Choosing a restaurant POS in India: what to compare

Most POS software looks the same in a demo. These are the things that decide whether it still works at 9 pm on a Saturday, and what to ask before you pay.

This is a checklist, not a ranking. We make a POS ourselves, so judge us by it too: ask us every question on this page.

1. What happens when the internet drops?

Ask them to switch off Wi‑Fi in the demo and take an order, print a KOT and settle a bill. Some systems stop completely; some save on the device and sync later. Also ask: are bill numbers still correct when two counters were offline at the same time?

2. Is the GST right, and can your CA use it?

• CGST/SGST split, service charge, inclusive or exclusive prices, correct rounding.
• A running bill number series that doesn’t restart or skip.
• What happens when a paid bill is wrong: a proper credit note, or a deleted bill?
• A monthly GST register you can hand over.

3. The kitchen

KOT printing, a kitchen screen, “food ready” alerts to the floor, and what happens to a dish that is cancelled after it was sent. If you run more than one station (tandoor, bar), can tickets go to each?

4. Hardware: what must you buy?

Ask for the exact list. Some run on any phone, tablet or PC with a browser; some need their own terminal. Check which receipt printers work, over what (USB, Bluetooth, LAN), and who fixes it when one doesn’t.

5. Staff control and cheating

• Staff PINs, and who can discount, void or refund.
• Is a manager’s approval needed, and is it checked by the server or just on the tablet?
• A log of who did what, per bill.
• Day-end cash count against what the system expected.

6. The real price

Ask for the all-in monthly cost for your number of outlets and devices: setup fee, per-terminal charges, QR ordering, kitchen screen, inventory, SMS or WhatsApp messages, and support. Check whether there is a commission on orders and what happens to your data if you leave.

7. Your data

Can you export your menu, sales and customers? Does the vendor keep customer details separate per restaurant? Where is it stored, and is there a backup?

8. Support when it counts

Who answers at 8 pm, in which language, how fast? Ask for the support hours in writing, and call the number before you buy.

Try before you commit

Any good vendor lets you try it with a real shift, not just a demo. RestroSimplify gives 14 days free with every feature and no card. See the plain side-by-side on our comparison page, including what we don’t have yet.