Unlocking the full potential of EPoS integration for your hospitality business

Or perhaps you are researching new and innovative measures to improve efficiency across your business, and you are interested in learning more about the potential benefits offered by EPoS integration.  

At Access Hospitality, we specialise in delivering scalable and integrative software solutions for the hospitality industry. Our configurable EPoS system is one of our core offerings, and we offer a suite of products that integrate seamlessly with one another to create a powerful software ecosystem. That’s why over 1,200 UK hospitality operators already rely on one or more of our products. 

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the potential applications of EPoS integrations, the benefits they offer, and the potential challenges you may face when looking for the right solution for your needs. 

What is EPoS Integration? 

EPoS (Electronic Point of Sale) integration allows you to link key software applications in order to create a flow of data across the entire business. It makes it possible for a business to streamline processes and automate certain tasks by connecting and sharing information.  

It is particularly valuable for hospitality operators because it addresses many of the challenges faced in a dynamic workplace where real time data insights can improve efficiency and help you to deliver a better customer experience. 

How can you use EPoS integration to benefit your business? 

EPoS integration can come in a huge range of forms, and it may feel as though you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole when you start researching the available solutions. Adopting a truly comprehensive and integrated hospitality EPoS system can help to improve efficiency, reduce costs, streamline operations, and help you to be more responsive, but where do you start?  

The first thing to do is to understand some of the key applications of this technology in a hospitality environment. Then you will be able to make an informed decision about which options are likely to add the most value to your business.  

Optimise inventory management and procurement 

Make procurement easier by integrating hospitality procurement software which will allow you to use sales data to identify trends, and access real-time updates on stock levels to help you to drive efficiency and cost savings. Centralised data and an integrated EPoS can allow you to automate certain procurement processes, stay compliant with current legislation and identify opportunities for reducing costs. 

Increase sales 

EPoS integration allows you to deliver a more attentive and personalised experience throughout the customer journey. This will make your customers more likely to spend more money at your venues. But the opportunity to maximise sales doesn’t stop there with an integrated EPoS. Sales data will help you to identify your most popular menu items, peak times, and consumer trends - both across the whole business and by venue. This information can inform decisions around offers, menu planning, procurement, and more. It can also be used to offer day and time-specific upselling prompts to staff. 

Enhance your marketing 

80% of people say they are more likely to make further purchases from a business that takes the time to personalise their marketing. In a data driven society, we have moved well beyond the times when you could simply add the customer’s first name to the subject line of an email to surprise and delight them. Now you need to show that you know them and that you have taken the time to understand what they want. 

EPoS integration with your CRM and marketing platforms makes this possible. By collating information on visits, purchase history, and customer habits, you can create a truly personalised and targeted marketing strategy. 

Create a smoother booking experience 

Table management and booking systems offer real-time insights which will help you to maximise covers and consistently deliver the best customer service. A great hospitality booking system will allow you to automate many manual tasks, like sending booking reminders and following up with guests after their visit. It will also help you to promote your business to new customers and will allow you to manage all booking enquiries centrally, regardless of where they have come from. By integrating this software with your EPoS, you can easily take preorders, collect deposits and offset them against the final bill, and access comprehensive reports to help with decision-making. 

Offer more flexibility 

Order and pay systems give your customers full flexibility to order as they want, reducing waiting times, and giving them the best experience possible. They work best when fully integrated with your EPoS system, ensuring that the system offers the most up-to-date information about available products, offers, and even wait times. 

Improve kitchen management 

Use an integrated kitchen management system to optimise back-of-house operations. Increase service speed and productivity and create a seamless stream of communication between service and kitchen staff in real-time. 

Things to consider when integrating EPoS systems 

It’s clear that there are a lot of reasons to build an integrated EPoS system for hospitality operators. However, when assessing the value, it’s also important to understand the potential challenges this could present, so that you can make informed decisions and mitigate potential issues. 

Initial costs 

Hospitality operators often face significant upfront costs when integrating EPoS systems. Purchasing the necessary hardware and software, along with installation and staff training expenses, can strain the budget. Ensure that you have assessed the upfront costs, and identified how this will be offset in the form of cost savings, increased footfall, higher sales, etc. 

Integration complexity 

EPoS integration of third-party software requires seamless connectivity with existing systems such as inventory management, kitchen display systems, and customer relationship management. Achieving this level of integration can be complex, requiring careful planning and expertise to ensure all components work together seamlessly. When considering third-party software, make sure it is fully compatible and can be easily integrated with your existing systems. 

Staff training 

Introducing new processes will require training for your staff, so that they are able to use any new technology effectively. Resistance to change is common, and you will need to invest time and resources into comprehensive training to minimise disruptions and ensure a smooth transition. 

Customisation 

Tailoring your integrated EPoS system to meet specific operational needs can be challenging. As a hospitality operator, you are likely to want customised features or integrations; ensuring these adaptations are included without compromising system stability can be a delicate balance. 

Technical support and maintenance 

EPoS systems require regular maintenance and technical support to address any problems that may arise, and downtime can be incredibly costly. That’s why it’s so important to ensure that you have a robust and reliable support plan in place. 

Data security 

With the integration of EPoS systems, there is a potential for hospitality businesses to be more susceptible to cyber threats and so operators must prioritise cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive customer information, payment data, and internal operational data. 

EPoS integration with Access Hospitality 

Despite all the challenges listed above, it is possible to easily introduce EPoS integration to your business, with the right support. That’s where Access Hospitality comes in. 

Access EPoS sits at the heart of many of our hospitality solutions, meaning that we can offer seamless integration across your entire organisation. This means you can access all of your applications with one sign-in. Through a streamlined flow of technology, you will have access to a single source of data, collating information from a range of sources including: 

• EPoS technology 
• Inventory management system 
• Kitchen display system 
• CRM 
• Booking system 
• Website 
• Loyalty apps 
• Other hardware systems 

When it comes to cybersecurity concerns, our hosted SQL EPoS back office online is a safe and secure cloud-based platform that offers real-time insights across sites. 

Our scalable and customisable solutions include real-time inventory management with Procure Wizard, and Acteol CRM for targeted marketing and loyalty programs. 

In addition, we partner with the biggest names in the hospitality industry to offer the most comprehensive range of integrations for our customers. Access EPoS seamlessly integrates and interfaces with all major card, contactless, and mobile payment solutions as well as loyalty schemes, online shopping, order ahead, and reservation solutions. 

Make your business run more smoothly with EPoS integration from Access Hospitality 

When it comes to an integrated EPoS system, the potential benefits are clear. In this article, we’ve looked at the key ways to maximise this potential in your business. We’ve also covered the main challenges to be aware of when you are researching the solutions that can work for you.  

To learn more about how we can apply our 30+ years of experience to helping you to elevate your business operations through EPoS Integrations, download our comprehensive guide now.