Toast CA

Toast POS has a number of features which make it one of the fastest growing restaurant POS solutions. You’re able to manage multiple stores, access best in class reports from anywhere using your customer login, integrate your kitchen display system, and set up online ordering.

In addition to the core features, they have a number of add-ons available for a fixed monthly fee. These add-ons allow you to extend the functionality of Toast to make running your business even easier.

Online Ordering

Integrated seamlessly with Toast POS, online ordering allows you to save on third party commission fees as well as customise the order page to represent your restaurant and brand. Also as it is seamlessly integrated with your Toast POS, it means you can fire online orders directly to your kitchen to improve order accuracy as well as edit online ordering menus easily.

Reservations & Waitlist

Toast also offers Toast Tables and Toast Tables Plus, fully integrated reservations and waitlist software to manage bookings. With a robust POS integration and the ability to read fulfilment data from the Kitchen Display System, Toast Tables can help front of house staff give more reliable wait time estimates.

Gift cards

The ability to sell digital and physical gift cards which can be used in your restaurant is available as an add-on. Gift cards can be bought online or in your store and easily redeemed by scanning the card or keying in the code.

Scheduling

Allows you to manage labour and shift scheduling all in one place on the POS which can save time. Also includes notifications and communications to the team which helps keep everyone in the loop.

Loyalty program

Toast offers a point-based loyalty program for your diners. They can opt-in during the checkout process and every time they come back their entire purchase history is available. The loyalty program reporting lets you know how it’s affecting your revenue.

Mobile Order & Pay

Toast Mobile Order & Pay is a QR code base ordering and payment solution that allows guests to order on their terms. With a deep POS integration, both servers and guests can add to the check to create a hybrid hospitality experience.

Toast has multiple hardware options to choose from but not all of them are necessary to get up and running with the system. The most important are the monitor and card reader which are available in the Starter package.

You’re able to include additional hardware such as a cash drawer, receipt printer, kitchen monitor, and more. These items can be bought separately or in bundles depending on your needs.

The Toast system is built on Android because, as they say, the devices are more durable and easier to upgrade.

The Toast POS system has a wide range of add-ons and integrations with an ever growing list of 50+ partners across the globe to extend its functionality. These partners offer robust solutions across third party delivery integrations, inventory, accounting, loyalty, labour management, and more. We’ve discussed some of the add-ons such as gift cards, online ordering, and the loyalty program.

Toast All-in-One Handheld POS

This all-in-one handheld POS is built to speed up service and and improve communication between front of house and the kitchen by empowering servers to take orders and payments tableside from a sleek handheld device that fits in your pocket. It supports card payments, contactless payments, and is integrated with the entire Toast ecosystem. It’s a separate purchase and subscription but it’ll be worth it for you if you want to add an extra layer of convenience for customers and enhanced efficiency for your staff.

Toast Kiosks

Toast Kiosks are self-ordering kiosk devices to help reduce front of house labour costs. Similarly to all Toast products, they are deeply integrated with Toast POS to make menu updates a breeze. Plus with built in upsell prompts, Toast Kiosk are reported to help increase average order size.

Toast Kitchen Display System

Toast offers an industry leading Kitchen Display System (KDS) that helps drive back of house efficiency as well. It gives the back of house staff an efficient way to view all the orders in flight, and syncs back to front of house staff with order ready notifications on the POS or handhelds. Additionally, Toast KDS can be used to send order ready SMS notifications to guests letting them know that their order is ready for pick up, whether they ordered online, from the counter, or from Toast Kiosk and Toast Mobile Order & Pay.

The software itself is easy to understand and use. It’s similar to other POS software systems so if you’re migrating from another solution you can learn the basics quickly. If it’s your first time using a system like this then it may take a little time to get used to it.

The hardware is a different story. Customer reviews have mentioned the need for specialised technical help to get everything working properly. There are two options available.

You can choose a remote setup option where you communicate with technicians over the phone. There’s also an option for onsite installation where a Toast team member or contractor will work with you to properly set up the system.