Fast-casual restaurants face an ongoing challenge. Guests expect speed, personalization, and convenience, all while you deal with staffing shortages, rising costs, and increased competition. Long lines, wrong orders, and overworked teams hurt more than just your operations. They damage the guest experience and your bottom line.

That’s where self-service kiosks come in. They help you serve more guests, increase sales, and streamline service without hiring more staff. And with OneHubPOS, integrating kiosk technology into your restaurant is easier than ever.

Let’s break down the trends, numbers, and real benefits that kiosks are bringing to the fast-casual space in 2025.

1. Faster Ordering Means More Guests Served

Why It Matters

Self-order kiosks allow multiple customers to place orders at once. That means shorter lines and faster service, especially during busy hours.

By the Numbers

• McDonald’s saw a 5–6% increase in average check size after adding kiosks.
• Global kiosk installations in restaurants grew 43% between 2021 and 2023, reaching over 350,000 units.

What This Means for You

You can serve more customers in less time without adding extra hands. Your team can focus on food quality and customer care instead of managing lines.

OneHubPOS Advantage

Orders flow smoothly from the kiosk to the kitchen with our direct integration to kitchen display systems. No lag, no confusion.

2. Spot-On Accuracy & Customization: Delight Guests Every Time

Why It Matters

When guests enter their own orders, mistakes drop. No more "I said no pickles" moments. Just exactly what they wanted.

By the Numbers

• Chili’s reported a 20% bump in dessert sales after adding digital ordering with upsell prompts.

What This Means for You

Fewer errors mean less food waste, fewer comps, and happier guests. Plus, guests feel more comfortable personalizing their orders without pressure.

OneHubPOS Advantage

Our Menu Management system keeps kiosk menus accurate, customizable, and up to date so your guests always get what they ordered.

3. Built-In Upselling That Works Every Time

Why It Matters

Unlike busy staff, kiosks never forget to suggest add-ons, combos, or special offers. That means more revenue without more effort.

By the Numbers

• Shake Shack says guests spend nearly 10% more when ordering at kiosks compared to the counter. 

What This Means for You

Higher ticket sizes with no extra staff training. It's a simple way to grow revenue across all locations.

OneHubPOS Advantage
With our Inventory and Promotions tools, you can feature limited-time offers and upsells across every kiosk in real time.

4. Meet the Expectations of Modern Diners

Why It Matters

Millennials and Gen Z expect contactless, tech-enabled dining. They value speed and control. Kiosks deliver both.

By the Numbers

• The global kiosk market is expected to double by 2028, surpassing 700,000 units. 

What This Means for You

Adopting kiosk tech shows your brand is forward-thinking, convenient, and ready to compete with big chains.

OneHubPOS Advantage
Our Multi-Location Suite lets you manage menus, pricing, and promotions across all your restaurants from one dashboard.

5. Free Up Staff to Do What People Do Best

Why It Matters

Kiosks take care of repetitive tasks like order entry and payment, giving your team more time to connect with guests and keep the floor running smoothly.

By the Numbers

• 60% of restaurant operators say kiosks help them manage ongoing labor shortages.

What This Means for You

Happier employees and better service. It’s not about replacing people. It's about giving your team the tools to succeed.

OneHubPOS Advantage

Use our built-in reporting tools to track performance, optimize staffing, and balance automation with hospitality.

‍Increase Sales and Eliminate Order Chaos

Your guests are ready for a faster, easier experience. Are you?

Book your free personalized OneHubPOS demo today and discover how our self-service kiosks can help you:

✅ Cut down wait times
✅ Boost average check sizes
✅ Improve order accuracy
✅ Make your team more effective
✅ Future-proof your restaurant

Take the first step toward a smarter, more profitable fast-casual operation. OneHubPOS is built for the way modern restaurants work.

In 2025, the QSR industry isn’t just racing forward—it’s reinventing the rulebook. Speed alone isn’t enough. Today’s customers expect customization, sustainability, and convenience that feels personal, not programmed. Operators embracing this evolution aren’t just surviving—they’re winning.

In this guide, we break down the most important QSR trends shaping 2025 and explain how to adapt quickly, so your brand can stay sharp, relevant, and profitable.

Let’s dig in.

The New Flavor of Success: What’s Driving Change in QSRs

The quick service industry has become a collision zone for innovation. Health meets indulgence, sustainability meets convenience, and global flavors meet local loyalty. It’s a balancing act, and your tech stack needs to keep up.

Operators who respond quickly to shifts in consumer behavior, and who build systems for menu agility and operational clarity, are outperforming their peers. The following trends are not passing fads. They reflect the values, technologies, and behaviors that are likely to shape QSR evolution for the next 3 to 5 years.

Here are the seven most important QSR industry trends of 2025, and how your restaurant can capitalize on them.

1. Plant-Based Demand Matures Into Strategy

What began as a trend is now a category. Plant-based meals have moved beyond soy patties and alt-milks into mainstream QSR menus. Younger consumers, especially those aged 18 to 34, are driving demand, often for reasons that combine health, ethics, and climate consciousness.

A 2024 report from The Culinary Institute of America highlights that 44% of consumers are actively trying to increase their intake of plant-based proteins, such as beans and nuts. This trend indicates a growing preference for plant-forward meals among consumers.

Impact on Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs)
The same report notes that the Salad Healthful sector within the Top 500 chains, a segment largely focused on plant-based and plant-forward options like salads, bowls, and smoothies, experienced significant growth. 

Rather than overhaul their entire lineup, many operators are testing these offerings as seasonal or limited-time items. The ability to track performance at an item level, including cost, popularity, and margin, has become essential in deciding what stays and what goes.

🔹Explore how OneHubPOS menu management tools can support rapid rollouts and seasonal experimentation.

2. Experience, Not Just Convenience, Now Defines Value

Speed will always be the QSR baseline. But in 2025, the concept of value is expanding to include experience. Today’s diners—especially Gen Z—are seeking emotional engagement, not just transactional efficiency.

Emerging tactics include:

• Interactive digital menus that allow real-time customization
• Loyalty programs designed around shareability and gamification
• Store environments that are visually and socially ‘post-worthy’

Brands that invest in small but meaningful experiential enhancements are finding that it pays off in frequency, basket size, and customer retention.

🔹Looking to streamline in-store interactions? See how OneHubPOS enhances QSR workflows.

3. Hyper-Localization Meets Global Palates

Consumers today are more adventurous with their food, but also more conscious about where it comes from. This dual demand is driving two trends at once: the popularity of global flavors, and the push toward local sourcing.

According to a 2025 study from The Hindu Business Line:

• 57% of QSR customers favor “hyper-local” global cuisine—a combination of international flavor profiles using regionally sourced ingredients.

For operators, this creates an opportunity to refresh core menu items seasonally or tie product innovation to cultural moments, all while supporting local suppliers and reducing logistic complexity.

4. Digital-First Customization Becomes Table Stakes

A customer tweaks a vegan taco with extra lime, no aioli, on your kiosk—and expects it to arrive exactly that way, in under five minutes.

Customization has become more than a feature—it’s a customer expectation. In a study by Dig Insights, 68% of Gen Z diners reported modifying their orders “most or every time” they visit a QSR. 

Digital-first channels, including mobile apps and in-store kiosks, now need to accommodate real-time changes without slowing throughput.

Well-structured POS systems play a key role in enabling this. When customization flows smoothly through integrated modifiers, streamlined order routing, and intuitive interfaces, operations become more efficient and customer satisfaction improves.

5. Sustainability Transitions from Marketing to Mandate

Eco-conscious operations are no longer a differentiator—they're a baseline. Customers expect to see action on waste reduction, responsible sourcing, and sustainable packaging. Many local jurisdictions are also tightening regulations around disposables and composting.

For QSRs, this means operational sustainability must be measurable. Reducing food waste, optimizing ingredient ordering, and trimming packaging overuse are just as much about cost control as they are about brand reputation.

Learn how OneHubPOS inventory tools can help reduce waste and improve profitability.

6. Seasonality Adds Strategic Depth to Menu Planning

Pumpkin-spiced tofu burger? Weirdly popular—and your POS should tell you whether to bring it back next year.

While core items still anchor most QSR menus, seasonal offerings are playing a bigger role in shaping customer loyalty. They're seen as signals of freshness, creativity, and responsiveness. They also offer built-in windows for experimentation.

Tracking how seasonal items perform across sales, margin, and repeat purchase rates has become a practical requirement for any QSR with an evolving menu strategy.

7. Operational Agility Is the Competitive Edge

Amid staffing volatility and supply chain constraints, agility has become a performance differentiator. Operators who can make fast, data-informed decisions around menu adjustments, combo configurations, or staffing allocation are positioned to thrive.

This is where real-time reporting, integrated inventory tools, and flexible menu interfaces come into play. When the numbers tell you what’s working and what’s not, you can course-correct quickly without risking service quality or profitability.

Turning Insight Into Execution

These trends show that the QSRs thriving in 2025 are those that combine operational discipline with innovation and have the tools in place to react to shifts in real time.

OneHubPOS supports this reality by offering:

• Real-time sales and inventory reporting
  
  
• Intuitive menu configuration for seasonal and LTO (Limited-Time Offer) items
  
  
• Tools for tracking waste, margin, and modifier trends
  
  
• Multi-location menu control and customization features
  

Ready to Align Strategy with Speed?

For QSR operators, data is no longer just a report—it’s the foundation for smarter menus, leaner operations, and better decisions. 

Book a free OneHubPOS demo to see how smarter menus, leaner ops, and real-time reports can give your QSR the 2025 edge.

One big order can make—or break—your day. The question is: will your kitchen thrive or just survive? What happens when a sudden restaurant bulk order for 150 meals lands right in the middle of your busiest hours? You’d be thrilled, of course. But that excitement will quickly fade and chaos will follow, unless there’s a plan.

For corporate catering, event meals, or party trays, people love food delivered in quantity. But they also expect the same freshness, quality, and presentation as an à la carte meal. 

If your small restaurant wants to serve up bulk orders without the stress, you need a smart strategy. So, this blog breaks down best practices for managing bulk food orders and how tech can save your kitchen during high-volume chaos, along with a bonus: how to turn one-time bulk orders into steady, repeat business. Let’s dig in.

What Handling a Restaurant Bulk Order Looks Like

Handling a restaurant bulk order in small restaurants means efficiently managing large food requests, from offices, event organizers, schools, or even big families. These orders usually include 15+ meals or high-value packages ordered at once, for meetings, parties, or special events. 

Here, you don’t just have to make more food. You also have to plan ahead, prep smartly, package right, and deliver on time. Your kitchen, staff, inventory, and customer communication must be synced well enough so that everything flows smoothly without affecting regular orders. 

Common Challenges Small Restaurants Face with Bulk Orders

Handled well, bulk orders can boost your profits and reputation. But when mismanaged, here’s what tends to go wrong:

• Your setup isn’t built for cooking 100 meals at once. Limited staff and no dedicated space? Delays and stress are guaranteed.
• One big restaurant bulk order can drain your main ingredients. Over-order to prepare, and you risk spoilage and waste.
• Inconsistent portions, leaky packaging, or missing items? That’s all it takes to lose repeat business.
• Still taking bulk orders over phone calls or WhatsApp? Typos, mix-ups, and missed updates can ruin the entire experience.
• Without tracking tools or smart invoicing, bulk order management gets messy fast.

Best Practices to Efficiently Handle Restaurant Bulk Order

Time to fix the chaos. These are field-tested strategies that work even in small kitchens.

1. Set Clear Bulk Order Policies

Clarity saves time. Define what counts as a “bulk” order, maybe $500+ or 15+ meals, and set rules.

• Lead time: 24–72 hours depending on the size
• Payment terms, cancellation policy, delivery radius
• Post it everywhere: on your site, in-store posters, and social media bios

When expectations are clear, you reduce last-minute stress.

2. Offer Pre-Defined Bulk Menus

Customized orders might work for table service but not for high-volume cooking. Create special bulk menus with items that are:

• Easy to prep and scale, like rice dishes, wraps, gravies, baked goods, and more
• High-margin and low-waste
• Packaged in party trays or combo boxes

3. Prepare Your Kitchen Workflow Efficiently

The key to bulk: prep, prep, prep.

• Use mise en place: pre-chop veggies and marinate proteins in batches.
• Designate prep hours, like early morning or off-peak.
• Have a separate station or counter for bulk packing.

Your regular operations shouldn’t suffer just because a big restaurant bulk order came in.

4. Cross-Train Staff for Flexibility

Train your staff to switch roles as needed. On restaurant bulk order days, your cashier might help with packaging, and your cook might portion salads.

• SOPs for every bulk order type, like party trays, boxed meals, etc.
• Assign clear employee roles: who preps, who packs, who delivers

Consider using printed checklists or shared digital tools so nothing is missed.

5. Prioritize Quality Control

One mistake in a restaurant bulk order can cost you a repeat customer and maybe a Google review you don’t want. Don’t let speed compromise quality.

• Use dedicated packing checklists: ensure every order is accurate.
• Invest in bulk-friendly packaging that keeps food warm and intact.
• Schedule a final QA check before dispatch; spot-check for portion size, labeling, and completeness.

It doesn’t take long, but it makes a massive difference.

6. Plan Inventory Ahead

If you track data smartly, you’ll know when bulk orders usually spike, like festive seasons, weekends, or corporate quarter-ends.

• Use historical POS data to forecast demand.
• Maintain safety stock for fast-moving bulk items like rice, oil, gravies, and containers.

Stay in sync with suppliers and build a great relationship; they can save you during surprise surges.

How Technology Enhances Bulk Order Management

Without tech, all these best practices can still feel manual and clunky. That’s where the right restaurant POS system makes life easier.

1. Automate with a POS System

A manage all-in-one POS lets you tag orders as bulk, so you can:

• Set different prep times and workflows
• Trigger alerts for kitchen and staff
• Track order status at every stage, from confirmed to packed to out for delivery

It keeps everyone in the loop. No need to rely on memory—the system keeps it all on track.

2. Use a Kitchen Display System (KDS)

Instead of shouting orders across the counter, use a KDS screen that updates in real-time.

• Highlight a restaurant bulk order separately from dine-in or takeaway.
• Prioritize tasks visually.
• Avoid lost or misread tickets.

With KDS integration, your kitchen stays calmer and your team stays focused.

3. Integrate Inventory & Supplier Management

POS integration helps you stay stocked without overstocking.

• Deduct inventory in real-time as bulk orders come in.
• Set auto-alerts for low stock, especially for bulk-heavy ingredients.
• Create reorder triggers to notify suppliers or prep teams.

No more running to the market mid-shift or scrambling for last-minute fixes.

4. Generate Smart Invoices & Reports

Still making invoices manually in Excel? Let your POS handle that.

• Auto-generate professional invoices with tax, discount, and delivery fields.
• See how much of your revenue comes from bulk vs. regular orders.
• Track top bulk clients, best-selling items, and prep-time averages using POS analytics reports.

These insights can help you make better decisions about managing your menu, scheduling staff in peak hours, and even making pricing strategy.

How OneHubPOS Simplifies Bulk Order Management

OneHubPOS makes handling large orders simple. After all, it’s built for restaurants like yours that want to grow.

• No more juggling calls, chats, and scribbled notes. OneHubPOS gives you a single dashboard for all bulk orders, with prep times, staff load, and orders from your website or WhatsApp, all in one place.
• Generate invoices in seconds. Auto-apply B2B discounts, customize templates for events, and skip the accounting back-and-forth.
• Save past orders, preferences, and billing details. Set reorder reminders, apply loyalty perks, and become their trusted go-to vendor.
• Real-time reminders from prep to packaging to delivery—plus, automated SMS/WhatsApp updates for customers. Everyone stays in sync.
• Accept all payment types and track deliveries with ease. From kitchen to doorstep, it’s all smooth and professional.

Bonus: How to Turn Bulk Orders into Long-Term Revenue Streams

Once you start handling bulk orders like a pro, here’s how to keep them coming.

• Build relationships with local offices, event planners, and co-working spaces. Create a plug-and-play B2B proposal for them with pricing, menu options, and terms, including curated packages and monthly catering plans. 
• Highlight your restaurant bulk order service on flyers, website, Google listing, and food delivery profiles, with campaigns like “10% off on party trays this festive season.” Also, add a “Bulk Order” button on your ordering page with minimum quantity and lead time info.
• Collect feedback or ask for reviews after every restaurant bulk order through a quick SMS or a QR code in the package. Ask about taste, presentation, timing, packaging. Then, use the insights to improve and retain clients.

Say Yes to Big Orders With OneHubPOS by Your Side

A restaurant bulk order = big growth opportunity. But only if you’re ready. With the right practices, smart prep, and an advanced POS system, you can turn chaos into cash.

Let your team focus on cooking. Let OneHubPOS handle the rest, from order management and invoicing to delivery and repeat business. Ready to take bulk orders efficiently? Book a demo with OneHubPOS today.

A café isn’t just about coffee anymore. It’s also about rhythm, flow, and experience. 

Every day, especially during peak hours, your team is racing against time. Orders stream in and custom drink requests pile up. Regulars expect their “half-caf, oat milk, extra hot latte with two pumps of caramel” to be perfect. 

What else is happening at the same time? The pastry stock is ending. The next shift is clocking in. Even someone’s card just declined at the counter.

This is the typical heartbeat of a coffee operation. The espresso machine may steal the spotlight, but it’s your POS system quietly powering the show.

This blog explores why the right POS system can transform your café from “functioning” to “flourishing.” We’ll cover must-have coffee shop POS features, the real benefits for your daily operations, and how OneHubPOS brings it all together.

What Having a POS System in a Coffee Shop Really Looks Like

Coffee shop POS features go way beyond what a digital cash register does. In a café, a POS system is like your command center.

From the moment a customer walks in, orders a drink, collects loyalty points, and pays, it’s all run through your POS. So, if that system isn’t fast, reliable, and smart, you’re not just losing time. You’re risking customer loyalty, inventory waste, and team burnout.

Coffee shops have their own set of unique challenges:

• Rush hours that can feel like a high-speed pressure environment
• Highly customized orders that require precision
• Loyalty programs that regulars actually expect and appreciate
• Perishable stock that needs tight tracking

An advanced POS system turns these pressure points into smooth processes.

8 Must-Have Features in a Coffee Shop POS System

Here are some coffee shop POS features your café must consider having for better operations and hence increased revenues:

1. Fast & Intuitive Ordering Screen

Your baristas don’t have time to fumble with buttons. During the morning rush, every second counts. Customers are on tight schedules, often grabbing their coffee before work or school. A delay of even 30 seconds per order can lead to long lines, flustered staff, and frustrated guests.

That’s why your coffee shop POS should offer a fast, tap-and-go ordering screen made with barista workflows in mind. Look for systems that let you:

• Quickly add modifiers like “half-caf,” “extra shot,” “oat milk,” “no foam,” or “less syrup” with just a couple of taps
• Adjust order preferences without restarting the ticket
• Save popular or custom drink combos for regulars

2. Integrated Payment Processing

Customers expect flexible payments—tap, swipe, QR code, wallet, or even coins.

A good POS system should:

• Accept all modern payment methods smoothly
• Allow one-tap tipping, helping your team earn more without making it awkward
• Keep the checkout process friction-free, even with long queues

Customers appreciate speed and flexibility. Your staff appreciates not having to troubleshoot card machines.

3. Smart Inventory & Ingredient-Level Tracking

Coffee isn’t just about beans and milk. You’re juggling inventory like almond milk, chocolate syrup, chai concentrate, matcha powder, sandwich wraps, pastries, and much more.

Your coffee shop POS should provide:

• Real-time inventory updates, so you know exactly what’s running low
• Ingredient-level tracking, so you can forecast daily prep and reorder accurately
• Auto-alerts for low stock, helping you avoid emergency grocery runs

This reduces waste. Plus, your customers won’t have to hear “Sorry, we’re out.”

4. Customer Loyalty & Rewards Integration

Your regulars are the backbone of your café. The best way to keep them coming back, aside from great coffee, is to make them feel seen and appreciated.

That’s where loyalty programs work great.

A great POS system should offer:

• Built-in digital stamp cards, point systems, or spend-and-reward programs
• The ability to send personalized offers, like a free croissant on their birthday or a discount after five visits
• A simple way to track customer habits, so your baristas can say “your usual?” with confidence

When customers feel valued, they stick around, and they tell their friends.

5. Mobile & Online Ordering Capabilities

Customers love convenience. Whether it’s a regular who wants to order from the train station or a student placing a pick-up order on their way to class, online and mobile ordering are no longer optional.

Your POS should:

• Accept orders via your café’s app or website
• Sync with your main system to update inventory in real time
• Ensure smooth handoff to the kitchen or barista team, so there's no confusion when the customer walks in

Especially in urban areas or on campuses, mobile orders can dramatically boost sales without adding in-store congestion.

6. Employee Management Tools

Managing a café team includes filling shifts, tracking performance, controlling access, and making scheduling well-managed and simpler.

Look for POS features like:

• Clock in/out tools for accurate payroll
• Role-based permissions, so baristas don’t have access to sensitive info
• Performance insights, like who’s selling the most or who needs support

A good POS system makes sure you’re never understaffed, even in peak hours.

7. Powerful Reporting & Analytics

It doesn’t matter whether you own a big chain of cafés or a small indie café, data helps you benefit from smart insights.

With the right POS, you should be able to view:

• Sales by product, time of day, or day of the week
• Customer behavior patterns — who orders what and how often
• Promo performance, so you know what’s working and what’s not

POS analytics reports help you find out best-selling items, adjust menu pricing, tweak your menu, and plan ahead with clarity.

8. Offline Mode for Seamless Continuity

Wi-Fi problems happen. But your café shouldn’t grind to a halt because your router decided to take a coffee break.

The best POS systems offer offline mode, so you can:

• Continue taking orders and processing payments
• Sync all data to the cloud automatically once you’re back online

This keeps your operations smooth and your team stress-free, even during tech hiccups.

Advanced POS Features That Set You Apart

Let’s talk about a few extras that really take your POS from good to great.

Built-In Marketing to Drive Repeat Visits

Look for coffee shop POS features that allow you to send automated emails or SMS promotions. Whether it’s a combo deal, a seasonal drink launch, or a reminder for loyalty points, these small nudges can bring people back in the door.

Multi-location Management

Dreaming of opening a second café? Or already running a small chain? A scalable, cloud-based POS makes life easier by letting you:

• Manage menus, employees, and inventory across multiple locations from one dashboard
• Compare performance by store
• Roll out promotions café-wide with just a few clicks

How OneHubPOS Delivers the Perfect Blend of Speed & Service

Now, let’s talk about OneHubPOS, a POS system built with cafés in mind.

Here’s what makes it perfect:

• Lightning-fast order-taking screens designed specifically for busy café staff and easy custom modifiers
• Smooth payment options: tap-to-pay, QR codes, mobile wallets, cards, and cash, all integrated smoothly
• Built-in loyalty features to help you connect with regulars
• Real-time inventory tracking at the ingredient level with smart low-stock alerts
• Offline mode so you never miss a sale, even if your Wi-Fi drops
• Simple onboarding and friendly support so your team feels confident from day one

Whether you’re just opening your first café or looking to upgrade from a clunky old system, OneHubPOS gives you speed, insight, and reliability, all in one package.

How to Choose the Right POS Vendor for Your Café

Here’s a quick checklist to help you make the right decision:

When booking a demo, walk through real café use cases. Try a custom order. Simulate a rush hour. Ask about training time. The right vendor will answer clearly, not dodge the tough questions.

Let’s Caffeinate Your Operations With OneHubPOS

A coffee shop runs on fast orders, friendly faces, fresh stock, and happy regulars. Your POS system is right at the center of all that.

Let’s recap what a great coffee shop POS should have:

• A fast and easy ordering interface
• Flexible payment options
• Ingredient-level inventory tracking
• Loyalty and rewards built-in
• Mobile ordering that syncs perfectly
• Staff management tools
• Real-time analytics
• An offline mode that keeps things running even without internet

With the right POS system, you’re creating a better café experience, improving your team’s productivity, and setting your business up for growth. That’s why café owners choose OneHubPOS. It delivers the speed, support, and smarts your coffee shop needs to succeed. 

Book a personalized demo with OneHubPOS today to see how it can power your café with smoother orders, happier customers, and smarter insights.

Picture this: It’s lunch hour at your deli. The line’s out the door, the griddle sizzling—and yet, profits aren’t keeping pace with foot traffic. Why? Because your menu is doing too much and saying too little. Overloaded menus confuse customers, slow down decision-making, and often bury your most profitable items in plain sight.

That’s where menu engineering comes in—and your deli POS is the secret weapon.

With the right POS system, you can stop guessing what sells and start knowing. It helps you zero in on what’s working, what’s wasting space (and money), and how to build a menu that sells smarter—not harder.

This guide shows you exactly how to turn your deli POS into a profit-boosting engine—using data, design, and decisions that actually move the needle.

Let’s dive in.

Menu Engineering Matters More Than You Think

So, how do you bring menu engineering into your deli? The secret ingredient is your deli POS system. A modern POS isn’t just a cash register-it’s a treasure trove of data and tools that make menu engineering easy and effective. Your POS tracks every sale, so you can see what’s selling like hotcakes and what’s collecting dust. It also knows the pricing and cost info, helping you figure out each item’s profitability. In this guide, you’ll see how menu engineering and your POS can transform your menu for the better.

Before vs. After: How Menu Engineering Transforms a Deli Menu

As the comparison shows, menu engineering turns a scattershot approach into a strategic one. Without it, you’re guessing what will work. With it, you’re making informed decisions based on what your customers actually like and what makes you money. 

A Simple Matrix for Smarter Menu Decisions

Your POS doesn’t just tell you what sold — it helps you understand what to do next. One of the simplest ways to use that insight is with a two-by-two matrix: popularity on one side, profitability on the other.

Start by running a sales report from your POS. Sort your menu items by how often they’re ordered and how much profit each one brings in. From there, you can group them into four categories:

• Your superstars – Items that are both popular and profitable. These deserve prime placement and promotion.
  
  
• The crowd-pleasers – Popular items that don’t bring in much margin. Tweak portion sizes or ingredients to make them more profitable.
  
  
• The hidden gems – High-margin items that customers overlook. Highlight them as specials or ask your staff to recommend them.
  
  
• The duds – Items that are neither popular nor profitable. Let them go or give them a makeover.

You don’t need a fancy spreadsheet. A basic grid and your POS export are enough to get started. The more often you revisit this, the smarter your menu becomes.

8 POS-Driven Menu Engineering Tips for Delis

Your POS is more than a cash register—it’s a decision-making dashboard. Here’s how to use it like a pro:

1. Let the Numbers Tell You What’s Next

Start your week by opening your POS sales report. What’s flying off the counter? What’s barely moving? Maybe your classic pastrami on rye is still the star, while the quinoa salad just isn’t getting picked. These numbers don’t lie — they reveal exactly what your customers love (and what they skip).

Now take it a step further. Export your sales and cost data and plot them on a simple 2x2 grid: popularity on one side, profitability on the other. This gives you a clear view of your menu’s performance — your superstars, crowd-pleasers, hidden gems, and duds.

Use this matrix to guide smart decisions. Spotlight your top sellers, rework your low-margin hits, and confidently retire what’s no longer pulling its weight.

Pro tip: Set a weekly reminder to review this data. When your decisions are powered by real numbers, your menu evolves in the right direction — with less guesswork, more results.

2. Discover the True Stars with Recipe Costing

Dig into the real cost of every ingredient in each dish. That loaded club sandwich might be popular, but if avocado and bacon are eating into your margin, it’s time to rethink. Your POS recipe costing tools can give you this clarity.

Note: Small changes like swapping a pricey ingredient or slightly adjusting portion size can make a big difference.

3. Design for Delight — On Screen and On Paper

Your menu’s layout matters. Rearrange your menu and your POS screen so your best sellers and high-profit items get prime real estate — making it easier for both customers and staff to choose and sell. Update your POS interface so staff can quickly ring up your priority items.

4. Craft Combos That Sell Themselves

Look for natural pairings in your POS data — customers who order a turkey sandwich often add soup, for example. Create combo deals and program your POS to prompt staff with upsell suggestions like, “Would you like to make it a combo for $2 more?”

Pro Tip: Combos boost your average ticket size and give customers a feeling of value.

5. Keep an Eye on Ingredient Costs

Ingredient prices fluctuate — tomatoes get more expensive in summer, or bacon prices spike unexpectedly. Your POS lets you update these costs in real time. Regularly update ingredient prices in your system to monitor menu item profitability.

Note: Staying on top of costs prevents nasty surprises when you review profits.

6. Ride the Seasonal Wave

Seasonal sales patterns are gold mines. Your POS shows when salads peak or when hearty soups make a comeback. Use this insight to keep your menu fresh and in sync with customer cravings. Rotate menu items seasonally based on POS sales trends.

‍7. Experiment, Measure, Repeat

Introducing a new item? Use your POS to track every sale and customer reaction. Data tells you if it’s a hit or a flop — no guesswork involved. Run limited-time offers, review POS data, and decide which new items to keep or cut.

8. Cut Waste, Boost Profits

Spoilage hurts profits. Use your POS inventory data to align orders with actual demand. Adjust stock levels based on sales velocity to reduce waste and save money.

Ready to Transform Your Deli Menu?

Menu engineering with a smart deli POS system isn’t just theory- it’s a proven recipe for happier customers, less waste, and bigger profits. The best part? You don’t have to figure it out alone.

Curious how all these strategies would work for your deli?
Let OneHubPOS show you how easy it is to turn your data into delicious results.

👉 Book a FREE demo with OneHubPOS and see firsthand how the right POS system can help you engineer your menu for success.

Lunchtime hits, and the cafeteria is buzzing—but there are no long queues. No one’s digging through wallets for coins. Kids tap their student IDs or employees scan their QR codes and walk straight to pick up their meals. A screen flashes order updates. Payments? Already done. 

Within seconds, they’re in, out, and eating.

This isn’t science fiction—it’s made possible by modern cashless cafeteria systems.

So, still dealing with cash drawers, paper tickets, or daily cash reconciliation headaches? It’s time for a major upgrade. This blog gives you three reasons that are critical enough to make you think over switching to cashless cafeteria management. Let's get started!

What Is a Cashless Cafeteria?

A cashless cafeteria is a setup where all food-related transactions happen digitally. No physical cash. No coins. No change needed. All transactions are processed through digital platforms. Diners simply order and pay, whether it’s through a card, an app, or a tap of an ID, and the goal is the same: fast, easy, and contact-free food service.

Here’s how a cashless cafeteria usually works:

• With RFID-enabled IDs, staff or students scan their ID badges linked to a prepaid or internal wallet.
• Contactless payment methods, like mobile payments and QR codes, let users scan a code at the counter or order through an app.
• Users or parents/admins load money into wallets in advance.
• POS systems integrated with IDs let orders, payments, and logs tie to individual profiles.

Key features of cashless cafeteria systems include:

• Digital menus and ordering, allowing pre-order options to skip queues
• Contactless checkout, so no exchange of money = faster and more hygienic
• Real-time tracking, telling what's selling, what’s not, and when the rush hits
• One centralized dashboard to view orders, payments, user data, and more

3 Key Reasons You Need to Switch to a Cashless Cafeteria

Let’s get into the why. Why switch? Why now? And what’s in cashless cafeteria management for you, your team, or your customers? Let’s break it down:

1. Speed & Efficiency: Serve More, Wait Less

Cash payments seem quick... until they’re not. Someone can’t find the exact change. Another person needs to split a bill. The cashier miscounts and has to re-check. What adds to all this chaos is the fact that lunch breaks aren’t that long. So, whether you’re feeding students, office employees, or factory workers, you’re working with tight time windows. 

When hundreds of people rush in at once, you’ve got a slow-moving line, frustrated diners, and probably a few complaints. Consider this: if each cash transaction takes just 15 seconds longer than a digital one. That's 25 extra minutes in total! That’s cutting into their break.

But in a cashless cafeteria, every transaction is lightning fast: tap an ID, scan a code, swipe and go! You can also switch to pre-ordered meals and ID-based payments to speed up guest payments. The result: everyone gets served faster, with less pressure on the kitchen team.

That’s it. No coins. No bills. No delays.

2. Hygiene & Safety: Go Contactless, Stay Clean

Cash is one of the dirtiest things people carry around. It passes through dozens of hands before it reaches yours. Each contributes more bacteria, viruses, and grime. Especially post-COVID, we’ve become hyper-aware of what we touch. 

Cleanliness becomes especially critical in food service. On top of that, if you’re working in a school, hospital, or food production setting, that’s a big no-no.

Thanks to contactless payment options, cashless systems decrease the number of physical touchpoints between customers and staff. No money changing hands. No receipts. Just a tap or scan.

Here’s how it works in a school setting

• Students use RFID-enabled ID cards.
• Parents top up balances online.
• Staff gets instant payment confirmation.
• Cafeteria workers never touch a single dollar bill.

It’s faster, cleaner, and way more future-proof.

In fact, if you integrate cashless systems with self-ordering kiosks, customers can place their orders and pay without ever interacting with staff or touching shared devices. This keeps the entire food order process more hygienic.

If a health outbreak occurs, cashless systems can be suspended quickly. But in the case of cash-based systems, like cash registers, you'd need to retrain them or introduce new procedures. Digital systems make adapting to new hygiene guidelines far easier.

3. Smarter Management: Get Insights, Reduce Waste

Cashless systems give you loads of data. When every transaction is logged digitally, you suddenly have access to:

• What’s the best-selling item and what’s not selling at all
• Peak hours and slow times
• Inventory depletion rates
• Daily revenue and trends

This kind of insight helps with planning, budgeting, and waste reduction.

These systems are most effective when integrated with your POS platform. That way, every order feeds into one central system:

• Track inventory in real-time
• Forecast ingredient needs
• Stop over-ordering or throwing out food

Plus, an advanced POS system integrated with the cashless setup automatically generates detailed analytics reports for end-of-day reconciliation, taxes, or audits. This removes the manual effort of sorting through receipts and helps to improve operational transparency. And thanks to cloud-based POS systems, you can access these reports from anywhere.

Case Study: BayCare’s St. Joseph’s Hospital Cafeteria Cuts Wait Times and Boosts Efficiency with Cashless System

St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida, part of the BayCare Health System, became the first hospital in the U.S. to implement a cashless, checkout-free system in a hospital-owned cafeteria. This move drastically decreased wait times, improved service accessibility, and helped increase labor efficiency across the hospital.

Challenge

During the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Joseph’s Hospital faced staffing shortages that impacted cafeteria service. Long checkout lines, sometimes extending to 25 minutes, created frustration for hospital staff, physicians, and visitors who had limited time. A solution was urgently needed to:

• Eliminate long queues
• Improve meal access for staff across all shifts
• Increase operational efficiency despite labor shortages

Solution: Cashless, Frictionless Cafeteria

The hospital rolled out a fully cashless, frictionless cafeteria system. It allowed customers to simply walk in, select items, and leave without needing to stop and pay at a traditional register. Guests could enter the cafeteria using a credit card, mobile wallet, or employee badge. The system automatically tracked their selections. Then, payments were processed smoothly.

Results

• Checkout times dropped from 25 minutes to just 3 minutes.
• Day-shift employees gained more time to actually enjoy their breaks.
• Café hours were extended beyond the previous 9:00 p.m. closure.
• Night-shift staff could now access fresh meals anytime.
• Shoppers are buying more per visit due to the convenience.
• Former cashier space was converted into a new dry goods market, boosting merchandise offerings.
• Former cashiers were redeployed to high-impact roles such as patient services and physician lounges.

What They Learned

• A soft launch was essential to identify issues early and adjust operations before the grand opening.
• Constant feedback and adaptability were key in introducing this innovative cashless solution.

Ready to Go Cashless With OneHubPOS?

A cashless cafeteria is an upgrade to your tech that changes the way food service works. It improves the experience for everyone: faster for customers, cleaner for workers, and smarter for managers.

When you switch to a cashless system, you're making a strategic decision that impacts your bottom line. Faster service means more customers served in less time. Reduced waste helps you save money. And eliminating cash reduces the risk of theft and the stress of handling physical money.

With our intuitive, ready-to-deploy system, you can quickly roll out a cashless solution, whether you’re feeding 20 people or 2,000. Ready to go cashless? Book your OneHubPOS demo today today and transform your cafeteria experience.

The kitchen is buzzing—but no one’s yelling. Orders are flying in, yet not a single ticket is out of place. The grill is sizzling. The fryer is humming. The screen on the wall is quietly guiding the chaos. Dishes are heading out in the exact order they’re meant to. 

No misplaced burgers. No double-prepped salads. No confusion about who ordered what.

The front-of-house team is calm. They’re not sprinting back to the kitchen asking for updates or explaining why a table’s fries arrived cold. Instead, they’re focused on service, knowing exactly where each order stands.

What you’re witnessing is a smooth, connected workflow between the front-of-house (FOH) and back-of-house (BOH). Let’s explore how KDS integration manages kitchen operations, connects perfectly with POS systems, speeds up service, and decreases errors.

What Is KDS Integration?

KDS stands for Kitchen Display System. It’s a digital screen used in the kitchen to replace traditional paper tickets. Instead of relying on physical receipts or scribbled notes, orders are sent directly from your all-in-one POS system to the display screen in the kitchen.

Now, KDS integration is what makes this even better. It means your POS and your kitchen display are in sync in real time.

So, when a customer places an order at the counter, on a self-service kiosk, or online, that order gets pushed instantly to the kitchen screen. The system organizes everything: what goes where, how urgent it is, and who needs to be working on what.

Here's what that really looks like:

• No more printed tickets (which always seem to get lost or stained with grease)
• No more verbal handoffs (which always seem to get misheard)
• No more FOH yelling “Where’s the cheeseburger for Table 5?!” every five minutes!

Instead, the kitchen operations become a calm and coordinated dance, thanks to real-time updates, visual cues, and smart prioritization.

What It Feels Like When KDS Integration Works

Let’s walk through a real-time experience.

1. A customer places an order on their phone via the restaurant POS — a grilled mushroom sandwich, fries, and a vanilla latte — one item from the grill station, one from the fryer, and one from the barista counter.
2. Each station sees its part of the order separately on their own KDS screen:

• Grill Station: Grilled mushroom sandwich
• Fryer Station: Fries
• Barista Counter: Vanilla latte

3. Each station checks their own "In Progress" list and starts prepping as per their schedule. The system shows real-time status updates like "In Progress," "Ready," or any wait instructions.
4. As soon as an item is marked "Ready" on the KDS, the FOH team sees the update instantly through the POS. No need for constant back-and-forth with the kitchen. Orders show up neatly in the "Orders Ready" section, making pickup smooth and efficient.
5. Every item is prepared and completed in a synchronized flow, so the customer receives everything hot, fresh, and perfectly timed.

Why It Matters: Real Problems Solved by KDS Integration

Even the best-run kitchens can hit bottlenecks, especially when you’re juggling multiple stations, rush hours, and ticket times without real-time visibility. Here’s what KDS integration helps you eliminate:

• Ever had a printer jam during lunch rush? Or a cook spilled sauce all over a ticket? With KDS integration, there are no lost or smudged paper tickets. 
• “How long on that pizza?” “I never got the order!” Sound familiar? With real-time updates, there’s no guessing, no yelling, no second-guessing.
• Cold soup, underbaked cake, forgotten modifiers like “no onions,” these problems usually come from breakdowns in communication or timing. A smart KDS stops orders coming out wrong or out of sync.
• Want to know how long it’s taking your team to complete orders? Which items slow down your line? Which hours need more staff? KDS integration enables POS analytics features that give you the insights you need.

The result? Better service, less waste, and a happier team. When your team isn’t stressed, customers feel it. Orders are accurate, service is faster, and your reviews reflect it.

“Is This for You?” – A Quick Fun Quiz

Running a kitchen is organized chaos at best. But if you’re nodding along to any of these, it might be time to upgrade how your kitchen and front-of-house communicate.

You might need KDS integration if…

Checked more than two? It’s time to rethink how your kitchen and front-of-house work together.

Benefits of KDS Integration

Integrating KDS with your QSR POS is a tech upgrade that transforms your entire kitchen operations for the better. Let’s break down the benefits into three key areas: operations, customer experience, and your overall business.

Operational Benefits

• KDS syncs up everything in real-time, so the kitchen and FOH team are always on the same page. No more mix-ups—just clear, instant communication.
• With KDS, orders are digital, reducing the risk of human error and ensuring your kitchen knows exactly what needs to be cooked and how.
• When business is booming, KDS keeps orders prioritized, eliminating confusion and ensuring everyone knows what to do and when. Your kitchen staff isn’t left guessing anymore. Everything is laid out for them.
• KDS is intuitive and easy to use, which means new hires can get up to speed quickly. No complicated paper systems or waiting for someone else to explain the order flow. Just teach them the system, and they’re good to go!

Customer Experience Benefits

• Orders are processed quickly and efficiently. Customers don’t wait forever for their food, and your kitchen delivers it hot and fresh, exactly as ordered.
• With clear, visual instructions, your team can’t forget special requests or mix up orders. That means happier customers and fewer complaints.
• FOH staff can check on the status of any order in real-time without needing to run to the kitchen. This transparency boosts confidence, and customers get their food faster.

Business Benefits

• More orders out faster means more revenue without the need to hire additional staff. KDS helps maximize kitchen productivity.
• With clear prep times and order statuses, there’s less food waste and fewer remakes. Your team saves time, and you save money.
• The POS-KDS sync grows with your business. Whether you're opening another location, expanding your team, or managing multiple locations, good cloud-based POS and KDS systems keep things running smoothly across the board.

6 Key Things to Look for in a Good KDS Integration

When choosing a KDS, keep these features in mind:

1. Compatibility with Your POS: It should sync smoothly with your existing POS, no workarounds needed.
2. Customizable Display: Timers and alerts should be adjustable to fit your kitchen’s needs.
3. Easy to Use: The interface should be intuitive. Your kitchen team doesn’t need more complexity.
4. Real-Time Two-Way Sync: The system should allow updates to flow seamlessly between FOH and kitchen.
5. Cloud-Based: Cloud options allow you to monitor and update your system from anywhere.
6. Reporting and Analytics: Access to data on ticket times and kitchen performance helps you make smarter decisions.

The Future of Smart Kitchens Is Integrated

On the surface, a KDS seems just to replace paper tickets or cut down on yelling. But essentially, it creates a kitchen that works smarter, not harder. One where front-of-house and back-of-house teams are finally aligned—literally and digitally.

When FOH knows what’s happening in the kitchen and BOH has clarity on incoming orders, everything improves:

• Morale goes up
• Mistakes go down
• Customers leave happy
• And your team has more energy at the end of a shift

Whether you’re running a high-volume restaurant, a food truck, a café, or a ghost kitchen, integrated systems give you the edge. 

Ready to sync your kitchen with your front-of-house? Because once you integrate, you never look back. Book a demo with OneHubPOS and see how smooth your operation could be.

Delis still hold a special place in an age ruled by food delivery apps and 30-minute meal kits. They offer quick, customizable food made fresh and trusted by locals for generations.

Here’s the best part: You don’t need a massive kitchen or a Michelin-starred chef to open one. You just need great food, a solid plan, and a step-by-step deli launch checklist. 

So, how hard is it to open a deli? Let’s walk through what it really takes to open a deli that gets customers excited to come back again and again.

What Makes a Deli… a Deli?

A deli isn’t just a smaller restaurant. It’s part eatery, part grocer, and often a tiny community hub all rolled into one. Think of it as the halfway point between a casual café and a neighborhood grocery. 

What sets delis apart? It's their speed and flexibility. Customers order at the counter, grab what they need, and go. That quick-serve format eliminates full table service or long prep times. But it also demands tight inventory management.

There’s also the retail side to consider. Many delis sell packaged snacks, fresh produce, or ready-made items. So, your business operations move the line between food service and retail. That’s why you need systems, like a manage all-in-one POS, that can juggle both in one place.

10 Step Guide to Opening a Deli

Here's how to go about opening a deli:

1. Define Your Deli Concept

Are you offering locally sourced sandwiches or customizable global flavors? Customizable meals with global flavors? Maybe you want to highlight regional ingredients or create a neighborhood lunch spot with quick grab-and-go options.

Also, know who you're serving. Are your customers busy office workers who need fast service? Or families looking for wholesome dinner options on their way home?

2. Craft a Comprehensive Business Plan

A well-thought-out business plan is your deli’s blueprint.

Start with local market research. How many sandwich shops or food spots already exist in your area? What are they missing? Maybe their service is slow. Maybe their options are repetitive. Your job? Spot the gap and fill it.

Next, break down your startup costs: 

• Rent
• Permits
• POS hardware
• Slicers
• Refrigeration
• Initial inventory
• Branding expenses
• Even the small stuff—like trash bins, gloves, and takeout packaging—adds up fast.

Plan staffing around peak vs. off-peak hours. and slow hours. For example, a small deli might operate smoothly with 2–3 employees during lunch rush: one at the counter, one in the kitchen, and one handling prep or cleanup. In slower hours, a single multitasker may suffice.

For revenue planning, set monthly targets based on expected customers and pricing. Serving 50 customers daily at $12 per order means around $18,000/month before expenses.

3. Secure Financing

How much money does it cost to open a deli? Well, delis are relatively low-cost to start compared to full-service restaurants. But they still need upfront capital for:

• Licenses
• Insurance
• Counters
• Seating
• Signage
• Marketing
• Equipment

Opening a deli requires upfront capital. So, explore your funding options:

• SBA microloans (great for small food businesses)
• Local grants (some areas offer programs for food startups)
• Personal savings or family loans

4. Choose the Right Location

Opening near offices or business hubs? For quick, convenient lunches, commuters and nearby workers can become your core customers. So, prioritize visibility and daytime foot traffic. In residential areas? Focus on family-friendly, grab-and-go options like ready meals and snacks.

Don't overlook parking and delivery logistics—both are deal-breakers for many customers.

5. Obtain Necessary Licenses and Permits

To legally open a deli, you typically need several licenses and permits:

• Business License: Authorizes operation within a specific jurisdiction.
• Food Service License: Issued by the local health department, ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.
• Food Handler’s Permit: Required for employees handling food, confirming they've completed food safety training.
• Certificate of Occupancy: Confirms the building meets safety codes and is suitable for business operations.
• Seller’s Permit: Allows collection of sales tax on taxable items sold.
• Sign Permit: Needed for displaying signage, ensuring compliance with local ordinances.
• Liquor License: If you plan to sell alcohol, this permit is mandatory.

Local SCORE mentors are a hidden gem. They’ll guide you through the permit process and help with the steps you might miss.

6. Design Your Menu

You don’t need a massive 50-item menu to run a great deli. Focus on a handful of standout items. Maybe it's your artisan sandwiches, fresh and colorful salads, a collection of amazing local cheeses, or some awesome daily specials.

Quality is key here. If you like to switch things up with rotating specials or let customers build their own meals, make sure your menu management system can keep up.

Using fresh, locally sourced ingredients gives you an edge over the big chain places.

Build-your-own sandwich bars are popular but complex during rush hours. So, it might be worth looking into a Kitchen Display System (KDS) to help keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

7. Equip Your Deli

Start with the basics: cold prep stations, slicers, refrigeration units, and display cases. These will keep your food fresh and easy to access.

A cloud-based POS system that integrates smoothly with your deli will track sales and inventory from anywhere. You can also use order and pay online systems to help streamline orders. 

While tempting, avoid splurging on brand-new equipment at the start. But here's our piece of advice: consider buying used equipment at first; you can upgrade once you’re profitable.

Also, design your layout carefully. The space should be functional and efficient. Your team shouldn’t be crossing paths or slowing down each other’s workflow. 

8. Hire and Train Staff

You’ll need friendly front-of-house staff, skilled sandwich makers, a cashier to handle the register, and a kitchen manager to keep things running smoothly. If you invest in a self-ordering kiosk, you may cut labor costs as you’d need to hire fewer staff. Start by hiring people who are upbeat, reliable, and love food as much as you do!

Training is key when it comes to food safety and handling. Ensure everyone knows how to slice items safely, follow food safety protocols, and handle customer interactions professionally. 

Upselling is another important aspect. Encourage your staff to suggest pairings or add-ons to increase sales without being pushy.

9. Develop a Marketing Strategy

Start by building a brand with a story behind it. Why did you open this deli? What makes your deli different from the others in town?

Set up a Google Business Profile and maintain an active Instagram account. Share pictures of your food, behind-the-scenes glimpses of your kitchen, or your team at work, or even offer a few recipes, so your followers feel a deeper connection to your deli. 

When you launch, make it an event! Consider offering community-based promotions, like discounts for nearby schools, local offices, or loyalty programs. Leverage word of mouth and share customer reviews on social media. A few viral TikToks or Instagram Reels showcasing daily specials would be the best.

10. Prepare for Opening Day

Opening day is a big deal! Start with a soft launch. Invite family, friends, or nearby businesses to come in and try the menu. This allows you to test staff flow, prep timing, kitchen output, and service before you go fully public. Also, pay attention to the feedback you get. Customers may point out things you missed. 

Your grand opening should be an event to remember. Free samples, local media, and maybe even a loyalty card giveaway can help spread the word and bring in a crowd. 

Download our free deli-opening checklist to stay on track : Opening a Deli Checklist.pdf

Make OneHubPOS Ease Up Opening a Deli for You

Opening a deli involves creating a community space where people can enjoy quality, comfort food in a welcoming environment. But delis aren’t like every other food business. They’ve got their own vibe. That’s why you need a POS built just for delis.

OneHubPOS offers lightning-fast billing, easy menu tweaks, real-time inventory tracking, staff management, and smooth payment processing. All from a single, intuitive dashboard.

See how OneHubPOS simplifies your day-to-day operations. Go ahead, book a demo and explore!

‍McDonald’s and Burger King are coming up with self-service kiosks across the U.S. Shake Shack already has them in nearly all of its stores, and Taco Bell has gone all-in with kiosks everywhere. Even Panera Bread has fully embraced them as part of their digital-first game plan.

Clearly, self-service kiosks are no mere trend but a necessity for restaurants aiming to stay competitive.

Are kiosks worth the hype? This blog breaks that down for you: the real benefits of kiosks in restaurants, the possible challenges (yes, there are a few but nothing you can’t handle). And there’s a bonus: a self-service kiosk implementation checklist!

Let’s dig in.

What Are Self-Service Kiosks?

Self-service kiosks are a digital ordering system, usually a touchscreen setup, that allows customers to place and customize their orders without speaking to a staff member.

Customers enjoy not waiting in line and face no risk of misheard orders. Your diners get a clear, visual interface that walks them through the ordering process.

Where Are They Used?

Self-ordering kiosks are now common in:

• Quick-Service Restaurants (QSRs), like burger chains and pizza places
• Fast-casual restaurants, like salad bars, sandwich spots, or Mexican grills
• Hybrid dine-in spaces for pickup or express lunch options

Types of Self-Serve Kiosks

Kiosks vary widely in design. Common types include:

• Freestanding Touchscreen Kiosks: Bigger ones, usually placed near the entrance or order queue. Great for busy QSRs.
• Tabletop Tablets: Smaller screens, placed at each table. Ideal for casual dine-in restaurants.
• Mobile Kiosks: Tablets placed on stands or carts. Super flexible and great for locations with limited space.

Some setups even include QR code ordering. The customer simply scans, places the order using their mobile, and pays without downloading an app.

Why Restaurants Love Self-Serve Kiosks

Over 80% of Americans prefer using self-service kiosks. Moreover, 66% would choose a kiosk over a manned checkout. Customers love it, and thus, the restaurants love it. 

But is this the only reason why restaurants, big chains and small joints, are going for the self-serve approach? Let's find out:

1. Faster Service = Happier Customers

No one enjoys waiting in line, especially when they’re hangry. In fact, 14% of Americans said that they would wait for a self-service kiosk even if there were no queue at staffed checkouts, with manual checkouts being time-consuming as a major reason. 

A self ordering kiosk for restaurants speeds up the entire ordering process. Multiple people can place orders at once, without needing a human cashier for each one. That means:

• Shorter queues
• Faster table turnover
• More satisfied guests who are likely to return

2. Lower Labor Costs Without Compromising Service

According to the National Restaurant Association’s 2024 State of the Restaurant Industry report, 45% of restaurant operators need more employees to meet customer demand. 

Fulfilling this demand leads to high labor costs. Plus, employee hiring and employee retention are tough and expensive. Self-service kiosks won’t replace your team, but they can decrease the pressure on your existing front-of-house staff. You’ll need fewer people manning the register. Consequently, you can reallocate resources to food prep, cleaning, or customer service.

The result? Lower operational costs and a team that’s less stressed and burdened during rush hours.

3. Built-in Upselling That Actually Works

Anything that's digital and machine-oriented, we tend to be less thoughtful and mindful. We tend to indulge more. We tend to spend more. 

– Dipayan Biswas, Professor of Marketing, University of South Florida 

Unlike human staff who might forget to suggest fries with that burger, kiosks are experts at upselling, every single time. They can automatically suggest add-ons, upgrades, combo deals, or popular items based on the customer’s selections. 

In fact, customers spend from 15% to 42% more when ordering using a kiosk. The numbers are even higher for independent restaurants. This small nudge at the checkout adds up to bigger average order values.

4. Fewer Order Errors

Suppose a customer asks for a gluten-free Margherita pizza. But your staff mishears it and brings a regular crust instead. Now, your customer is frustrated and potentially sick. On top of that, your team has to remake the order, wasting time, ingredients, and money. 

Self-service kiosks decrease human error, as customers enter their preferences directly. No misheard orders. Just clean, accurate inputs that go straight to the kitchen.

5. Personalized Ordering Experience

Some people want to ask a dozen questions before ordering. Others want to swipe, tap, pay, and go. Self-service kiosks cater to both types. Customers can browse at their own pace and customize their meals exactly how they like. No awkward pressure of ordering in a hurry. 

6. Better Business Insights (Without Guesswork)

Self-service kiosks collect data. Lots of it. You’ll get insights on:

• What the bestselling item
• When your busiest hours are
• How customers customize their meals
• Which upsells work and which ones flop

This kind of info can help you make smarter menu management, staff scheduling, and menu pricing decisions. 

7. Easy Integrations With POS & Loyalty Programs

Modern kiosks integrate with your existing restaurant POS system, kitchen display systems, and even loyalty program apps. That means:

• Real-time updates and advanced POS reports across systems
• Loyalty rewards auto-applied at checkout
• Smoother kitchen operations

It’s all synced. No extra effort from your staff or your customers.

Challenges of Self-Serve Kiosk Implementation (And How to Overcome Them)

Kiosks can indeed work wonders, but implementing them might come with a few bumps. Having said that, none of these challenges are deal-breakers. Every problem has a pretty simple solution.

High Initial Investment Costs

Kiosks can feel expensive upfront, between hardware, software, and setup.

The fix:

• Run a ROI analysis. You're likely to recover costs through labor savings and higher average orders.
• Go for phased implementation. For example, start with one or two kiosks in key areas before expanding.
• Explore financing options. Many vendors offer leasing or subscription models that decrease upfront cost.

Technical Glitches and Downtime

Like all technology, kiosks may occasionally experience technical glitches.

The fix:

• Choose a reliable vendor with great reviews and proven uptime, like OneHubPOS.
• Ask about support contracts and real-time troubleshooting availability.
• Keep one manual register open during early days of implementation.

Learning Curve for Staff and Customers

Some customers and staff may initially resist adopting new technology, particularly during peak times.

The fix:

• Train your team before launch, including how to help customers on the spot.
• Use help screens, tooltips, and short explainer videos on the kiosk itself.
• Incentivize usage with early-bird discounts or rewards to encourage adoption.

Self-Serve Kiosk Implementation Checklist

Thinking of moving ahead with kiosks? Here’s an essential checklist to help you plan a successful rollout:

This checklist can be your cheat sheet as you move from “maybe” to “let’s do this.”

Manual Ordering vs. Self-Serve Kiosk Experience

To really understand the impact of kiosks, let’s compare the traditional manual ordering experience with what kiosks bring to the table.

Here’s a quick side-by-side:

OneHubPOS Makes Kiosk Implementation Easy

Self-serve kiosks have gone beyond giant chains. More and more independent restaurants, fast casual spots, and even cafes are opting for them.

The benefits:

• Faster service
• Lower labor costs
• Better upselling
• Greater order accuracy
• Rich customer insights

The challenges (But all fixable!):

• High setup costs – Offset by ROI and financing
• Tech issues – Solved with great vendors and support
• Learning curve – Easy with onboarding and signage

If you’re considering self-serve kiosks, OneHubPOS offers an all-in-one solution, hardware, software, and support, all designed exclusively for your restaurant.

• Compact, sleek kiosk options for any layout
• Powerful upsell and customization features
• Smooth all-in-one POS integration and real-time analytics
• 24/7 support
• Easy staff onboarding tools

See the difference OneHubPOS can make in your restaurant. Book a demo today and step into smarter service.