Posted by George on September 25, 1998 at 09:18:03:
In Reply to: Used or Surplus POS software only for Rest/Bar ? posted by Brad Albom on September 24, 1998 at 15:13:30:
: I'm looking for a source (if any) of used or surplus
: Point of Sale software to handle a single site restaurant
: and bar.
: There is an existing network or 3 Pentium PC's w/touchscreens:
: 1 waitress order entry, 1 bar order entry, 1 back office PC
: as server. There are order printers at bar & in kitchen.
Sounds like you have all the hardware.
IMHO unless you are very good with PC's, and experienced setting up POS's you would be best off finding a local POS company. Try to cut a deal for a software only setup (and possibly an arrangement to service the existing system, unless you are very comfortable setting it up, and are keeping an extra touch screen and printer in house, for that Saturday during service when the system goes down)
Time is money. The time it takes to:
Configure new software (possibly without the docs)
Configure the existing hardware for the software
Add in your bar stock and prices
Add menu items and prices
Happy hour special price adjustments for drinks and food
Server id's
Security levels and all
Management Reports
Configuring the Credit Card system.
Etc…
Would be considerable.
And then if you're looking for a "complete system" the entire inventory (food and liquor) and ordering info you are looking at a MAJOR project.
Most local POS vendors already have most of this kind of stuff (except your food menu) pre-configured for their software, so you can get better value having them do it.
And since it sounds like a new operation I'm sure you have a few other things to do with your time ; <)
Good luck with the project!
George