POS for hospitality

Which POS should you choose for hospitality?

The hospitality POS systems in this category share the basics: a touchscreen terminal, a thermal receipt printer and a cash drawer. What changes from one model to another is the format of the equipment and the peripherals it comes with.

• Modular POS. The screen and the CPU are separate parts: the screen stays at the till and the CPU can go under the bar. The CPU has ports to add a kitchen printer, barcode scanner, customer display, scale or second drawer later on.
• Compact all-in-one POS. The touchscreen and the computer are built into a single unit, with no separate tower, and take up less space on the counter.
• Dual-screen POS. It is a compact unit with a second screen facing the customer.

POS for bars, cafés and restaurants

For the bar of a pub or café, the right choices are the Complete touchscreen POS, which is the entry-level unit in the range, and the compact all-in-one POS, which keeps the counter clearer. The dual-screen POS adds a customer-facing screen without taking up more bar space.

In a restaurant with a kitchen, the POS with two printers has an 80 mm printer at the bar for receipts and another in the kitchen for orders. When there is table service, the POS with handheld ordering device lets you record the order at the table with the professional software.

Prices and configurations

The current price of each hospitality POS appears in the listing on this page and on its product page. These are the configurations available:

• Complete touchscreen POS. Entry-level and most affordable unit in the range: modular POS with touchscreen, thermal receipt printer and cash drawer.
• compact all-in-one POS. Screen and computer in a single unit, with receipt printer and drawer.
• POS with kitchen printer. Touchscreen terminal with two 80 mm thermal printers, one for the bar and one for the kitchen, and cash drawer.
• dual-screen POS. Compact unit with a touchscreen for staff and another facing the customer, printer and drawer.
• POS with handheld ordering device. Touchscreen terminal, handheld ordering device, thermal receipt printer and cash drawer.

The management software is not included in the price of the equipment: it is purchased separately. You can see the terms of the professional software with Verifactu.

As a complement to the equipment, if you work with GOTPV you can activate the licence annually from €13.25/month paid yearly (excluding VAT). Software by System Gotpv SL: clicking takes you to gotpv.es to activate the licence. It is an annual subscription that renews every year and can be cancelled. Prices exclude VAT; 21% Spanish VAT is added at checkout. And when you buy your POS from Maquinaria Hostelería MR, you get 30 days of GOTPV free.

Before buying a hospitality POS

• Dimensions and space. If the bar is small, the compact all-in-one POS takes up the space of a single device. With the modular POS, the CPU can be kept out of sight.
• Printers. If the kitchen needs to receive orders in writing, the POS with kitchen printer is the right choice. If another kitchen or a separate section is added later, another printer can be added. You can see the POS printers.
• Handheld ordering device. For taking orders at the table there is the POS with handheld ordering device. The handheld ordering devices are also sold separately.
• Software. The handheld ordering device and additional printers need software that recognises them. The software is purchased separately from the equipment.
• Connections. The CPU of the modular POS has ports for a kitchen printer, barcode scanner, customer display, scale or second drawer.

If you are still working out what your business needs, you have to hand the guide to choosing a POS for a bar, café or restaurant.

Hospitality POS models

Frequently asked questions

What POS do I need for a bar?

The configuration depends on how each venue works. For the bar there are the complete touchscreen POS and the compact all-in-one POS; if there is a kitchen, the POS with kitchen printer; and if there is table service, the POS with handheld ordering device.

What is the difference between a modular POS and a compact one?

The modular POS keeps the screen and the CPU separate. The compact POS integrates the components into a single unit and takes up less counter space.

What is the second screen on the dual-screen models for?

The second screen faces the customer during payment.

What does the equipment include?

It includes the terminal, cash drawer, thermal receipt printer and cabling. The equipment is delivered assembled. The type of drawer and the peripherals vary by model; see the details on each product page.

Is the software included?

No. The management software is purchased separately from the equipment.

How long does delivery take?

UK shipping is quoted individually: the cost and delivery time depend on the equipment and the delivery address.