and typically runs a version of the Windows operating system. These systems have been around since the mid 1980's when the Windows graphical interface first emerged.

Remote monitoring of the data is done via an Internet connection however the software and data remain on-site, tucked away on the hard-drives of the local computers.

Pros:

• These systems are mature and have been around since the birth of the PC.
• Are stable in operation, have been proven over many years of operation.
• Off-line operation is a given, installed systems are off-line by definition.
• Can be customized to the users requirements.

Cons:

• Development for installed systems has all but ceased, it's yesterday's technology.
• You can loose your data in an instant.
• If your database is corrupted you'll need a full software reload.
• Are vulnerable to virus attacks.
• Usually sold with lock in contract arrangements.
• Customization comes at a high cost.
• Limited flexibility to change hardware or devices.
• Some items such as printers use device drivers that can be problematic.
• You're tethered to a particular operating system.
• Licences protect the vendor not the user.
• Maintenance is difficult as databases are on site.
• Switching costs are high and expose the buyer to price gouging.

Hybrid POS Systems:

A composite mix of installed and on-line technology. Hybrid systems attempt to bridge the gap between installed and true cloud based systems.

They achieved this by having locally installed hardware and software to do local tasks like ordering, printing, totaling etc. The local system ensures good speed of operation but once the transaction is completed the data is moved off-site to a cloud based data center. The process of continuously archiving the data off-site is done in the background and is transparent to the user.

Pros:

• Good off-line operational capability.
• Data is safer than installed systems but not as safe as true cloud systems.
• Can be customized but not as easily as installed systems.

Cons:

• Are only a stepping stone that precedes the move to fully blown cloud systems.
• Have an impending "use by date" and will eventually fade away.
• Can have issues with data synchronization.
• Installed components suffer all the same issues as installed systems.
• Updates can be problematic.
• High operational and switching costs.

As with the hybrid car, the true end game is to move to the fully electric car.
The risk in choosing a hybrid POS system is that it may quickly become a thing of the past. In the short term, hybrids fills the gap.

True Cloud POS Systems:

Cloud based systems have a number of specific characteristics:

• They don't have on-site server based hardware or software.
• Enabling software is held off site in data centers, it loads on refresh.
• Transaction data is stored off-site in a cloud data center.
• The Internet connects devices directly to the cloud servers.
• Peripherals devices such as receipt printers don't require device drivers.
• Data synchronization is spontaneous.
• Off-line operation is on a per device basis.

Play store and App store Apps are available for these systems but are a convenience rather than an essential part of the system. True cloud based systems can operate in a web browser.

Many devices now have independent Internet connections e.g. smart phones with a data service. Being able to connect via any connection mitigates issues regarding Internet outages. This provides superior reliability (up time) over both installed and hybrid systems.

Remote monitoring connects directly to the actual data stored in the data center.

Pros:

• Is the focus of future development.
• Operates on many different devices, tablets, smart phones or computers.
• Your data is automatically safe and secure.
• Not susceptible to viruses.
• Lower operating and switching costs.
• No contracts.
• No down time.

Cons:

• Various features are still being developed.
• If you don't like what the system offers, customization is not an option.
• Extended off-line operation is not recommended.

Just about everywhere you look there is an article on how the cloud is changing things and is the way forward as it is more efficient, lower cost, reliable, has easy access to data, the list goes on.

True cloud systems have all of these symbols displayed everywhere.

It means the system is platform agnostic (can operate on all devices).


Compared to the trade shows we did a couple of years ago, anti-cloud sentiment is fading as the online delivery model is being proven and becomes increasingly faster and more reliable.

With new features constantly rolling out, the online model offers a compelling value proposition and that's why we're backing it over it's predecessors.

For more information visit: www.splitability.com