Pace of development

Once you’ve determined the features any proposed bar EPOS system covers, look at how quickly the provider is bringing out new features. Technology changes rapidly and you want any provider you switch to, to be moving with the times.

Switching an EPOS system can be a disruptive process, so you want to make sure any system you take on will work for you for the long term, giving you the ability grow your business over time and take advantage of new technologies as they become available.

Integrations

If you have existing systems that you don’t want to change, you will want to ensure any new EPOS system can integrate with them. If you don’t mind changing other systems, you will just need to ensure there is an alternative that is at least as good a fit for your business, ideally better.

Some EPOS systems, including our own Bar EPOS, provide multiple functions all in one system. These can include a booking system, stock management, staff scheduling tools, mobile ordering and a loyalty database. Review these capabilities to see where you could replace multiple systems with one or expand the range of areas your technology can help with.

You may not want to try to incorporate multiple new functions at once – we often advise a phased approach – but it can be good to know there are additional capabilities you could make use of as when it makes sense for your business.

Support & Industry knowledge

Selecting a new EPOS is not just about the system itself, but the team behind it.

Good technical support coverage and responsiveness is key. Even with the most reliable systems, issues can happen, and when they do you need someone knowledgeable on hand to help you immediately, especially if it’s in the middle of a busy service.

Similarly important, is having a team available that understand your business and what you are trying to achieve. We receive requests from customers daily and understanding the problem a customer is trying to solve, is always the first step to being able to provide the best possible solution. This is true if it’s a new feature development, or just some advice on what is possible with the current system.

Cost

Finally, you will need to consider the cost of your new EPOS system. Make sure you consider all costs related to the system – monthly licence fees, any additional support fees, any add on costs, and card processing fees.

Some systems have very low, or even no monthly fees, but these tend to earn their money through higher card fees. This can be fine if you do your sums and the overall cost works out better for you but can be costly if you do high volumes, or you don’t factor in the card fees appropriately when reviewing your options.

With many systems, including our own bar EPOS system, you will have multiple card processing options allowing you to take advantage of a competitive marketplace.

When looking at cost you also need to look at any savings your EPOS may be able to help you make, that a cheaper option may not help with. This could be through intuitive reporting that helps you identify and manage costs, or through incorporating additional functions that you currently pay a separate provider for.

Going for the cheapest can often be a false economy in the long run, but make sure you know what all the costs (and any savings) are and factor them into your decision.