Are you looking for the perfect computer system for your restaurant? Regardless of whether you are looking at a system for your office or restaurant, there are a couple of things you must keep in mind when installing systems that will help you manage your critical data and help you operate your business properly.
1. Network cabling. Most systems are computer-based, designed to run on Microsoft Windows technology. Which means your workstations and computer equipments will communicate over standard Ethernet networking. Even though wireless communications have become increasingly popular for home and office environments, it’s still much better to “hardwire” your computer stations. Some vendors include this service in their bid; while others specify that cabling must be arranged with a third-party vendor.
Regardless of who will work on the cabling, it will need to be completed and tested before installation of the equipment. Each equipment needs to have a cable drop. A cable drop is the cable that connects a device to a network, like your computer or remote printer connecting to a networking source.
For a restaurant POS system, the restaurant should be wired with CAT 5 or 6 network cabling that connects every conceivable POS workstation, remote printer or KDS, office computer, hostess station, delivery order desks, cashier stations and network server to a “home run” area such as a central patch panel, preferably located in your telephone or electrical room or closet. Cabling routes need to ensure that cables are at least 24 inches from fluorescent fixtures, neon transformers and electrical motors, as these devices can sometimes interfere with communication.
2. Electrical. Installing a dedicated and isolated circuits for your restaurant POS equipment such as your POS computers, network devices such as hubs and routers, and phone systems that can share. There must be no other electrical equipment on this circuitry. Preferably, your network, phone, and electrical service will be near one another. An isolated circuit means that the circuit has a ground separate from that of the main electrical service. This helps prevent spikes and surges that may destroy motherboards and hard drives. Note, however, you may still want to use surge protectors at each workstation.
3. Designing workspace. When it’s time to design the workstation area, make sure to leave enough space to comfortably fit your needed equipments. A flat roomy space for server stations should be large enough to hold a computer monitor, guest check printer, and possibly a credit card terminal if you plan to use separate credit card equipment. Make sure you have enough space below the tabletop to hold the computer, the surge protector, power strip and your UPS.
If you want to place your workstations on millwork surfaces such as granite or woodwork, you’ll want to have your contractor pre-drill holes to place cables or power cords beneath the surface. A 2-inch hole should give sufficient space for cords and cables on most POS systems.
For your cashier and bartender stations, tabletop space should also be large enough to fit a cash drawer and an order confirmation customer display. Most cash drawers have a footprint (space requirement) of 15- to 17-inch depth; 16- to 20-inch width; and 3.5-inch to 4-inch height. So better make sure you get the drawer specifications from your supplier in advance if you are building a custom countertop for your drawer to be recessed perfectly in.
4. Service Plans. Vendors may offer service plans as part of your original purchase. The fact is, business grade systems are composed of hardware that will not last forever especially in a restaurant environment. POS printers will eventually break, fans will slowl fail, and hard drives will crash. How often they depend upon the conditions under which they operate. Dirt, dust, heat and moisture are not friendly allies to office and restaruant POS equipment.
There are those people who rarely experience problems wih their computers while others continue to deal with same problems. The best thing a restaurant owner can do is to invest in good equipment and then protect that investment by maintaining it. Many restaurant POS solutions provider will offer ongoing service contracts that are basically extended warranties. The annual cost for these services usually ranges anywhere from 10 percent to 20 percent of the original purchase price.
Computer systems represent a sizable investment. But if you set a time to make sure that the above steps are included in your checklist, then you are more likely to be rewarded a return on your investment by getting the most from your system in cost reduction, labor savings, and ensuring that you can account for all cash.
The Author of this article is the Customer Relations Vice President at POS-for-Restaurants.com — With over 20 years of restaurant experience that helps ensure that your technology is more efficient and your business more profitable .
Tags: Point of Sale, Point of Service, POS, restaurant automation, restaurant computer, restaurant hardware, restaurant point of sale, Restaurant pos, restaurant pos equipment, restaurant pos quote, restaurant pos solution, restaurant software