5 Points to Consider When Shopping for the Best POS System for Food Trucks

What is a POS System?

A point of sale (POS) is the channel at any business outlet where customers make purchases. The software and hardware suite of a point-of-sale system lets businesses accept payments, while keeping a tab on total sales.

A point-of-sale system works in various ways, subject to the type of business it assistswhether online, on-site, or mobileand how transactions are processed there, via cash, credit cards, or digital modes.

Conventionally, retail POS systems have operated through a single desktop computer at the cash register. However, over time and with technological advancements, there has been a great evolution in how a POS system functions. New-age POS systems are cloud based, enabling a business to check out a customer anywhere, with nothing more than an internet-enabled device, such as a tablet or a phone.

If you run a food truck, your requirements will differ from an online food delivery business or a brick-and-mortar restaurant. As a quick-service restaurant always in motion, you need a feature-rich point-of-sale avenue that offers mobility, pliability, and effective cost management.

A food truck POS system is a software application designed to streamline transactions and inventory specifically for food truck businesses. This system typically combines a payment processing center with inventory management functions and can be operated from any mobile device. Data analytics features are also usually included in such setups to help business owners make sense of their sales data.

Why Does a Small Business like a Food Truck Need a POS System?

A POS system offers a small business like a food truck substantial control over the operation by helping with workflow management, brand building, and inventory control. Some of the services that a point-of-sale system can provide a food truck business include-

Strengthens your mobile business- As a business that relies on movement, mobile point of sale systems help your food truck process orders quickly. They also have an offline mode where customers can place orders and pay without an internet connection. The best POS systems for food trucks offer multiple device optionsthey can be operated with tablets or smartphones. The best food truck POS systems let you take and deliver orders anytime, anywhere, without hassle. It also offers peripherals to connect to a Bluetooth printer and lets you access your business's POS account via the web.

Helps in sales and marketing- POS systems offer many features that can help your business succeed, including loyalty programs, email marketing, customer relationship management, employee management, analytics, and reporting, as well as third party or internal integration options. Take advantage of all that your restaurant POS system offers to give your business the best chance of success.

Helps in efficient order processing- A Food Truck point of sale system processes orders swiftly and efficiently. The software communicates with peripheral devices like receipt or ticket printers and offers options for order alternations, changes, split payments, taxes, and promotions.

Your food truck's point of sale (POS) is in charge of much that goes on in your business and helps keep everything organized. Just like with any important purchase, make sure you're getting the best POS system for your food truck business by taking into account all the features offered.

Technology for food trucks has come a long way in recent years and you can now find a POS system that is affordable and offers tailored features. Look for a platform that offers everything you need rather than one that you have to piece together. We list here five features to pay attention to.

No. 1- Payment Processing

Your food truck point of sale system must allow customers to settle their dues through multiple payment options, including cash, debit or credit cards, gift vouchers, and digital payment avenues like Paypal. Also, consider the kind of credit card processing solutions your food truck Pos System offers. For example, some Pos Systems have in-house processing capabilities, while others offer integration options with third-party processors, if you want to accept payments from companies like Google.

No. 2- Hardware

Most point-of-sale systems require a substantial investment in hardware. But you want to keep your food truck POS as portable and flexible as possible. Therefore, food truck owners should research the available options and choose one based on its compatibility with iPads, smartphones, or any other handheld device. It should work well with both, iOS and Android platforms. To save money, check if your existing devices are compatible with the POS system and figure out what peripherals are needed with the core terminal. Additionally, ensure that security features work well with the devices required for those tasks. For example, if you use barcodes to sell snacks, look for a system that works well with a barcode scanner or swipe terminal, and can integrate QR codes into the operation.

No. 3- Menu Editing and Inventory Management

A food truck's POS system is crucial in its day-to-day operations, particularly when it comes to managing inventory and providing customers with the best possible service. A worthwhile POS software is one that allows you to easily update your menu to what's available in stock. As an entrepreneur, you need a software solution that helps you adapt to these changes smoothly. The best food truck POS can assist you in many ways, including menu editing and item tracking.

For example, if you're in the business of selling pizzas on wheels, you know that speed is of the essence, so your outlet should have a POS system that makes it quick and easy to make sales transactions. The key is to use an enterprise POS system that features cloud-based mobile ordering, real-time analytics, and reporting functionalities; these features can help boost sales, optimize workers' shift schedules and detect bottlenecks and errors early on.

Online ordering is becoming increasingly popular among customers, and this can be a great way to expand your customer base. When choosing a POS system, look for one that integrates seamlessly with your food delivery management app or with your aggregator app. This will enable you to handle online orders and in-person orders at the same time.

No. 4- Robust Customer Service

The best POS system for a food truck business will make your life easier from the very beginning. It will have great customer support, with lots of tutorials and community forums, or hand-on support through email, phone, or live messaging. An efficient POS partner will also manage the setup and training process so that you can hit the ground running from day one.

No. 5- Business and Data Analytics Features

A point-of-sale system helps make a good first impression by fulfilling orders efficiently, ensuring you are never out of ingredients, and crunching customer data to help you serve them better. It can be a key component in helping new clients connect with your brand. These finer points will make you stand out from the competition.

Besides helping a food truck keep track of what's selling and when to restock, the best POS systems help a Small Business scale up by using Pos Data in the best possible way. As a business acquires additional trucks or kiosks, a POS system tracks sales across all locations in real time and helps serve customers better. The best POS systems allow you to record orders, and offer data analytics features that enable you to make sense of your sales, customer demands and preferences. They also let you adjust your menu according to dishes that are selling well.

Top 3 Food Truck POS Systems to Consider

Plum One-
Plum One is a POS system that helps manage the day-to-day operations of food trucks, resulting in increased efficiency and sales. It includes the Plum Station order station base, a detachable wireless touchscreen, a cash drawer, networking equipment, and an RGB display. In addition, the Plum POS system is easy to integrate with other products Plum offers, like Plum Kiosk, Plum Handheld, and Plum Digital Signage. Here's why it's a hit . . .

1. Simplifies the workflow.
2. Tested to handle rush hour and keeps up with volume.
3. Integrates with a wide range of apps to simplify operations.
4. Hardware is built to withstand the harshness of the daily use of food trucks, including rutted roads and jostling by crowds.
5. Easy to take orders, process payments, and customize menus.
6. Easy to operate and simple to navigate.
7. Simple set-up process.
8. Offers the PAX A35 handheld credit card reader. It is fast, safe, flexible, and perfect for businesses that operate indoors, on the road, at drive-thrus, or at curbside.
9. Lets you run your business on the go as it is compatible with multiple devices.
10. Supports Android and iOS platforms.
11. When it comes to data and payments, this system keeps your information safe and sound. It is fast, secure, and reliable.
12. Enables you to advertise your specials and engage customers with loyalty rewards.
13. Plum One costs $1716 for the complete hardware package, while the software subscription price is quote-based. The credit card payment reader is available at $385.98.

1. Straight-forward interface, similar to an iPhone.
2. It can operate on multiple devices.
3. Easy to install and easy to use.
4. Easy payment processing using debit and credit cards, gift coupons, reward points, etc.
5. Accepts payments offline.
6. Backs up daily POS data to the cloud system.
7. Flexible hardware option.
8. 24/7 customer support.
9. The software subscription fee costs $69 per month per terminal.
10. The hardware is custom-quoted.

1. It offers a free version.
2. You can use a handheld payment terminal.
3. No long-term contract is required.
4. You can use your own hardware.
5. Lets you operate in offline mode.
6. Easy to connect with an unlimited number of devices.
7. It lets you integrate with other software solutions like inventory management, email marketing, and order management.
8. It lets you track sales data.
9. It works well with a contactless QR Code system.
10. A complete restaurant POS station kit costs $1339 and includes Square Terminal, an iPad stand, receipt printer, cash drawer, card reader, and kitchen printer. It has three subscription tiers-

• A free plan.
• A premium plan that costs $60 per month per location.
• A quote-based enterprise plan.