What is employee retention? It refers to the ability of a company to retain its employees over a certain period of time. Hiring and retaining employees is one of the main causes of failure in small businesses. Retention efforts have become increasingly important, and companies may have a solution closer than they realize. Investing in point of sale (POS) systems is an essential step, as they’re tools that employees use daily and provide valuable data to optimize productivity. POS systems can save time and money while improving staff management, making them a worthwhile investment.
Increasing employee tips with a POS system
Employee retention is important for any business, and the hospitality sector is no exception. Salary has a significant impact on employee retention, and tips are an excellent motivator. Quick and secure transactions with a POS system can improve customer satisfaction and increase tips. To optimize operational capacity, excellent connectivity is essential. The POS company is best suited to evaluate and manage appropriate connectivity, making a solid connectivity analysis a beneficial starting point.
Automation contributes to hiring
Automation simplifies many processes and generates valuable data, allowing managers to hire less experienced staff. With intuitive touch interfaces, point of sale systems provide instant access to all necessary information, eliminating the need for manual entry. This expands the labor pool in a tight market and improves accuracy throughout the organization with real-time data. Point of sale technology reduces the risk of human error by eliminating the need for manual data entry.
High technology and low contact
Post-pandemic, workers are concerned about excessive contact with customers. Investing in contactless technology can effectively address employee preferences. POS systems with online ordering features, combined with delivery services, virtually eliminate contact. Mobile applications for customer payment further reduce face-to-face interactions with staff.
Improving efficiency in the kitchen
Effective communication is essential to a restaurant’s workflow. A Kitchen Display System (KDS) displays orders and cooking times in real-time, helping kitchen teams prioritize tasks and optimize food preparation. The system alerts staff about delays or specific dish preparation needs, ensuring menu items are perfectly synchronized.
A KDS simplifies communication within the kitchen, displaying modifications and special requests, reducing errors and the need for service staff to relay information. These advantages lead to satisfied customers, increased tips, and a well-structured, efficient, and pleasant work environment for all staff. Improving employee retention is crucial in today’s industry landscape.
Smoother employee training
Decades ago, deploying the first POS systems required costly training for workers due to their complexity. Today, employees need POS systems that offer a complete set of functions and are as easy to use and portable as a smartphone app. Proper training reduces the likelihood of mistakes in real-world situations, while an easy-to-use system results in less administration and more time to focus on what matters.
Cloud-based POS software is usually designed to be user-friendly. However, each system is unique and requires specific skills that may take time to develop. That’s why, when choosing a POS system, it’s crucial to consider the onboarding process for both new and current employees. Proper training and support can serve as an employee retention strategy by improving staff retention and increasing employee engagement and retention.
To ensure that your employees are comfortable and confident in using the POS system, consider the following tips:
- Look for an intuitive interface that employees can easily navigate.
- Choose a system with a built-in training mode that allows employees to practice using the system before going live.
- Find a POS system with comprehensive training materials, such as online tutorials, videos, and manuals.
- Consider whether the provider offers on-site training and support.
- Invest time in training your staff to ensure a smooth transition and to reap the benefits of using a POS system.
Feedback and training are crucial to improving employee performance. Use data from your POS system to give specific, timely, and constructive feedback to individuals or groups. Identify training needs, set goals, and create action plans based on the data. Providing feedback and training will motivate, empower, and develop your staff.
Improving skills and interaction with the customer
Modern POS systems offer many benefits, including mobile capabilities that improve skills and customer interaction.
Generating and analyzing reports
POS data can reveal critical information about your business, both positive and negative. While you would like to be able to trust your staff 100% of the time, the reality is that employee theft costs US businesses $50 billion annually. The first line of defense to prevent this costly incident is a POS system with comprehensive case management reports.
On the other hand, you can also use POS systems with detailed employee reports to track performance and identify top performers for rewards and recognition. Studies show that recognition can boost employee retention and motivation. A recent study found that 63% of recognized employees are very unlikely to seek new employment, and 40% of employed Americans would put extra energy into their work if they were recognized more often.
By running reports, you can identify your top and bottom performers and determine which employees process the most sales. This information can be used to make strategic scheduling decisions and provide additional training to improve the productivity of underperforming employees.
Define performance indicators
Depending on your business goals and industry standards, you can choose different metrics to measure your employees’ performance. The key here is to implement the discipline to analyze the data. Set and make sure to create recurring meetings to analyze the data, Additionally, create dashboards with essential data points and review them daily to ensure you’re staying on track.
Rewarding and incentivizing top performers
Rewarding and incentivizing your top performers is crucial for driving employee performance. It shows appreciation, increases engagement, and fosters loyalty. Your POS system’s data can be used to create various reward and incentive programs, including bonuses, commissions, gift cards, recognition awards, and contests. By tailoring rewards and incentives to your staff’s preferences, goals, and achievements, you can retain, attract, and inspire your employees.
Conclusion
Investing in POS systems can serve as an employee retention strategy by improving staff retention, providing opportunities to hire and train less experienced staff, and increasing employee engagement. POS systems can save time and money while improving staff management.
Automation and contactless technology simplify processes, generate valuable data, and address employee preferences. Proper training and support are crucial for ensuring easy-to-use systems and reducing mistakes, ultimately improving staff retention and increasing employee engagement and retention.
Sources:
5 ways POS systems help you manage staff | TechRadar
How can you use POS systems to track employee performance and reward top performers? | Linkedin
