Blog Assignment 2

In this article written by Ed Rubinstein it explains how restaurants are trying to maximize guest satisfaction through the use of more advanced POS systems. With more publicity about the issue of identity theft, guest are not as comfortable with giving a waiter/waitress their credit card and having them walk away. One new POS system that is trying to be implemented is one that is table side. The advantage of implementing this system is that it maximizes time for the wait staff by having table side check printing, credit sales, and tips. This is an advantage for the guest as well because their card remains in sight at all times. One restaurant that has implemented this wireless type of POS system is Bouchee which is located in the Boston Area. The staff is able to use this wireless technology to take orders that go directly to the kitchen or the bar and to complete transactions with the guests. The new system uses VX-670 POS terminals with printers from Verifone. This is all supported by the MICROS POS software. Another new technology that restaurants are looking forward to is the new printers for take out orders. They are not out yet but are close to coming into the industry. These new printers serve two purposes, they print out orders and are able to adhere them to the packages. These new printers can speed up time on takeout and drive through orders which leads to improved guest satisfaction.
I believe that this article focused on an extremely important issue during this time in our industry. With identity theft being such an important issue for many people, these new POS systems are a great edition. I used to be a server at a restaurant and I used to wonder how people feel so comfortable giving a person their credit card and having them walk away with it. Now that many guests have realized what can happen in the 2 minutes that the wait staff is gone with their credit card it has raised concern. With the addition of these new POS systems it will put the guests at ease because the credit card will be right in front of them the entire time. This not only is an advantage to the customer, but is an advantage to the wait staff as well because it will increase their efficiency. In most restaurants there are limited amounts of POS systems which slows down the work flow because it takes time to reach these POS systems and there may be other employees at the systems which causes employees to have to wait. I think that these new POS systems are great and they will improve guest's satisfaction. The article also explained the new printer that will be coming out shortly. These new printers will also improve the efficiency of the restaurant by taking multiple steps and turning it into one. This new technology will drastically improve drive thru's and take out orders. Since this part of our industry is growing so rapidly it is important that new technology is applied in order to keep guest satisfaction high.


Rubinstein, ED(2007, June). Swipe, Print, Sign and Go!. Hospitality Technology.
http://www.htmagazine.com/HT/archive/0507/toc_may07.shtml#