What's the secret ingredient that separates a good deli from a great one? Hint: it's not just the perfect sandwich-to-pickle ratio. It’s having deli point of sale (POS) software that can keep up with your fast-paced business.
As any deli manager knows, running a successful operation involves juggling inventory, employees, and stellar customer service — all while creating mouthwatering sandwiches and deli cuts.
Outdated technology like clunky cash registers can lead to inefficiencies, lost sales, and frustrated customers. However, the right POS software simplifies tasks, improves efficiency, and ensures your service is as memorable as your food.
Ready to take your deli from good to great? We've rounded up the six best deli POS software picks for this year to help you find the secret sauce for success.
Understanding Deli POS Software
Specialized deli POS software is crucial for deli operations because it addresses the unique challenges faced by businesses like yours.
Unlike generic retail POS systems, deli-specific software is tailored to handle the fast-paced, perishable-heavy nature of the business. It streamlines operations, reduces errors, and helps maintain the high level of efficiency required in a busy deli environment.
The key features to look for in deli POS software include:
- Inventory management: Effective inventory tracking is essential for delis, where stock often consists of perishable items with short shelf lives. A good deli POS system should offer real-time inventory updates, low stock alerts, and waste-tracking capabilities. This helps reduce spoilage, ensure freshness, and maintain optimal stock levels.
- Weight integration: Delis frequently sell items by weight, so the POS must integrate smoothly with scales. This feature allows for accurate pricing based on weight and eliminates manual calculation errors, speeding up transactions and improving accuracy.
- Speed and efficiency: In a fast-paced deli, every second counts. Look for a POS system with quick order processing, easy menu navigation, and the ability to handle complex orders with multiple items and modifications. This keeps lines moving and improves customer satisfaction.
- Reporting and analytics: Powerful reporting tools provide valuable insights into sales trends, popular items, peak business hours, and more. This POS data enables you to make better decisions about inventory, staffing, and menu offerings, ultimately improving profitability.
- Ease of use: The ideal deli POS should be intuitive enough for new employees to learn quickly, reducing training time and minimizing errors during busy periods. Look for systems with clear layouts, customizable buttons, and touchscreen compatibility.
Prioritizing these features will help you find a POS solution that meets your current needs and also supports future growth and success.
Related Read: How To Choose a Deli POS System: 7 Must-Have Features.
Now, let's explore six top deli POS solutions so you can find the ideal match for your business.
1. Markt POS
Markt POS, an all-in-one point of sale solution, was created to give you control over inventory, reporting, customer communications, and marketing. Our system combines powerful inventory management with specialized features designed to boost efficiency and sales.
Key Features
- Advanced inventory management: Keep your deli stocked and customers satisfied with real-time inventory tracking. Receive low stock notifications and create purchase orders effortlessly, ensuring you never run out of essential items.
- Weight-based pricing integration: Seamlessly integrate with scale hardware for fast and accurate pricing of deli goods sold by weight. This feature eliminates manual calculations, speeding up transactions and reducing errors.
- Efficient counter service: Enhance your deli counter operations with a digital queue system and order display. This will help manage customer flow, reduce wait times, and ensure accurate order fulfillment during peak hours.
- Cloud-based accessibility: Access your deli's data anytime, anywhere, with reliable cloud-based technology. Manage inventory, check sales reports, or adjust pricing from any device.
- Flexible payment processing: Accept various payment methods catering to diverse customers, including EMV, debit, EBT for prepared foods, gift cards, and contactless options like Apple Pay and Google Pay. PCI-certified security ensures safe transactions for your deli and your customers.
Pricing: Get a custom quote for your ideal hardware and software package using our transparent build and price tool.
2. Square for Restaurants
Square for Restaurants offers a flexible POS system created to help you serve great food fast while managing every aspect of your business. Tailored specifically for the fast-paced deli environment, Square helps you boost your bottom line and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Key Features
- Versatile ordering system: Take orders from anywhere with an integrated POS for dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering. Accept all payment types, including tap, dip, and swipe, even when offline.
- Kitchen display system: Optimize your kitchen flow with a durable display that routes tickets to the right station, syncs menus and inventory in real time, and ensures customers never order unavailable items.
- Real-time sales analytics: Make smarter business decisions by analyzing trends to improve menu pricing and fine-tune inventory orders.
- Customer loyalty program: Grow your customer base with a customizable loyalty program. Use visit and order histories to send personalized offers that keep customers coming back.
- Easy staff training: Get your team up to speed quickly with an intuitive interface designed to flow like your deli operations. New employees can typically be trained in less than 15 minutes. You can also manage labor costs with built-in staff management and payroll.
Pricing: Starts with a free plan and scales up to a mid-tier plus option at $29+/month. A custom premium solution is also available.
3. Toast POS
Toast POS offers a fast and efficient point of sale solution to help you serve orders quickly, boost sales, and manage your business effectively.
Key Features
- Easy to learn and use: The screens are designed for quick order entry and modifications. You can make menu updates from anywhere, anytime. With offline mode, you can keep serving during internet outages.
- Real-time analytics: Get daily reporting insights from anywhere, instantly. Make informed decisions to reduce waste and increase profitability.
- Integrated online ordering: Protect your margins with a built-in, commission-free online ordering system for your deli's website and mobile app.
- Customer retention tools: Keep your customers coming back with built-in marketing and loyalty programs.
Pricing: Toast offers a free monthly starter kit and a mid-tier option at $69/month. A custom pricing solution is also available.
4. Revel Systems
Revel Systems is a flexible and scalable solution that allows you to manage your deli with advanced order management, automatic stock alerts, and purchase order generation. With Revel Systems’ cloud-based, open-API platform, you can manage multiple locations and orders from anywhere. Plus, regular tech updates ensure a seamless and secure experience for you and your customers.
Key Features
- Multi-store compatibility: Whether you run a single location or a chain of delis, Revel's POS scales to meet your needs. You can easily manage multiple stores from a centralized platform.
- Always-on mode: Keep your deli running, even during internet outages. Revel Systems’ architecture allows your POS to operate offline, with payments automatically processed when the connection returns.
- Inventory management: Track your deli inventory in real time and know exactly when to restock products, minimizing waste and maximizing profits.
- Customizable discounts: Easily create and apply discounts in real time from your iPad POS during transactions. Design flexible promotions to reward loyal customers and boost sales during slow periods.
Pricing: Revel Systems starts at $99/month.
5. Clover POS
Clover is a reliable and efficient point of sale system for independent grocers and delis. With features like real-time inventory tracking, customizable reporting, and integrated payment processing, Clover helps manage your store from top to bottom.
Key Features
- Integrated kitchen display system: Fire orders directly to the kitchen from the counter, takeout window, or online orders. Streamline your deli's workflow and reduce errors in order preparation.
- Comprehensive back office tools: Manage your deli effectively with built-in features for employee management, payroll processing, and robust reporting. Analyze sales trends, track inventory costs, and monitor employee performance.
- Swift and secure transactions: Keep your deli counter moving with quick swipe, chip, and tap payment options. Perfect for handling the lunchtime rush efficiently.
- Self-service kiosks: Reduce wait times during peak hours by letting customers place their own orders. Kiosks encourage customization and upselling, potentially increasing your average ticket value.
Pricing: Clover’s Standard package starts at $1,799 upfront, plus $49.95/month.
6. IT Retail
IT Retail is a robust POS and inventory management solution designed for deli success. From next-generation customer experiences to optimizing your deli's efficiency and profits, their solution combines several advanced features perfectly suited for a fast-paced deli environment.
Key Features
- Integrated scale system: Easily handle weight-based pricing for your deli meats, cheeses, and prepared salads with an integrated random weight scanning feature.
- Advanced inventory management: Manage your deli products efficiently. Use mix and match pricing to create promotions while maintaining an accurate, up-to-date inventory.
- Comprehensive reporting: Use detailed reports to make informed decisions about product placement, promotions, and inventory management. Identify which deli items need to move faster and create targeted promotions.
- Streamlined checkout process: Speed up transactions with a customizable touchscreen interface and support for various payment methods, including EMV, EBT, gift cards, and more.
- Customer loyalty program: Reward your regular customers with a built-in loyalty program, encouraging repeat visits and increased sales.
Pricing: Get a custom quote using their online pricing tool.
Unlock Your Deli's Full Potential With the Right Deli POS Software
Choosing the right deli POS software is more than just a business decision. It's a step towards transforming your deli into a community staple known for efficiency and quality. With the options outlined above, you have a variety of tools at your fingertips to enhance every aspect of your operations.
Remember, the goal is to provide an experience that keeps your customers coming back for more.
Schedule a demo with us today and discover how Markt POS can be your partner in success. We offer seamless integration, comprehensive support, and a user-friendly interface designed specifically for delis like yours.
