Match the system to the service model
Table management
For table service, test opening, moving, merging and closing tables, including clear status information for staff.
Order management
Check modifiers, courses, notes, voids and changes after an order has been sent.
Kitchen workflow
Understand how orders reach preparation areas, whether by printer or display, and how updates are communicated.
Split payments
Test splitting by item, amount or customer and handling a mixture of payment methods without confusing reconciliation.
Menu control
Review how prices, availability, modifiers and time-specific menus are updated across relevant channels.
Reporting
Identify the sales, product, staff and time-period information managers actually use.
Payment terminals and the restaurant till
Integrated card payments can reduce rekeying when the bill total moves from the restaurant EPOS system to the terminal. For pay-at-table workflows, establish how staff select the correct table, add gratuity where applicable and return the payment result to the order.
Confirm how failed, partial, refunded and offline transactions are shown. A smooth normal payment is only part of the operational requirement.
Demonstrate a real service period
Ask to see a realistic sequence: seat a table, add modifiers, send courses, change an item, split the bill and review the close-of-day information. This reveals whether the restaurant POS system supports the team or introduces extra steps at busy times.
EPOS and card payments should be considered together
An EPOS system and a card machine perform different roles, but the way they work together can affect speed, rekeying, reconciliation and staff usability. Merchant Guru can help you review your payment requirements while you research the wider EPOS setup.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
What makes an EPOS system suitable for a restaurant?+
Suitability depends on the service model and may involve table management, order routing, kitchen communication, menu control, split payments, reporting and card-terminal integration.
Do cafés and full-service restaurants need the same system?+
Not always. A counter-service café may prioritise fast item entry, while full table service may require table states, courses, kitchen routing and more flexible bill handling.
Should a restaurant till integrate with card payments?+
Integration can reduce manual entry, but the restaurant should test pay-at-table, split, failed and refunded payment scenarios and understand the processing arrangement.