A robust EPoS is fast becoming fundamental to any hospitality business today. Ensuring that you have the right access to the right technology is essential for delivering great service to customers and can offer operational advantages too. So, what do you need to consider when you’re looking for a new EPoS for your business?

1. A custom choice

For most businesses a ‘one size fits all’ solution may not be suitable – a custom EPoS is much easier to integrate with your existing systems and optimise your investment. When searching for a new EPoS, make sure that you have a good idea of what is likely to be the best fit in terms of the existing infrastructure you already have in place. Here at Zonal, we tailor our system around your unique requirements, maximising efficiency with the systems you already have in place.

2. Ease of use

A sign of a great EPoS system is one where all staff can be trained and start using it in no time. An interface that is intuitive is therefore a must, and the ability to use touchscreen technology also helps. Personalisation is key, with the ability to plan menus, make seasonal changes and special events, ensuring every site has the correct items at the right time. As well as ensuring that staff are comfortable with the day-to-day use of the EPoS system, check how easy it is to update the software. Ideally, team members should be able to quickly install updates without the need to contact the EPoS system vendor.

3. Customer experience

An EPoS has a lot to contribute to customer experience, as it will enable you to give customers choice when it comes to payment methods. If they can’t pay the way they want to, then they will simply choose to go elsewhere to spend their money. Integrated payment systems connect to your EPoS, allowing you to send the amount be paid directly to the machine without manual entry. Payment processes are simplified, quicker and more efficient enabling you to turn tables faster, streamline processes and reduce operating costs.

4. Make your staff more mobile and effective

Along with mobile payments, handheld ordering delivers a cost effective, reliable replacement to the traditional order pad. You can instantly create a handheld EPoS terminal, providing an intuitive user experience, with team members taking orders from anywhere in your venue. Staff visits to the bar and kitchen are reduced, leaving more time to focus on providing great customer service.

5. Ongoing Support

When you’re considering a new EPoS system, ongoing support is essential. Many off-the-shelf options today don’t include this as standard and, once the system is up and running, you’re on your own. At Zonal, we know that hospitality isn’t just 9-5. Our Edinburgh based technical support centre is open 365 days a year, from 8am to midnight.

Black Ivy is a stylish neighbourhood bar and boutique hotel, located in the leafy Edinburgh suburb of Bruntsfield.

Having undergone a significant investment by Caledonia Inns two years ago, Revenue Manager, John Mustard also wanted to upgrade Black Ivy’s outdated technology to support the hotel’s focus on delivering exceptional customer service.

Zonal was the only solution to go for according to John.  Having worked with Zonal throughout his 30 year hospitality career, John had never found a technology partner that could match the range of solutions offered by Zonal and the 24/7 support service.

“I have worked with other technology providers over the years, but Zonal always stands out for its intuitive, smart design and reliability.  Zonal spent 40 years perfecting the technology, which always keeps up to speed with advancements, so you know it’s going to work, be relevant and not let you down.  Also, the support is excellent; the help desk is quick to respond any time, even at weekends,” says John.

Following its refurbishment, Black Ivy has fast become popular with locals, as well as with visitors to Edinburgh.  The hotel boasts 22 uniquely designed bedrooms and two busy bars and a popular food offer, dishing up classics with a twist, averaging 1,000 covers a week.

The Drafthouse, specialises in offering a range of lagers, craft creations and guest taps on rotation and is renowned for its Tank Beer.  Also featuring a stage area, regular live entertainment is a big hit.  Outside, there is a 60-seater al fresco Terrace, which overlooks Bruntsfield Links Park.  Featuring fire pits, customers enjoy a campfire vibe outside and with two full-size table tennis tables inside, the venue is a great place to mix business with pleasure.

For John and his Black Ivy team, Zonal technology has made managing all the different elements of the business seamless.  Zonal’s EPoS system connects with the hotel’s property management system (PMS), Rezlynx, so residential guests can bill any drinks and food directly to their room tab.

John explains: “For us this is a big plus of Zonal; its technology is incredibly flexible so can integrate with other technology solutions that we may have, such as Rezlynx.  This means that our Zonal EPoS is the single reporting vehicle for our accounts team, giving them real-time data that allows us to keep a handle on sales and overheads.”

But it’s not just about operations, the customer journey is also key to Black Ivy’s success.  Zonal’s kitchen management system, Kitchen iQ, has been a game changer along with iServe, a handheld electronic order pad that offers access to EPoS functionality on an iPod or iPad from anywhere in the venue.

John adds: “With two bars, including our popular Terrace, switching to iServe has been a winner for our team.  They no longer have to run back and forth to the bar to process orders, giving them more time to focus on our customers.  Food orders are also fed directly into Aztec and sent through to the kitchen, again saving time and the risk of mistakes.

“Our chefs really liked Kitchen iQ as the system makes their lives easier and less stressful.  Now if you ask them would they go back to paper, the answer is a resounding no!”