Toast is designed for restaurants, centralizing all of its technology components to provide a unique and effective competitive advantage that simplifies business management. With the recent release of Toast Payroll & Team Management, Toast offers a complete enterprise solution.
Pros
- Pay at the table for fast customer turnover.
- Designed for restaurants.
- Easy to use and customizable Android tablets.
Cons
- High setup/monthly costs.
- Requires own hardware.
Restaurateurs Are Raving
“Our tips have doubled since implementing the Toast customer display system, just as I expected… This is one of those times when technology has provided a real financial opportunity for a business.”
Jeff Good, Managing Partner, Broad Street and President, Mangia Bene Inc.
“We saved 15% to 20% annually by not paying for multiple platforms… When I bought it, we would have saved a few thousand dollars in a year just by moving everything to Toast Payroll.”
John Rhodes, CEO of Alto Pizza Kitchen and Bar
“Without Toast, it would have been much harder to reach our lunch hour sales. We can process 100 to 200 orders in just a few hours. Kitchen displays have helped us achieve that level of service.”
Brad Gillis, Co-Founder of Homegrown
How It Works
Toast is a completely web-based platform, with all information stored in the cloud. A local network connection is required to interact with customers. All of the point-of-sale data, primarily the menu and local settings, is downloaded and stored on separate connected devices. This allows the point-of-sale system to function even if the internet connection is interrupted.
Wi-Fi is not required, as the devices connect at the point of sale. However, mobile tablets that require Wi-Fi are available. Printing is done over a local network. In the event of a service outage, all credit card transactions are queued locally and processed in batches when connectivity is restored.
The basic hardware package offered is the terminal package, which includes a receipt printer, tablet, stand, and credit card reader. Routers and additional kitchen printers are sold separately. You can also purchase a mobile device or portable tablet package, which allows you to order and pay right at the table.
Toast does not use iOS integration; instead, it runs on Android. For their hardware packages, they offer Elo tablets, which their operations team pre-installs and configures. This ensures that all customers have official Toast equipment, guaranteeing high-quality technical support in case of any issues.
Reporting
From standard sales reports to job reports, product mix, tips, and more, there are a variety of reports.
The Summary Report is the most comprehensive and includes net sales, tips, table turnover, a complete breakdown of all service types, and the number of diners. It’s an easy-to-use dashboard that provides a manager or owner with an overview when they’re too busy walking the floor to quickly review individual reports. If you want to drill down into any metric, you can do so with a simple tap.
Ease of Use
Even without the help of a Toast representative for setup and training, this system is incredibly easy to learn. Despite the many features built into Toast, you’ll be able to master enough to get your business up and running in a matter of hours. It’s easy to learn, and the 30-60 minute initial training will go a long way in getting you up and running, even without any technical knowledge.
Cost and Contracts
The Toast Basic package is free and ideal for small restaurants that only need one or two terminals. The Essential package, which includes online services like digital ordering and the Toast Takeout app, starts at $165 per month. Other pricing plans are available, but you’ll need to call a Toast representative.
This is where you need to consider the return on investment of the product and decide if operating more efficiently with such a powerful platform will help you keep your restaurant cleaner, optimize service, and thus return on your investment. If you can get it to work as intended, the price isn’t that bad.
For restaurants that anticipate needing more than 6 terminals, we recommend speaking with a representative about custom pricing based on volume.
- $25/month to access the loyalty program
- $50/month to create and redeem physical and digital gift cards
- $50/month for integrated online ordering
Luckily, contracts are not required. Financing is available with flexible payment options, so you don’t have to pay the full cost of the equipment upfront, which would likely require a signed contract. Please consult with your representative about financing requirements and terms.
Features and Add-ons
It’s amazing how many features Toast includes, considering its simple interface and intuitive design. For example:
- Simplify ordering with table terminals or order at the table using mobile tablets.
- Digital coupons are sent to customers via email (a great way to capture email addresses).
- Fully customizable menu groups are categorized into smaller menus such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and further sub-menus such as appetizers, salads, main courses, kids’ menus, etc. The menu editing system is incredibly detailed, giving you great control over your menu.
- Native CRM functionality for customer management and remarketing.
- Employee management for work and scheduling.
- Frontline:
- Loyalty programs:
Toast Payroll & Team Management
Toast can help you streamline your operations with its payroll and team management platform, designed specifically for restaurants.
What do you get with Toast Payroll and Team Management?
- Payroll syncs with your POS system.
- Automatic reminders.
- Time tracking syncs with payroll.
- Accurate payments.
- Regulatory compliance tools.
Bottom Line
Toast is a complete POS system for restaurants that lets you manage your entire establishment from a single interface. This feature-rich platform is excellent in every way and runs on Android instead of iOS. This makes it more affordable and versatile, as well as a great option for restaurants that prefer not to invest in Apple products.
