With the advancement of large scale computing applications, it is no longer feasible or profitablefor small to medium-sized businesses to operate large legacy systems to conduct operations that can be outsourced to the cloud.
73% of all businesses globally have already shifted towards cloud computing in one way or another, and the hospitality industry is no different. Don’t be a late mover and get ahead of the curve by adopting technologies that can take you leaps and bounds ahead of your competition.
The reason so many restaurants still don’t use a cloud-based POS platform is that many misconceptions surround them that deter many potential customers away from their use. As a result, it prevents restaurants from streamlining their operations and earring more with time.
Why Are There So Many Myths Regarding Cloud POS Systems?
Even though cloud-based POS platforms provide unparalleled levels of benefits to modern restaurants, many owners still refrain from using them. This hesitation to either adapt to modern technologies or letting go of older legacy systems are resulting in the stunted growth of many businesses.
Therefore you must shun away from such misconceptions and go ahead and embrace the future with open arms, rather than running away from it. While it is difficult to say why so many myths surround cloud-based POS systems, we will try our best to alleviate the ones most prevalent.
Myth #1 – You can’t migrate data to a cloud-POS platform from legacy systems
Contrary to popular belief and unlike legacy POS platforms, cloud-based POS platforms don’t require ungodly amounts of time to get up and running. Many restaurant owners have the misconception that migrating your data from an old system to a cloud-based platform can take days and might even cause loss of data while in transmission.
But rest-assured modern cloud-based POS platforms don’t need more than a maximum of a day to become fully functional and operate at full capacity. You can instantly sync all your menus and other peripherals within two hours of integrating them with our devices.
Now for the fear of losing crucial while in transmission, it can be a little exaggerated. As a majority of modern cloud-based POS systems have a modular architecture that can accommodate system latency and other connectivity issues.
Myth #2 – Cloud-POS platforms will break your bank
This misconception couldn’t have been further from the truth. As the fact of the matter is that cloud-based POS systems are considerably more affordable compared to legacy POS platforms. Legacy POS platforms require heavy equipment, on-site servers, and overall bulky hardware that needs to be maintained over time.
Cloud-based POS platforms, on the other hand, come with no setup or up-front costs, but rather an affordable subscription fee, which carries depending upon your usage and type of plan selected.
Add to that you don’t have to spend any more money to maintain your hardware that can become a nightmare over time. With a cloud-based POS system, you also get 24/7 support that further adds to the value of such systems.
Myth #3 – Cloud-POS platforms aren’t secure
Nearly 43% of cyber-attacks that happen on the internet target small to medium business enterprises. Therefore it is not surprising to see why many restaurant owners are skeptical of using cloud-based POS platforms. Hence, we are here to alleviate any such misconceptions regarding cloud-based systems. As they are by far one of the safest methods of data storage when a cyber-attack takes place.
For starters, cloud-based platforms like POS or Restaurant Management Systems are protected by layers of encryptions that are constantly monitored. Updates from time to time to stay ahead of potential vulnerabilities. These systems also have multiple reductions and contingencies if a system breach takes place to protect your data from being stolen.
A smart cloud-based POS platform also allows for compartmentalization of administrative roles to keep the core system safe from potential intruders. Nonetheless, we always encourage you to practice thorough scrutiny to be sure when it comes to cybersecurity.
Myth #4 – A cloud-POS platform will slow down your operations due to connectivity issues
One of the prime irrational fears of restaurant owners regarding a cloud-based POS platform is ‘what will happen if there is a software update or internet outage’? While this question does require some thought to be put into it. We advise you to refrain from letting it be a reason you opt-out of a cloud-based POS platform.
Modern cloud-based POS platforms are amply capable of handling delayed updates and bandwidth latency issues. Today more and more cloud-based POS platforms are becoming intelligent, whereas they only require updates to their central system and that too in predefined intervals to better prepare your operations.
These intelligent cloud-based POS platforms automatically update all the devices on your network with the latest updates at the right time so that it doesn’t hamper operations and ensure a smooth workflow.
Myth #5 – Cloud-POS platforms can’t support larger chain restaurants
Large Chain restaurants that operate in multiple locations across the country or world have some special needs. Due to their size, these restaurant chains must adapt to industry changes quickly or risk losing their advantage to an evolving customer dynamic. A common myth regarding such restaurants is that a cloud-based POS platform is bad for them, which couldn’t have been further from the truth!
The hallmark of a good cloud-based POS & Restaurant Management System is its operational agility & flexibility in syncing multiple locations and devices. Want to conduct a quick analysis of the sales figures of a few restaurant locations out of your entire network? Don’t worry and just log-into your admin console on your cloud-based POS platform to access such data from anywhere in the world with ease.
With your centralized cloud-based POS admin console you can enact changes that impact all your restaurant locations simultaneously with a single click. Scalability is the prime characteristic of a robust cloud-based POS platform. That streamlines your operations and can accommodate any adjustments in your restaurant’s functioning.
Myth #6 – A cloud-POS platform doesn’t provide you with 360 solutions for your restaurant
One of the biggest and most absurd misconceptions about cloud-based POS platforms is that such a system is lacking and doesn’t provide full-spectrum solutions for your business. We are here to tell you how wrong that is. A good cloud-POS solution coupled with a Restaurant Management System, and a personalized food ordering app system is everything you need!
A cloud-based POS platform is designed to automate your restaurant’s daily operations like payment processing, staff & inventory management, order management, recipe & order management, etc.
A cloud-based POS system can be integrated with your website and food ordering app to offer a seamless digital ordering experience. But all this is just scratching the surface of what a good system is capable of as modern POS architecture allows them to be modular and accommodate many more functions!
Myth #7 – A cloud-POS platform can fail anytime and it lacks any backup capabilities
Human beings have an inherent fear of anything that isn’t tangible, and the same goes for cloud-based technologies. A cloud-based POS platform works on web-enabled devices and operates entirely in third-party data-centers. Therefore there exists an irrational fear of losing data and a total collapse of ordering processing, due to an internet connectivity failure.
While this fear might have found some reason in the previous decade, all modern cloud-based POS platforms have contingencies to deal with such situations. A cloud-based POS platform today can automatically detect connective issues and can effectively switch to ‘offline mode’ for a seamless operation.
In the offline mode your staff can continue to take orders and process payments. Once connectivity is restored these new POS platforms can automatically sync all that operational data onto the cloud. Hence using a cloud-based POS platform gives you an unprecedented advantage against your competitors who are still using manual order management systems.
In Conclusion
Cloud-based computing technologies are the future of business and now is the time to embrace them, rather than shunning them away!
A cloud-based POS platform gives you the ability to simplify your restaurant’s management & operations that result in propelling your business to the next level.
Therefore don’t waste your time any longer, use this information, and deploy powerful cloud-based POS software solutions for your restaurant now!