OneHubPOS Comparison

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!