Are you a restaurant owner or manager? You’ll know how important it is to find and use the right point-of-sale solution. Software can make your life and that of your team much easier. We’ll be discussing Upserve POS in this article.
This review will cover Upserve’s key features, pros and cons, as well as everything in between. If that sounds appealing, let’s get into the meat and potatoes!
Who is Upserve POS
It can be difficult to manage, run, and work in a restaurant, hospitality, or other foodservice industry. UpservePOS was created by Breadcrumb.
They have made it their mission, to create and offer a point-of-sale solution for restaurant managers and workers.
This software was created by people working in the foodservice sector for people working in the industry. Period.
Upserve POS’ designers include former restaurant managers, bartenders and servers. It’s safe to assume that they are familiar with the industry from the front.
What does the POS have to do with this?
Upserve POS can be used by anyone in the hospitality industry. It is easy to use and affordable. Specifically, it provides users with many restaurant-specific features.
Take, for example:
- Order tools
- Table management
- Restaurant management
- Customer management
These features will be discussed in detail shortly.
GrubHub and Upserve POS partnered recently, allowing users to order online delivery or take-out from their restaurants. Handy, right?
This POS solution can be accessed on both iOS and Android devices. It’s mobile-only, so you don’t even need a computer. Upserve’s reporting and back office features can be accessed remotely from any device. You can manage your restaurant business anywhere you are!
A cloud-based software
Upserve POS works with cloud computing. Access it all you need is an internet connection.
Don’t worry, Upserve POS has an offline mode so that you can use it even if the internet is down. It encrypts your credit card information and saves it onto your iPad or other mobile device. The information will remain there until you are able to access the internet to complete the transaction.
How easy is it to use UpservePOS?
Upserve POS has one of the most simple and straightforward POS’s available, primarily due to its simple design.
The user interface can best be described as clutter-free. It’s easy to keep a busy server from being distracted by anything. This is partly what makes the system intuitive and simple to use.
This, combined with the intelligent use of touchscreen functionality allows servers to quickly swipe and modify tickets and menu items. Servers can also change the layout of tables quickly. This is especially useful if you have to move tables around in order to accommodate larger groups.
Users report that they were able to teach new employees how to use the POS solution in less than one day. Upserve even offers a convenient “Training Mode” that you can access without internet.
Upserve is the best in customization. Upserve allows you to create as many menu items and sub-menus as you want. Once you have created your menu items, you can group them (if desired) into groups, such as starters, desserts, and drinks. These “groups” appear on the right-hand screen as a list. You can even create a bookmark to keep track of your most-used items. This makes ordering easier and faster.
You can edit your checks with just a few clicks. It is easy to modify, add, or delete items from your bills. You can also change the price of items in the menu if you have the appropriate permissions. This is useful when you want to offer VIP customers discounts quickly!
You can do more than customer checks with just a few taps.
- For specific orders, indicate the seating position
- Please specify the number of menu items that you require
- Notes: This feature is ideal to alert the kitchen about an allergy.
The Key Features of Upserve POS
Let’s look at ‘s most renowned features in more detail. Upserve is there to support your staff, from the time they sit down until the moment they leave.
Here are some of the hallmarks they have:
Remote printing
Remote printers can be sent customized orders and receipts. This allows servers to request tableside service from the kitchen or bar in just a few clicks. You can also send customer bills to your receipt printer.
Top Tip – You can choose to set up terminals so that they communicate with only certain printers or all printers. You have the option to choose which printers you want to communicate with.
Upserve Live
This is Upserve’s most useful feature. You can access the Upserve Live reporting functions via an app for your smartphone. The app allows you to keep track of your sales and other real time data.
The interface is extremely user-friendly which makes it easy to monitor your business from your smartphone. This is especially useful for entrepreneurs, managers, and restaurant owners who are always on the go.
Upserve Headquarters
UpserveHQ can be described as a virtual “back office”. You can create reports, edit your account settings, create menu options, and set up employees logins.
You can also set access permissions to each employee and use other management tools.
Place an order
You can use upserve POS either in one or both of these modes:
1. Quickserve
2. Server
Quickserve works best for expediting orders. This is useful if you are manning a drive through or bartending. This is the best mode to use if you need to quickly execute an order.
The server setting, on the other hand, provides staff with both a table view and a menu listing in tabbed category pages.
Notable is also the search function that each mode includes. This makes it easier to locate specific items.
Personal Management
Upserve has many tools that can help you manage your staff. It is easy to identify your top servers and what they are upselling. This information can be used to increase your overall sales rate — quite neat, right?
Table Management
You can change the organization and number of your tables by tapping, dropping, and dragging them to where you want them on your virtual flooring plan.
This can be further enhanced by dividing your tables into zones and assigning each server a zone to work in.
The breakdown of the information is also included for your dinner service. You can see who is dining with you, what you need to prepare, and what dishes you should be serving. It makes it easy to manage your tables and streamline your reservations.
Last but not the least, Upserve’s colour-coding lets you and your server keep track of which seats are being used and what course is being served. This is so handy!
Management of Courses and Menus
You can make as many menu items you like, as we have already said. Once you have created your menu items, you can arrange them as you wish.
You can also save descriptions for each menu item. This way, when a guest asks a server about a particular dish, they will have all the information they need to give an answer. This is especially useful if the guest has a food allergy and requires specific information about the ingredients and the preparation methods.
Upserve’s POS automatically cancels a menu option when it runs out. This way your staff will know when an item isn’t available. This helps your staff establish diner expectations right from the beginning.
Reporting
Reports can be generated on any number of data points.
- Sales include things like tax, revenue, guest, and check counts.
- Payments: You have the ability to monitor cash, credit cards and any other payment method you accept. These reports let you look into the details of each check or refund that you make.
- Product mix: This refers to figures regarding category and item levels. You can then see what is selling and what isn’t.
- Labor: This includes data about labor costs, scheduling and employee productivity.
- Details of checks: Upserve analyses over 25 data points per check. This includes server, menu items and payments. Check notes are just a few examples.
- Comps and voids: Upserve lets you track comps and voids by reason, server, and authorizer.
- Pay in and get paid
You’ll find them in your dashboard. These summary highlight your most powerful analytics to make it easy for you to see key data points.
You’ll have access to more advanced analytics if you choose Upserve’s restaurant management platform (which is integrated into Upserve HQ and comes standard with Upserve POS),
Online ordering
Don’t worry if you plan to offer customers online ordering. Upserve provides you, your team and your diners a user-friendly interface.
With just a few clicks, customers can browse through your menus and place orders to pick-up. It’s easy to use their online ordering feature.
Online orders can be entered directly into Upserve’s POS and sent to the kitchen. There is no additional work required by your restaurant staff, except for the chefs who may need to deal with an influx of orders online.
Kitchen Display System
Upserve’s kitchen displays make communication between the front and back of the house much easier and more effective.
It also organizes orders for customers in the kitchen. This allows each dish to be prepared in a systematic manner. This greatly reduces the chance of human error and speedily serves your guest.
Employee Management
Upserve makes tracking employee hours easy for managers. The POS solution includes an integrated time clock. No longer is the time when the hours worked by your staff were a grey area.
The in-app bulletin board allows you to keep your staff updated about any notices or updates. You can also monitor cash and credit tips.
Payment Options
Upserve’s Point of Sale (POS) allows you to merge, transfer or split checks, much to the relief of your customers. This is especially useful when catering to larger parties, who all want to pay separately. You can process as many credit cards payments as you want on one bill. You can also cancel, comp or discount individual menu items, as well as the entire bill.
You also have the option to set automatic gratuities. This is useful if you host larger tables. Customers can choose between a printed receipt or an emailed receipt. You have the freedom to choose!
Cash Management
It’s easy to run check-out reports when it is time to balance your till The solution can be programmed to automatically reconcile payments with your card machine at a specified time.
Add-Ons and Integrations
You can download a range of integrations and add ons from the Upserve Marketplace to enhance the functionality of Upserve’s POS.
We’ve included some of the most popular apps for your convenience:
- Shogo
- KitchenSync
- RSI
- Plate IQ
- Avero
- Venga
- CTUIT
- Restaurant 365
- PeachWorks
- Compat
- Gusto
- Dolce
- Homebase
- 7shifts
- Better Chains
- GrubHub
- Chowly
- Open Dining Network
- Zuppler
- Menufy
- OpenTable
- Tock
- Resy
- NextMe
- The Customer Connection
- Swipe it
- Opticard
These are just a few of the many!
What about Hardware & Software?
As we have just mentioned, Upserve POS can be accessed on both Android and Apple devices. However, back-office reporting can also be accessed via any connected device.
You should also know that Upserve can be connected to a variety hardware.
- Meraki networking gear
- Solutions for Epson printers
- Upserve’s stand, and the Kitchen Display System
- The Upserve EMV reader connects via Bluetooth, and can be used in conjunction with your existing payment terminal.
- Upserve Tableside is a tableside ordering device that includes a 5-inch screen and a belt clip. This Android-powered, portable device fits easily in your hand. It allows servers to accept orders and make payments right from where diners are sitting.
What Does Upserve POS Cost You?
There are three pricing options available. These plans are available for a range of restaurant types and sizes.
Let’s have a closer look at these packages…
The Core Software Platform
This will cost $59 per monthly per location and you’ll receive:
- One POS terminal license. Each additional terminal license costs $60
- HQ insights
- Upserve Live mobile app
- Upserve Workforce (their tools for employee management)
- Upserve Marketing
- Upserve Payments (2.49% plus a $0.15 processing fee)
- High-quality, 24/7 customer service from US-based staff. All of them have experience in restaurants. They can be reached via email, phone, or live chat.
The Pro Software Platform
The price jumps to $199 per location. This package, like the Core software platform, allows you to one POS terminal license. Additional licenses are $50 each.
The Core plan includes everything, plus:
- Automated inventory management
- Online ordering
- A personalized loyalty program
- Options for menu optimization
- Server performance insights
The Pro Plus Software Platform
The Pro Plus Software Platform is last but not least. This bundle is Upserve’s most costly and comprehensive POS bundle. It costs $359 per month, per location. This bundle includes a single POS terminal licence and 40 additional licenses.
This includes all the plans previously mentioned plus:
- Custom reporting
- Data API
- A dedicated account manager
Credit Card Processing
Upserve has its own credit card processing system that offers a flat rate across all paid-for levels: 2.49%, $0.15 per transaction.
Pros and Cons of Upserve POS
Upserve Pros
- Restaurant managers and employees will find this information very useful.
- Excellent customer service
- It is easy to use, both for training new hires as well as general POS purposes.
- Online ordering is available
- Upserve offers a custom interface
- Rich reporting, analytics and insights.
Upserve offers tons of training videos online, a knowledge base and an active forum. You can also get technical support by phone, in-app chat, or via email. You can also choose to take that route. Upserve customers have described their customer service as: “fast, knowledgeable and patient. And honest.”
Upserve assigns Customer Support Managers to each account with its higher payment plans. This is a great way to get the most from your POS system.
You can also find information on their blog and profiles on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. These profiles are all updated fairly frequently. You can rest assured that you will find the assistance you require.
Upserve POS Cons
Two main disadvantages of Upserve POS are apparent. Comparing it with its competitors, you will find that you get less value overall. Upserve POS is also subject to occasional outages. The whole system can go down when this happens (this is also a common occurrence during busy business hours). This is not cool.
Users also complain that they were required to install certain updates. These updates were also pushed to them during peak hours. This caused downtime and, as you can see, was extremely frustrating.
Who should use Upserve?
UpservePOS is a great tool for any type of restaurant. This solution is also useful for managing these types of businesses:
- Cafes
- Drive-thrus
- Wineries
- Breweries
- Bars
- Takeaways
- Nightclubs
Upserve POS is able to accommodate any size menu. Upserve POS allows you to compare data from multiple restaurants, so it’s even more convenient if you operate from more than one place.
Are you ready to get started with Upserve?
UpservePOS offers a lot of benefits and is reliable. The interface can be customized to suit your business’s needs. It is easy to set up a menu, organize floor plans, take orders and keep your staff informed with the latest news.
Managers can view reports, monitor sales and modify account settings with Upserve HQ.
Upserve has its flaws, just like every other POS system. Although the number of native integrations that Upserve offers is impressive, it’s not as extensive as their competitors. You might have to spend more if your restaurant is larger and need a better inventory management integration.
We recommend that you give the free demo a try before you commit your hard-earned money to the product. It is the best way for you to determine if the software suits your needs.
Are you familiar with Upserve? We’d love to know how you found Upserve POS. They met or exceeded our expectations. We hope so! Let us know what you think in the comments below. Talk soon!
