1851

Updating point-of-sale systems is just the latest development in continued change prompted by COVID-19. Safer and more efficient payment methods have gained serious momentum in the past year-plus, but when compared to a big-picture change, how essential is a small adaptation?On Monday, QSR Magazine ran a story titled <a href="https://www.qsrmagazine.com/sponsored/traditional-pos-dead?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-cutting-edge-pos-necessary-for-restaurant-franchises-to-stay-competitive-2716964" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">“The Traditional POS is Dead.”</a> The report addresses how consumer ordering habits have changed in recent years and why they are unlikely to change back post-pandemic.&nbsp;The article quotes <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislybeer/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-cutting-edge-pos-necessary-for-restaurant-franchises-to-stay-competitive-2716964" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chris Lybeer</a>, chief strategy officer at Revel Systems: “90 percent of transactions pre-COVID were rung up at a traditional POS, but now almost 70 percent of them are rung up elsewhere,” he said.The article suggests that point-of-sale technology needs to take a restaurant through constant change — but if the landscape is to change only further, at what point is the investment worth it?COVID-19 prompted major adjustments to the restaurant industry, including enhanced <a href="https://thecounter.org/covid-19-saved-fast-food-drive-thru-mcdonalds-starbucks-taco-bell/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-cutting-edge-pos-necessary-for-restaurant-franchises-to-stay-competitive-2716964" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">drive-thru</a> services, <a href="https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/technology/mobile-ordering-takes-thanks-covid?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-cutting-edge-pos-necessary-for-restaurant-franchises-to-stay-competitive-2716964" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">mobile</a> and <a href="https://www.qsrmagazine.com/ordering/can-kiosks-find-new-life-during-coronavirus?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-cutting-edge-pos-necessary-for-restaurant-franchises-to-stay-competitive-2716964" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">kiosk</a> ordering and <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/ch/en/pages/consumer-industrial-products/articles/cash-is-no-longer-king-in-times-of-covid19.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-cutting-edge-pos-necessary-for-restaurant-franchises-to-stay-competitive-2716964" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">cashless</a> payment alternatives. These changes have prompted updates to traditional point-of-sale service, and if a restaurant brand hasn’t offered some form of these provisions, they could be left behind in favor of more adaptive brands.It took adjustments like those for many restaurants to even survive the last year-plus, but the restaurant industry is now more prepared than ever to embrace change, if only out of sheer necessity.&nbsp;In-house point-of-sale systems, like traditional card readers, <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/11/29/one-touch-payments-remain-infuriatingly-absent-in-america/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-cutting-edge-pos-necessary-for-restaurant-franchises-to-stay-competitive-2716964" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">one-touch payment systems</a> or even manual cashiers, are not exactly revolutionizing a payment experience like other point-of-sale systems. If a consumer will have to walk up to a counter to order anyway, the experience and the time commitment requirement will be largely unchanged.The truly revolutionizing systems, however, are overhauling traditional means of ordering altogether. Mobile ordering can allow consumers to jump lines, and enhanced delivery services can allow consumers to order from their couch. This is likely where brands can update point-of-sale service to remain competitive, as they essentially make the physical ‘point’ in ‘point-of-sale’ irrelevant.And COVID-19 remains a pressing concern for many consumers, which is why even an in-house point-of-sale update can play a critical role. Last year, <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/11/29/one-touch-payments-remain-infuriatingly-absent-in-america/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-cutting-edge-pos-necessary-for-restaurant-franchises-to-stay-competitive-2716964#" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nicole Gelinas</a> of The New York Post wrote a piece on how one-touch payment options had remained “infuriatingly absent” in the U.S. despite pandemic touch-points being discussed heavily. If consumers remain mindful of these touch points and take continued precaution, this is where an updated in-house ordering service can draw in additional consumers.There are many layers to the kinds of point-of-sale service that will be implemented, however. Cost effectiveness will often remain the driving factor in how quickly these systems are put into place.

Is Cutting-Edge POS Necessary for Restaurant Franchises to Stay Competitive?

1851 Franchise

Many brands began prioritizing contactless payment during the COVID-19 crisis, and that trend is unlikely to fade.

is-cutting-edge-pos-necessary-for-restaurant-franchises-to-stay-competitive

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers - Midyear Press Release 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Comfort Keepers® Hits Mid-Year Stride With Strong Franchise Growth and Rising Demand for In-Home Care

comfort-keepers-franchise-midyear-momentum-2025

petbar

petbar - Garrett Dewan - Why I'm Investing - 1851 Franchise

Why Garrett Dewan Is Choosing To Reinvest in petbar

petbar-franchise-austin-garrett-dewan-multi-unit

Paris Baguette

NJBIZ: Paris Baguette Ramps Up Expansion With New Franchises, Facility and 2030 Growth Target

njbiz-paris-baguette-ramps-up-expansion-with-new-franchises-facility-and-2030-growth-target

Busy Bee Jumpers

Top 10 Reasons To Buy a Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise in 2025

top-10-reasons-to-buy-a-busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-in-2025

Home Halo

home-halo-former-athletes-frachisees-image

Why Former College Athletes Can Make Winning Home Halo Franchise Owners

former-college-athletes-home-halo-franchise

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery 

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery in Overland Park, Kansas

paris-baguette-franchise-overland-park-khandelwal

Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

From Corporate Careers to Community Roots: Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

kansas-couple-opens-childrens-lighthouse-gardner-olathe

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Is Cutting-Edge POS Necessary for Restaurant Franchises to Stay Competitive?

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS