Buyer's Guide, IT Solutions
Legacy POS Versus Cloud POS: What You Should Know
Choosing the right POS system for your restaurant is not a decision to be taken lightly. Each has its own pros and cons, costs, and features that will impact your business. DCRS offers two POS options, Legacy and Cloud.
Find Out How A Cloud-Based POS System Can Streamline Your Restaurant
Both options provide data and management for your business, so it is important to understand the difference between the two.
Legacy: High Upfront Costs
With legacy systems, you can expect to pay higher upfront licensing fees, installation costs, and monthly maintenance fees when you first purchase. This is because installation tends to be more complex and you will have to install local servers in your restaurant to store your data.
Cloud: Cost-Effective
Unlike legacy systems, Cloud-based POS systems are more cost-effective for restaurant owners, as it is easy to find a system that works with their needs and budget. There are fewer upfront costs associated with Cloud POS, as you are charged for monthly use rather than all at once upon installation.
In fact, Cloud POS costs half the price of legacy systems.
Legacy: On-Site Maintenance
When your legacy POS system needs updates or maintenance, an engineer from the company needs to come to your location to maintenance. This can take up time and money, since the system may need to go down for a time. You may also have to spend to upgrade to new hardware.
Cloud: Real-Time Updates & Security
Real-time updates ensure that your system is up-to-date, secure, and compliant. These updates are usually free, easy to make, and instant. There is no waiting around for an engineer to come in and update your system.
Legacy: Local Data Only
Need to access your restaurant’s data? You will have to go into the system directly at the source. Legacy POS systems run on closed networks only displays data from the local servers in your restaurant’s back office.
Having all of your restaurant’s data in one place also brings the risk of that data being lost due to theft, fire, or other emergencies. As such, you need to make sure that backups are safely made and stored.
Cloud: Data Access Anywhere, Anytime
On the other hand, Cloud POS stores your restaurant’s data on the web, meaning you can access it from anywhere, 24/7. Even if you only have one restaurant, being able to access your restaurant’s data is an invaluable tool for managers and owners.
Easy access to your restaurant’s data makes it easier to keep track of inventory, employee hours, and more.
Another benefit of Cloud POS system is that it can scale up with you and your business as it grows. You can also integrate other platforms like loyalty programs, online ordering, and paperless receipts.