Competition in the restaurant industry is brutal. Add to it the increasing labor costs and the evolving customer expectations. Hence, restaurant managers are looking to transition from the traditional ways and adopt agile technological solutions that can offer personalized guest experiences, enhance workforce productivity, and reduce operational expenses. However, only 13% of restaurant operators are satisfied with their current technological stack.

A restaurant handheld POS system is one such solution. These tablet-like devices are transforming how servers take orders, process payments, and interact with customers. The result? Faster table turns, happier guests, and more profitable operations. It’s no surprise that the restaurant mPOS Terminal segment is set to grow at 7.1% CAGR by 2030.

What is a Restaurant Handheld POS?  

A Restaurant Handheld POS system (also referred to as mPOS) is a mobile device that offers all the functionalities of a traditional POS, such as processing transactions, registering orders, and accepting payments. It has an easy-to-use user interface, where servers can view menu pricing, add-ons, modifiers, and recommendations in real time.      

Let’s check out how a handheld POS system can increase the turnover rate and ensure a delightful guest experience.  

How Restaurant Handheld POS Ensures Faster Turns

The turnover rate is defined as the number of different customer group orders fulfilled on a table during a period. For instance, if you have 10 customer groups sitting on a specific table in a day, the turnover rate of that table would be 10. Improving turnovers or turns is directly proportional to increased revenue and workforce efficiency.

To understand how handheld POS helps increase the turnover rate, let’s first look at the traditional ordering process. Guests sit at a table and call for the server to take their order. The server takes the order manually and then walks back to the counter to enter the details in the POS. When customers are ready to pay, the server again collects the card, goes back to the POS, and returns with the receipt. This means three to four trips per customer just to complete a single turn. Research shows that 82% of restaurants report faster service and 63% see higher check sizes with handheld POS devices.

Restaurant Handheld POS

By enabling servers to take orders and process payments directly at the table, handheld POS eliminates these extra steps, leading to quicker turns and more satisfied guests.

Contrastingly, when servers approach the customer with a handheld POS, they can put in the order details right at the tableside. Similarly, at the time of payment, servers do not need to go back to the POS to process bills. It saves servers additional rounds, which in turn leads to quicker turns.          

Restaurant Handheld POS: Enhancing Guest Experiences

Customization

A restaurant handheld POS takes tableside ordering to the next level. Your servers can view a customer’s order history and recommend dishes accordingly. Moreover, as servers have all the information at their fingertips, they can suggest add-ons and modifiers effectively. Restaurant Handheld POS systems are also integrated with loyalty programs, which enables servers to communicate offers in real time.    

Increases Order Accuracy  

To err is human. When servers take orders manually, they must go back and enter them in the traditional restaurant POS system. Between this, various mistakes can be committed. For instance, the server might forget that the customer wanted the steak medium-rare or miss an item altogether.  

With a handheld POS, servers can take orders at the table, eliminating any scope for error. The kitchen receives accurate orders instantly and can start preparation. In fact, 70% of restaurants saw improvements in guest satisfaction thanks to reduced errors and wait times.

Faster Checkouts

Paying bills in a fine-dining restaurant is still a stretched-out process. The server comes to the table with the bill, takes your credit card, goes to the POS counter, enters the details, and brings the card back. The customer, in the meantime, is waiting to leave.  

Handheld POS facilitates faster checkouts, enabling customers to pay at the table. Customers can also split the bill in real-time and pay with their preferred methods, be it a credit card, Apple Pay, or others.  

Ease of Tipping

Tipping is a culture in the restaurant industry all over the U.S. However, the general restaurant tipping process involves too many steps, with customers calculating percentages, the server bringing the receipt, and customers writing the tip amount.  

With restaurant handheld POS systems, all customers need to do is choose from the tip amount displayed on the mPOS (based on percentages), and the tip amount is deducted in real time. Yes! It is that simple. Customers can also tip a customized amount if they want.      

Other Operational and Cost Benefits  

Streamlined Operations & Staff Efficiency

A restaurant’s handheld POS system is integrated with the Back-of-House kitchen display system. Therefore, as soon as a server confirms the order at the tableside, the kitchen staff receives the order and starts preparation.  

Moreover, as the number of rounds to each table is reduced for servers, the efficiency is enhanced multifold. Also, during peak times when the restaurant is full, servers do not need to wait in a queue behind the stationary POS.    

Increased Revenue & Profitability

The more tables you turn, the more revenue you will make. However, mobile POS helps restaurants boost revenue and profitability in other ways as well. Firstly, handheld POSs offer more upselling opportunities due to real-time recommendations. For instance, at the tableside, servers can easily view what goes well with a specific dish on the mPOS and suggest it to the customer.  

Secondly, as a handheld POS system ensures guest satisfaction by reducing wait time and order mistakes, it helps you build a good reputation, leading to increased revenues in the long run.

Seamless Integration & Data Capture  

Modern handheld POS systems aren’t standalone devices; they integrate with your full tech stack: inventory, CRM, loyalty programs, online ordering, and analytics platforms. It means restaurant managers like you can access real-time data on sales, staff performance, guest preferences, and inventory trends, all from a single dashboard. Such insights lead to smarter decisions, from menu design to workforce allocation.

Real-Time Inventory Update

One of the most frustrating—and avoidable—moments in any restaurant is when a guest places an order, only for the server to later discover the item has been 86’d. It’s a breakdown in communication that leads to disappointment, delays, and a hit to the guest experience.

Restaurant handheld POS systems get real-time inventory updates, which means that the server can inform the customer about the dish not being available beforehand and save the embarrassment.  

NOVA Platform: Elevating Guest Experiences

Easy Tableside Ordering

NOVA’s handheld POS enables quick and contactless payments, enhancing the guest experience. Pay from your table with the payment method you prefer. No more waiting for the server. You can also split the bill on the go.

Fully Integrated Solution

From handheld POS to kitchen display systems, manage both Front of House and Back of House on the unified NOVA platform. Reduce ordering errors, manage schedules, customize loyalty programs, and update menus in real time - all on one platform.    

Enhanced Tip Management

NOVA platform offers an integrated Tip Manager that facilitates fair tip distribution and payouts. The customers can add tips directly in the handheld POS while making bill payments. The tips are then distributed as per the pre-defined policy.

AI-Native Platform

NOVA platform is a completely AI-enabled solution that offers actionable insights to improve the restaurant management process. Get automated reports, predictive scheduling, menu optimization, and more.  

Modern Interface

The NOVA platform has a user interface designed for the new generation of servers. Therefore, servers can start working on the NOVA handheld POS without any training, reducing onboarding hassles.  

Increase Upselling

With the NOVA handheld POS, servers can upsell easily. With real-time visibility of items, they can suggest add-ons and modifiers better. Moreover, servers can view customer preferences as per the order history and make personalized recommendations.  

It’s Time to Go Mobile with Restaurant Handheld POS  

Adopting handheld POS systems is a win-win situation for restaurants. It improves table turnover while enhancing the guest experience. It also helps restaurant managers optimize workforce efficiency and distribute tips fairly. If you are still using traditional POS systems, book a demo of the NOVA handheld POS systems to experience the difference.    

NOVA is an AI-native restaurant management and POS solution that integrates both Front-of-House and Back-of-House operations. Get real-time reports and AI-based recommendations to streamline restaurant operations and increase revenue. Schedule your free demo today to see how NOVA can help you in your journey.

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