COVID-19 has radically changed the way restaurants operate. From installing protective barriers at common interaction points to implementing QR codes at tables for virtual menus, this pandemic is keeping restaurant owners on their toes. Luckily, IMS is here to help. Our eMobilePOS is a great tool for a restaurant owner to add to their tool belt, enabling you to pivot operations in response to the unique needs that the COVID-19 pandemic is creating. This flexible, mobile solution increases the flexibility of your team, decreases direct contact with customers, and empowers managers to navigate operational struggles with confidence.
Allow Customers to Pay Where They Are
Our solution can go anywhere an employee can. The portability of a compact POS system allows servers to ring transactions outside the restaurant, creating an efficient way to offer curbside pickup. In addition, offline mode allows employees to ring sales without access to an internet source, ensuring dead zones never get in the way of efficiency. Meanwhile, store and forward capabilities provide a temporary authorization to accept credit card payments without internet access.
Furthermore, most restaurants ask each table’s server to process the bill, which can waste unnecessary time as servers run between tables and the register. With a portable POS solution, all servers have to do is allow the customer to pay using NFC contactless, tap n go, Apple Pay, or Samsung Pay, and follow the onscreen prompts to complete the transaction.
Create a Contactless Experience
Ever since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, an emphasis has been placed on businesses creating a contactless experience for customers. The eMobile POS solution leverages the power of contactless and integrated payment options, complete with digital reconciliation. If your customer has a contactless form of payment they wish to use, i.e. credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or NFC payment methods, eMobile POS can process it in lightning-fast time. Able to act as both a standalone retail POS system for smaller operations, food trucks, and vendors, and an inventory control system for large organizations, eMobile POS also comes with a massive offline memory, and the ability to add or remove menu items in real-time.
Another important aspect of payment processing that has stemmed from COVID-19 is a retailers’ ability to capture signatures safely. More often than not, locations have been stuck purchasing, sanitizing, and discarding dozens of pens for customers to sign receipts. Not only does this require consistent management from employees, but it also requires direct employee contact and further manual receipt management. Implementing a POS solution to capture e-signatures and store information can help limit unnecessary exposure, both for customers and your team.
Alter Your Menu on the Fly
The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on supply chains across the world and has even affected the manufacturing cost of some ingredients. Your restaurant might be in a situation where you’re no longer able to offer specific menu items, or perhaps you need to raise prices due to increased manufacturing or transportation costs.
Using a POS solution that can respond to changes quickly is paramount. If you decide that a dish needs to be removed from the menu, the eMobile POS solution can immediately facilitate that change and implement it across all of your terminals. Accordingly, prices can be updated instantly on all devices, and new dishes can be added to menus in real-time.
Enable Pop-Ups
With indoor dining restrictions varying by state and a minefield of obstacles that restaurants need to work around, some owners are starting to temporarily shut down the brick-and-mortar front and implement pop-ups, or temporary service points, such as booths, food trucks, or even tents. While COVID-19 has changed the landscape of where you can or should set one up, pop-ups cater to the safer outdoor dining experience that many customers are currently vying for.
Stay Nimble During the COVID-19 Pandemic
This pandemic is testing every industry, but restaurants and hospitality are being hit the hardest. From mandatory closings to new regulations on cleanliness, there’s a lot to keep up with. Not only is it a restaurant’s responsibility to keep people six feet apart and regulate masks, but they must also minimize contact with customers. The last thing a restaurant needs during this unprecedented time is contact tracing leading back to their establishment.
