Elevate Your Brewery: Unlock Efficiency and Revenue with the Right POS

When looking at a new brewery Point of Sale (POS) system, take your time. It is important to check its features and how it connects with other systems. The right system does more than meet your immediate needs—it opens opportunities for new revenue streams. 

Your POS system is the lifeblood of your taproom, driving smooth operations, and creating a more enjoyable environment.  The proper POS should be good for both staff and customers to interact with. Here's a detailed look at what to consider when selecting a POS system.

The Evolution of Brewery Technology

Twenty-five years ago, your digital toolkit might have consisted of just a handful of software programs. Fast forward to today, and you're likely using 30 to 40 tools or more that work together to streamline operations. 

No single program can do everything. It is important to choose POS software that works well with other tools. This will help meet your specific business needs. This decision has the potential to transform your operations and growth.

POS and Brewery Management Software Integration Benefits

• Real-Time Tracking: Save time managing your inventory. Set alerts to remind you when to order ingredients or brew another batch.
• Finance and Analytics: Help track COGS and gather more data. This data will help decide which beer is smart to brew next. Allow the ability to check real versus theoretical sales against production to identify areas of waste.
• Compliance: Reduce your compliance workload so you can spend more time brewing and less time wondering if your sales data is right.
• Expansion: If you plan to have multiple taprooms or breweries, this will connect sales and production. It will also reduce operational issues.

More Than a Cash Register

A modern point of sale system does more than just process payments. It also helps with marketing, customer engagement, and improving operations.

• Marketing Integration: Ensure the system allows integrations for selling tour tickets or  sending exclusive offers through text messages.
• Swift Transactions: Allowing customers to use QR codes or RFID passes makes transactions seamless. This helps with ordering drinks, getting receipts, and buying food. It also reduces the workload for staff. This creates a friendly and easy experience for guests.

Simplifying these processes not only boosts customer satisfaction but also opens the door to additional revenue streams. Enhancing the online ordering system for pickups can boost sales of takeout items, such as six-packs. Customers value the ease of collecting their orders while still enjoying a personal interaction with their preferred bartender.

Optimizing Kitchen Efficiency

If you operate a brewery without a kitchen, you might want to think about adding one. Serving food boosts profits by providing an extra source of income. Additionally, patrons are often more inclined to indulge in more beer while savoring a meal on the premises. A good brewery POS system will easily handle food and drink orders. This will improve the efficiency of ordering and fulfilling all your products.

A strong POS system does more than help with customers. It can also change how the kitchen works. Consistency is key, and your brewery POS system should provide robust kitchen display system (KDS) features like digital recipe displays and plating instructions to ensure every dish meets your standards. 

Additionally, the POS system should support the ability to communicate "86’d" items (out of stock) in real-time to prevent confusion for both staff and customers. It should also allow the display of order preparation times, keeping the kitchen workflow smooth and efficient.

Catering to Diverse Customer Preferences

Your customer base is diverse, and your taproom should be too. A flexible POS system allows you to customize experiences to meet the preferences of various demographics.

Breaking Down Menu Preferences by Generation:

• Gen Z: With up to 30% experiencing "menu anxiety," this group appreciates discreet smartphone ordering, especially in group settings.
• Millennials: They value a mix of paper and smartphone menus, often looking for drink pairings to enhance their dining experience.
• Gen X: This group prefers engaging with servers to customize their orders and enjoys small paper menus with staple drink options.
• Boomers: Straightforward menu designs with a clear layout and all available drink options, including seasonal specials, work best for this demographic.

By tailoring menu formats and ordering options, you can ensure a more inclusive and welcoming experience for all. It's important to remember that guests typically dislike QR menus that don’t allow ordering. Steer clear of them whenever possible.

Keeping the Flow Open

Breweries are lively social venues, allowing patrons to open tabs and reconnect with friends at various tables. This is particularly enjoyable if there's an outdoor space where guests can engage in activities, like tossing bags, after enjoying a meal.

Your brewery's point-of-sale system ought to seamlessly accommodate a hybrid service approach, helping to align staffing requirements with customer demands. On bustling Friday evenings, you might prefer to maintain traditional table service, while on trivia nights, encouraging patrons to place orders via QR codes on their phones can enhance efficiency and help preserve your desired profit margins.

Unique gatherings, like seasonal celebrations, demand more flexibility. Allowing patrons to place drink orders by phone reduces wait times at the bar, maintaining a lively atmosphere and ensuring the festivities remain enjoyable.

Strengthening Customer Relationships

Great customer connections rely on clear communication, which a modern brewery POS system can enhance. Ensure your new brewery POS selection offers the following sales and communications options:

• Feedback, Ratings & Reviews: Patrons may be reluctant to express their concerns face-to-face with a server but often feel more at ease sharing feedback privately. By integrating feedback mechanisms into your POS, you can resolve problems before they become public, ultimately creating a higher level of satisfaction for all.
• Membership and Loyalty Programs: Offering exclusive benefits to loyal customers fosters a sense of belonging and promotes “fear of missing out" (FOMO).
• Targeted Promotions: Sending personalized offers, like discounts on weeknight dinners-to-go, helps drive sales and build loyalty.
• CRM and Marketing Integrations: With social media becoming more crowded and algorithms harder to navigate, direct communication through text or email is an increasingly effective way to connect with your audience. Grow your revenue with people that have already bought into the brand.

Expanding Options to Meet Customer Needs

A versatile POS system supports a range of scenarios, ensuring your brewery can adapt to customer preferences and events:

• Self-Order Kiosks: If your brewery is near outdoor attractions, kiosks can simplify ordering for customers grabbing food or drinks to-go.
• Event Flexibility: For large gatherings, mobile ordering capabilities help prevent bottlenecks at the bar, ensuring everyone has a great time.
• Merchandise Sales: Ensure your POS supports retail capabilities such as barcode scanners and the ability to manage inventory for your merch store.
• Flexible POS Hardware: Thanks to advancements in the cloud, software and hardware, ensure you’re selecting a brewery POS system that offers resilient, easily upgradable hardware. Make sure your brewery POS system includes reliable handheld and conventional stationary POS solutions.

By accommodating different needs and occasions, you can maximize customer satisfaction and tap into new revenue streams.

When Is the Right Time for a New Brewery POS

You should consider your POS selection process carefully, evaluate your choices, establish a budget, and progress at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

Time and Budget:

• Price: In the case of a conventional, non-cloud POS system, you might anticipate setup costs between $18,000 and $20,000. However, if you opt for a cloud-based solution and already possess some equipment, the estimated investment would range from $3,000 to $5,000.
• Time Allocation: Spend time understanding your selected system and conversing with other users. Once you feel prepared to put it into action, allow another couple of months for implementation. This strategic approach will greatly benefit your business while reducing potential challenges along the way.
• 5 Signs It Is Time to Upgrade Your Brewery POS: 
  • Operations failures and staff complaints
  • Excessive wait times or fulfillment errors
  • Inability to capture To-Go sales
  • Ineffective marketing and promotional efforts
  • Customer dissatisfaction with an increase in complaints or negative reviews

The Path to Long-Term Success

The bottom line is every customer desires an engaging experience customized to their needs. Selecting a cost-effective, adaptable brewery POS system that is easy to use with round-the-clock support will enhance customer satisfaction and boost sales, positioning your brewery for enduring success.

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