Trying to run your deli without the right point of sale (POS) system is like trying to make the perfect BLT without crispy bacon — you’re missing an essential ingredient.
Your deli’s POS system touches every aspect of your small business’ operations. It processes all your transactions, keeps your deli stocked with your customers’ favorite cold cuts, and gives you a window into your business’ financial health and sales performance.
That’s why you need a POS solution with all the right features to keep your deli running efficiently and profitably.
In this blog, we’ll explore seven essential deli POS system features that you can use to simplify your day-to-day, improve the customer experience, and boost your bottom line. We’ll also provide recommendations for reliable deli POS providers based on different business needs.
Bon appétit!
1. Quick-Service Restaurant Functionality
A deli is a unique type of business. Your customers rely on you to fill their fridges with their favorite meats and cheeses — but they also count on you for a quick, delicious meal.
A deli POS system with quick-service restaurant functionality makes offering standard retail items and prepared meals like sandwiches and salads easy.
Your deli POS system should let your employees take customer orders, add modifications like no mayonnaise or extra pickles, send orders to a kitchen printer to ensure speedy service, and accept tips for their friendly service.
2. Deli Inventory Management
Think about one of your loyal customers. They most likely have a regular order, whether they always order a turkey and Swiss on rye or stop by weekly for a pound of roast beef.
If your deli runs out of one of their favorites, you’ll lose a sale — or even your valuable relationship with that customer.
A deli POS system with robust inventory management features can prevent this disaster. Some systems (including Markt POS) can also track the approximate weight of inventory by putting the number of cuts and their average weight in the system. You can also add expiration dates and other metrics to track inventory.
Your deli POS system should give you access to a real-time overview of your stock levels and remind you when you’re running low on a particular item. That way, you don’t have to walk the floor and physically count inventory to see what’s close to expiring.
Additionally, POS systems with inventory management make it easy to manage imported or made in-house items. Simply create custom SKUs and barcodes for specialty items and sell them like normal!
3. Deli Scale Integration
Another essential deli POS feature is scale integration.
Scale integration allows you to weigh meats, cheeses, and other variable-weight items, then automatically price them and update your remaining inventory. This tool guarantees precise inventory records down to the last ounce and accurate pricing down to the last cent without manually calculating anything.
Here’s an example of how a deli POS with scale integration can transform your operations:
- A customer orders a pound of freshly sliced salami.
- Your deli employee prepares the salami and places it on the scale.
- Your scale prints a barcode label containing the item type, exact weight, and calculated price.
- At checkout, all your cashier has to do is scan the barcode label.
- Once your cashier scans the barcode, your POS system will automatically charge the customer the right price and deduct the salami from your inventory.
In short, a deli POS system with scale integration speeds up the checkout process, improves your inventory management strategy, and protects your bottom line.
Related Read: The Best Deli Scale With Printer: 3 Top Options
4. Flexible Discounting
Looking to attract new customers to your deli and boost your sales? Then you need to launch enticing promotions.
Your deli POS system should make planning and scheduling special discounts and deals easy.
Let’s take a look at a few examples of effective deli promotions to try out in your small business:
- Combo deals: Offer a special price when customers purchase more than one item in your deli. For example, you might offer a discounted price on the purchase of a sandwich, chips, and a drink.
- Early bird specials: Hoping to get more customers through your door earlier in the day? Consider offering a storewide or item-specific discount before 11 a.m. to encourage customers to join you for breakfast.
- Rotating promotions: Recurring promotions are a great way to get more foot traffic for your deli. Plan out a different deal for each day of the week, like a discounted ham sandwich on Monday or buy one, get one free salads on Thursday.
- Short-term sales: Discounts are also an effective tool to move any slow-moving stock. A modern POS system lets you quickly set up a discount on select items so you can boost sales and avoid food waste.
Creative discounts are the lifeblood of a small business as they keep customers interested in seeing what’s on offer. Just make sure to support your discounts with announcements on signage, social media, newsletters, and other marketing channels.
5. Customer Loyalty Program
A solid base of repeat customers is the most important ingredient for deli success.
Fortunately, your deli POS system can help nurture your customer base and generate repeat business with a customer loyalty program.
A deli POS system with a built-in customer loyalty program lets you create custom incentives and easily enroll new members.
For example, you might set up a points-based program where customers earn points every time they visit your deli and make a purchase. After they accumulate a certain amount of points, they can exchange them for a free sandwich, a one-time coupon, or another special offer to thank them for their loyalty.
Perhaps more importantly, when customers sign up for your loyalty program, you can see what types of food they order the most often, which will help you tailor your menu and come up with meaningful promotions.
6. Insightful Sales Reports
The key to growth is understanding your deli’s sales trends and your customers’ preferences. However, that’s easier said than done when you don’t have an objective way to look at sales and inventory performance.
Use the reports on your POS system to help you learn more about their wants and needs, improve product selection, and reduce costs. POS reports can give you insights into things like:
- Daily sales volume
- Average purchase value
- Peak hours
- Best-selling items
- Inventory turnover rates
- Profit margins (per item, per supplier, etc.)
- Return on investment (ROI) of sales and promotional activities
This data helps you make more informed decisions about your deli’s inventory, open hours, promotional strategy, and more.
7. Employee Management
As a small business owner, one of your most time-consuming responsibilities is to manage your team.
Your deli POS system can help you tackle this tough task by allowing your employees to clock in and out using the software. This feature ensures accurate timesheets and easy payroll management — making life easier for you and your team members.
You can also set employee access controls so that only the right people can access critical ordering and financial systems.
Deli POS Systems: 4 Top Providers
Now that you have a solid idea of what a deli POS system can do, which one is the right fit for your shop?
While we’d love to tell you that our solution is a perfect fit for every business, that simply wouldn’t be true. Like the selection between two local delis, various systems have different strengths and weaknesses that will fit your business’ needs.
Here are four recommendations to get you started.
4. IT Retail — Best for Delis Attached to Grocery Stores
IT Retail has over 30 years of experience creating specialty (and cost-effective) solutions for grocery stores. While lacking some of the QSR features of other systems on this list, IT Retail’s grocery and supermarket focus make it a one-stop shop for delis attached to larger stores.
Standout features
- Integrated scales and printers: Quickly ring up customers and maintain accurate pricing with support for a wide range of integrated deli scales and barcode printers.
- Robust reporting: Identify bestsellers, spot shrink, measure promotion effectiveness, and more with IT Retail’s pre-built and custom reports.
- Advanced inventory management: Monitor stock levels in real time and streamline purchase orders with built-in vendor management and low stock alerts.
- Flexible payments: Give customers more ways to pay with support for debit cards, credit cards, and contactless payments.
Pricing
IT Retail offers custom quotes for businesses based on their unique needs. See their pricing configurator tool to get started.
3. Toast POS — Best for Delis With Large Seating Areas That Primarily Serve Meals
Toast is an efficient POS system for retail. However, what really sets it apart is its robust restaurant functions, making it an ideal choice for delis that offer sit-down meals and primarily serve ready-to-eat meals.
Standout features
- Table and menu management: Program in your deli layout, manage orders per table, and update your menu directly from Toast’s system.
- Reporting and analytics: Get daily reports that help you reduce waste and increase profits.
- Durable hardware: Get access to a wide range of durable hardware, including tablets, handheld systems, kitchen display systems (KDS), and more.
- Integrated online ordering: Handle online orders without 3rd-party plugins with a commission-free online ordering system that works on your deli’s website or mobile app.
Pricing
Toast’s basic POS plan starts at $69/month. Plans that include online ordering and Toast Delivery services start at $165/month.
2. Clover — Best for Delis Looking for a User-Friendly, No-Frills System
Clover is a popular POS system with a wide range of user-friendly hardware and software options. Their all-in-one systems are easy to set up and use, however have limited support for weight-based sales.
Standout features
- Integrated kitchen display system (KDS): Send orders directly to the kitchen from the counter or via online ordering.
- Mobile and self-service hardware: Take orders directly from the floor or at the table with a mobile device, or install a self-service kiosk.
- Built-in menu modifiers: Easily enter your entire menu into the system, including modifiers for different sizes or variations.
- Reporting and insights: See business performance and manage your finances from a single dashboard.
Pricing
Clover’s package for counter service stores starts at $155/mo or $1,899 upfront and $59.95 a month.
1. Markt POS — Best for Small Delis and Food Markets
Markt POS is our all-in-one system that combines QSR and food market features into a single system for delis, meat markets, and specialty food markets.
Standout features
- Advanced inventory management: Enter custom SKUs and product descriptions, track inventory in real time, set low stock alerts, streamline supplier orders, and more.
- Robust scale compatibility: Leverage existing barcode scanners and scales with built-in support for Zebra and other popular hardware manufacturers.
- QSR + market support: Combine your restaurant and general market inventory in a single system to simplify operations.
- Customer loyalty: Tailor a loyalty program that fits your unique customers, product selection, and more.
For a full list of features, visit our website.
Pricing
We work with small businesses to provide custom hardware and software packages that fit your unique needs. Use our pricing configurator tool to get started.
Become Your Neighborhood’s Best Deli With the Help of the Best Deli POS System
Ready to revolutionize your deli’s operations? We’re here to help!
Markt POS is an all-in-one deli POS system offering all these features and more. With Markt POS, your deli will run more efficiently and profitably than ever before.
Take Markt POS for a spin during a personalized software demo, or create your own custom deli POS system using our build and price tool.
