Lightspeed Restaurant POS Review (April 2023)

Are you searching for a powerful, comprehensive restaurant POS system to streamline your operations?

Then you will want to read my Lightspeed Restaurant POS review.

As one of my top-rated all-in-one restaurant POS systems on the market, Lightspeed Restaurant offers a wide range of features and capabilities to help fully manage your restaurant.

This review will analyze the features and capabilities of Lightspeed Restaurant, as well as its advantages and disadvantages. By the end, you’ll have all the information you need to make an informed decision about whether Lightspeed is the right POS system for your business.

So, let’s dive into the review.

Lightspeed Restaurant POS: A Quick Overview

What is Lightspeed Restaurant?

Lightspeed Restaurant is a powerful, cloud-based POS system designed specifically for the restaurant industry. Whether you own a small café or a bustling, multi-location establishment, Lightspeed Restaurant offers a comprehensive suite of features tailored to your unique needs.

Thousands of restaurants worldwide trust Lightspeed to power their operations because of its seamless e-commerce capabilities, user-friendly interface, and robust reporting and analytical features.

Where Lightspeed Restaurant Stands Out

These are the features I think make Lightspeed stand out compared to competitors.

• Reporting and analytics: Lightspeed Restaurant offers advanced reporting and analytics tools that help you gain deep insights into your business’s performance. The acquisition of Upserve 2020 has taken Lightspeeds analytics to the next level. This includes detailed sales data, employee performance metrics, and inventory management information.
• Ease of use: With its intuitive interface and customizable layout, Lightspeed Restaurant is designed to be user-friendly for both experienced and novice users. The straightforward navigation and simple order entry process help to turn tables faster and make it easy for your staff to get up and running quickly, reducing training time and ensuring a smooth transition. 
• E-commerce capabilities: With the Lightspeed ecom feature you can build a website with retail capabilities that allows you to sell branded products or gift cards to your customers, helping you to attract new customers and increase your revenue. You can also link your website to delivery platforms such as UberEats or Doordash, and connect to OpenTable to take reservations.
• Customer Support: According to G2’s 2021 Grid Report on restaurant POS systems, Lightspeed was rated highest in quality of support and ease of use among other competitors in the industry.

Where Lightspeed Falls Short

While Lightspeed Restaurant POS is a highly regarded system, there are some areas for improvement and potential drawbacks to consider.

• Limited Offline Functionality: Since Lightspeed is cloud-based, it requires a stable internet connection to function. This means that if your internet goes down, you won’t be able to process transactions or access any data. While Lightspeed does have a limited offline mode, it doesn’t offer full functionality.
• Price: Lightspeed Restaurant POS is more expensive than some other POS systems on the market. While the system offers a range of features and benefits, the cost may be a barrier for some restaurant owners, especially those who are just starting out.
• Limited Customization: While Lightspeed’s interface is user-friendly, it may not offer as much customization as some restaurant owners would like. For example, some users have reported that it’s difficult to customize the layout of the order screen, which can impact efficiency during peak hours.

Pricing Overview

Starts at $69/month

• Additional registers +$34/mo
• Add-on pricing starts at $12/per month
• Premium add-ons start at $39/per month

Transaction fees: 2.6% plus 10 cents per card-present transaction with Lightspeed Payments. Third-party payment processors are also available.

Plan Name	Monthly Price	Annual Price	Register(s)	Features
Lightspeed Restaurant Essentials	$90	$69	1	Menu manager, Mobile access, Takeout and delivery orders, Integrated payment processing, Reporting and analytics, Inventory, 24/7 support, Dedicated account management, Table Mode
Lightspeed Restaurant Plus	$246	$189	1	All Essentials features, Loyalty program, Gift cards
Lightspeed Restaurant Pro	$516	$399	1	All Plus features, Advanced insights, Advanced inventory
Lightspeed Restaurant Enterprise	Custom pricing	Custom pricing	5+	Personalized quote available for multiple stores or additional features, schedule a call for more information

*Pricing at the time of publishing this guide. For the most current pricing plans, contact Lightspeed.

Which Countries Is Lightspeed Restaurant Available In?

The system is currently available in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and Australia.

Key Features of Lightspeed Restaurant

Reporting and Analytics

Lightspeed offers a range of advanced insights and analytics features that empower you to make data-driven decisions for your business. Some of the key features include:

• Custom Reporting: Lightspeed provides customizable reports that allow users to analyze their sales data, staff performance, inventory levels, and other essential metrics. This feature helps restaurant owners identify trends and areas of improvement.
• Dashboard Overview: The dashboard displays real-time data and key performance indicators (KPIs) such as total sales, average order value, and table turnover rate. This enables users to monitor their restaurant’s performance at a glance.
• Sales Analysis: Lightspeed’s sales analysis tool allows users to view sales data by various metrics, including by product, category, or employee. This can help restaurant owners identify top-selling items and develop targeted promotions to boost revenue.
• Inventory Management: The system tracks inventory levels and provides alerts when stock is running low, helping restaurant owners maintain optimal inventory levels and minimize waste.
• Employee Management: Lightspeed Restaurant POS enables users to track employee hours, performance, and sales, helping restaurant owners optimize staffing and improve team efficiency.

Example use cases of how data analytics can help you

• A restaurant owner in San Francisco used Lightspeed POS data to identify that their vegetarian dishes were outperforming meat-based dishes. They decided to adjust their menu to focus more on plant-based options, which led to an increase in overall sales and customer satisfaction.
• A cafe owner in London analyzed employee sales data and discovered that certain staff members were consistently upselling customers on higher-priced menu items. They implemented a training program for all employees to improve upselling techniques, resulting in a significant increase in average order value.
• A pizzeria owner in New York City noticed a decline in sales during the late afternoon through Lightspeed’s sales analysis tool. They introduced a limited-time happy hour promotion targeting this time period, which led to a substantial increase in foot traffic and sales during those hours.

User interface and ease of use

The user interface (UI) of a restaurant’s point-of-sale system is an important factor to consider when selecting the right POS system for your business. Lightspeed has a modern, intuitive UI that makes it easy for your staff and management to use in a fast-paced environment.

The dashboard provides an overview of all transactions in real-time, making it easy to spot opportunities or issues with sales.

Additionally, the menu layout is designed for speed and efficiency. You can easily navigate between different sections with just a few clicks. This helps reduce wait times for customers and improves overall service quality.

The menu layout is also well organized; items are grouped by category so you can quickly find what they need without having to search through multiple menus or screens.

By providing quick access to items on the menu as well as payment processing options, customers are able to enjoy faster service times which leads to higher satisfaction levels and more repeat visits from loyal patrons.

Menu management

As a restaurant owner, you understand the importance of having a comprehensive menu management system in place. With Lightspeed, you can create and edit menus, add item modifiers and variants, and adjust menus for seasonal or event-based changes.

Menu creation & editing

Lightspeed allows you to easily create and edit menus with ease. You can list featured dishes, add descriptions for each dish, and assign prices to each item. You can customize the look of your menu with images or videos that showcase your dishes in their best light.Item modifiers & variants

The system also allows you to add modifiers and variants to items on your menu. Modifiers allow customers to customize their order by adding extra ingredients or toppings while variants give them the option to choose between different sizes or styles of the same dish.

This makes it easier for customers to get exactly what they want without having to explain it in detail when placing their order.

Seasonal & event-based menu adjustments

Finally, you can make seasonal or event-based adjustments quickly and easily. This means that if you have a special promotion going on during certain times of the year or for specific events such as holidays, you can update your menu accordingly.

This keeps your menu fresh and up-to-date so customers always have something new to try out when they visit your restaurant.

Overall, the Lightspeed Restaurant POS Menu Management System is an invaluable tool for restaurant owners who want to provide an engaging customer experience while keeping their menus up-to-date with seasonal changes and promotions.

Table management and reservations

Order Management makes it easy to enter and modify orders quickly. You can add or delete items, split or transfer checks, and easily adjust prices.

The feature also includes Table Management and Reservations tools that allow your staff to keep track of which tables are occupied, reserved, or ready to be reset.

The Order Management feature also supports takeout and delivery options. Customers can order online directly through Lightspeed’s platform, or through popular delivery services like Uber Eats or DoorDash. This allows you to offer customers more convenient ordering options while still managing all their orders in one place.

Overall, Lightspeed’s Order Management feature provides an efficient way for restaurants to manage orders while offering customers more ways to order their favorite dishes.

Payment processing

Lightspeed Payment supports a wide range of payment methods, including credit and debit cards, mobile payments, and gift cards. The system is also EMV-compliant, which means that it can process chip-enabled credit and debit cards, ensuring that transactions are secure and protected against fraud.

Credit card processing: Lightspeed Payment provides seamless credit card processing, allowing your customers to pay using their preferred method. The system supports multiple payment providers, giving you the flexibility to choose the best fit for your business.

Card payments: In addition to credit cards, Lightspeed Restaurant accepts a variety of card payments, including debit cards and contactless payment options. This ensures your customers have a convenient and secure way to pay for their meals.

Cash drawer: For customers who prefer to pay with cash, Lightspeed Restaurant POS easily integrates with cash drawers to ensure accurate and secure cash handling.

Supported payment methods

Split Payments and Tipping: With this feature, customers can split the bill among multiple payment methods or split items among different guests at the table. The system also allows customers to add tips directly on the payment screen, making it easier for your servers to manage tips and ensure that they are distributed fairly.

Integration with Accounting Software: Lightspeed also integrates with popular accounting software programs like QuickBooks and Xero. The system can also automatically import financial data from Lightspeed into the accounting software, simplifying the accounting process and saving time and effort.

Employee management

Lightspeed offers several employee management tools, including scheduling, time tracking, and performance evaluations. These features help you optimize labor costs, identify top-performing employees, and ensure your staff is working efficiently. And, Lightspeed’s built-in permissions and user access controls allow you to maintain security and protect sensitive data.

Staff roles & permissions: This allows you to assign staff roles and permissions based on their job duties. This ensures that each employee has access to only the information they need while preventing them from accessing sensitive data or making unauthorized changes. Restaurants can also set up different levels of permissions for different staff members, allowing managers to have more control over the system than regular employees.

Time tracking and payroll: Lightspeed also offers robust time tracking and payroll capabilities. The system allows your staff members to clock in and out directly from the POS terminal, making it easy for you to track hours worked and calculate payroll. The system can also automatically calculate overtime and other pay rates, helping to reduce the risk of errors and save time on payroll processing.

Performance evaluation and feedback: This feature allows you to set goals and targets for their staff members, and track their progress over time. It also allows managers to provide feedback and coaching to employees, helping them to improve their performance and develop their skills. This feature can help to increase employee engagement and satisfaction, ultimately leading to better customer service and improved business results.

With features like staff roles and permissions, time tracking and payroll, and performance evaluation and feedback, you can improve security, reduce errors, and foster a more engaged and motivated workforce.

Inventory management

Lightspeed Restaurant simplifies inventory management by providing real-time tracking of your ingredients and supplies. This helps you optimize ordering, reduce waste, and maintain appropriate stock levels. The system also allows you to set up low-stock alerts, ensuring you never run out of essential items.

Supplier management and purchase orders are also key components. The software makes it easy to manage suppliers and create purchase orders quickly and accurately. This ensures that you always have the right amount of supplies on hand when needed.

Finally, waste reduction and cost control are essential for any restaurant business. With Lightspeed’s Restaurant system, you can reduce waste by monitoring your stock levels in real-time, ensuring that only the necessary amount of ingredients are used in each dish or recipe. This helps to keep costs down while still providing quality food to customers.

Customer loyalty and engagement

Building customer loyalty and engagement is vital for the success of your restaurant. By implementing a well-structured loyalty program and offering gift cards, you can create lasting relationships with your customers and encourage repeat business.

Customer profiles and preferences: Lightspeed comes with a built-in CRM feature that allows restaurant owners to create customer profiles and track their preferences. You can track customer contact information, order history, preferences, birthdays, anniversaries, or favorite dishes. This information can be used to personalize communication and marketing efforts, as well as create targeted promotions and loyalty programs.

Loyalty programs and promotions: With the built-in loyalty program feature, you can reward customers for their loyalty with discounts, free items, or exclusive promotions. You can also create targeted promotions based on customer preferences, order history, or special occasions. These promotions can be delivered via email or SMS and can include personalized messages and offers.

Gift Cards: Offering gift cards is an excellent way to boost customer loyalty and engagement. Gift cards not only encourage repeat business but also serve as a form of word-of-mouth marketing when gifted to potential new customers.

Lightspeed restaurant integrations

Lightspeed has over 200 integrations that can be useful for restaurant owners. Some of the most important integrations include:

Lightspeed Delivery: This integration allows restaurant owners to take their menu on the road and sync with major food delivery apps such as UberEats, and DoorDash. Orders from these apps are sent directly to the restaurant POS software, allowing owners to maximize their delivery zone and reach more customers.

Third-party payment integrations: Lightspeed integrates with third-party payment processors, including Square, Authorize.net, and PayPal.

Accounting integrations: Lightspeed integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage.

Loyalty program integrations: Lightspeed integrates with several loyalty program providers, including Loyalzoo and FiveStars. These integrations allow you to set up and manage your own loyalty programs, helping to increase customer retention and drive repeat business.

Build a Webstore with Lightspeed eCom

The Lightspeed Restaurant eCom feature is designed to help you create a new revenue stream by selling your products online and growing your brand where your customers browse.

The eCom platform is integrated with its point-of-sale system, allowing you to manage online orders and inventory from one central location.

Online ordering and menu display are key features of the Lightspeed restaurant eCom platform. Restaurants can showcase their menus online, allowing customers to place orders for delivery or pickup. The platform also allows you to manage your inventory, ensuring that you have the right products in stock to fulfill online orders.

It also includes an online reservation system, which allows customers to book tables directly through the restaurant’s website. The system is designed to be easy to use and helps you manage reservations more efficiently.

In-store pickup and curbside services are also supported. You can offer customers the option to order online and pick up their orders in-store or have them delivered curbside.

Promotional tools and discount codes: You can create and manage discount codes, which can be used to offer special promotions to customers. The platform also includes tools for managing digital gift cards, which can be sold online and redeemed in-store.

Inventory synchronization keeps inventory levels in sync between the restaurant and the online store. This helps to ensure that the restaurant always has the right products in stock to fulfill online orders, and helps to prevent overstocking or understocking of inventory.

eCom for Restaurant also allows you to be available for all kinds of hungry diners. You can easily link your website to delivery platforms such as UberEats or Doordash, and connect to OpenTable to take reservations.

Having a well-built, tailored e-commerce site gives you the power to showcase your brand’s personality far beyond what social media can do alone.

The Lightspeed Kitchen Display System (KDS)

This system is a software solution that displays orders on a separate iPad to show kitchen staff the items they need to make.

The KDS replaces a kitchen printer, saving paper and enabling you to track the time it takes to prepare items. Staff can interact with the KDS to mark orders or items ready, remove them from the screen, and alert front-of-house staff by automatically printing a chit when orders or items are complete.

The Lightspeed KDS is also designed to be easy to use and customizable. Staff can choose from a variety of display options to suit their preferences, and the system can be easily configured to meet the needs of different types of restaurants and kitchens.

Lightspeed Restaurant Hardware Options

There are several hardware options available for restaurants. These include an iPad hardware kit that includes a receipt printer, cash drawer, and kitchen printer but does not include an iPad or payment terminal.

There is also a Lightspeed iPad Stand by Vault, which is a restaurant-grade stand designed to mount an iPad securely.

In addition, there are several payment terminals available, including the Verifone e285, Verifone P400, and Verifone 400m, which all support tap, swipe, and dip payments and the e285 also supports tip entry and signature capture.

For a full list of supported hardware options, Lightspeed provides more information.

Lightspeed Customer Support

According to G2’s 2021 Grid Report on restaurant POS systems, Lightspeed was rated highest in quality of support and ease of use among other competitors in the industry.

Lightspeed offers multiple channels for you to reach out to their support team, so that help is available when needed. These contact options include:

1. Phone support: Lightspeed provides 24/7 phone support, allowing customers to speak directly with a support representative to resolve any issues or get answers to their questions.
2. Live chat: Customers can use the live chat feature on the Lightspeed website to connect with a support agent in real-time, ensuring they receive prompt assistance.
3. Email support: You can also reach out to the Lightspeed support team via email, providing a detailed description of their issue or inquiry. The support team typically responds within 24 hours.
4. Help Center: Lightspeed’s Help Center is an online resource that offers a wealth of information, including guides, tutorials, and FAQs, to help users get the most out of their POS system.
5. Community forum: The Lightspeed community forum is a platform where you can connect with other users, share tips and advice, and discuss any issues they may be experiencing.

Comparing Lightspeed Restaurant to Competing POS Systems

When choosing a restaurant POS system, it’s essential to consider how it stacks up against the competition. Here’s how Lightspeed Restaurant compares to other leading POS systems:

• Lightspeed’s comprehensive reporting and analytics tools outshine those of many competitors, providing deeper insights into your business’s performance.
• The ease of use and user-friendly interface of Lightspeed Restaurant sets it apart from more complicated systems, making it a great choice for businesses of all sizes and experience levels.
• Lightspeed’s e-commerce capabilities allow you to grow your restaurant’s online presence, whereas some competitors lack this feature or require additional third-party integrations.
• The robust inventory management features in Lightspeed Restaurant are comparable to those of other top-tier POS systems, making it a strong contender in this category.

Toast, TouchBistro, and Square for Restaurants are all popular alternative restaurant POS solutions, each with its unique set of features and capabilities. Here is a brief comparison of these systems to help you understand how they stack up against each other.

For a comprehensive comparison see my review of the Best Restaurant POS Systems.

Toast POS

• Designed specifically for the restaurant industry
• Offers built-in online ordering and delivery features
• Includes a strong inventory management system
• Android-based, requiring proprietary Toast hardware

TouchBistro

• iPad-based POS solution catering to the food service industry
• Offers a visually appealing table management feature
• Provides a solid set of core restaurant management features

Square for Restaurants

• Known for its straightforward and competitive flat-rate pricing
• Offers a free plan for smaller establishments with basic features
• Strong payment processing capabilities, as it is an extension of the Square ecosystem
• May not be as feature-rich as other dedicated restaurant POS systems

In conclusion, each POS system has its advantages and drawbacks. Lightspeed POS is a versatile and comprehensive solution with a wide range of features and integrations, making it suitable for various restaurant types. Toast offers robust features, especially for full-service restaurants, but requires proprietary hardware. TouchBistro is an iPad-based solution with a strong focus on the user experience. Square for Restaurants is an excellent choice for smaller establishments due to its simple pricing and strong payment processing capabilities but may lack some advanced features found in other dedicated restaurant POS systems.

Lightspeed Restaurant user reviews

User reviews on G2 have provided interesting feedback on their experience with LightSpeed Restaurant, with an overall high rating for its ease of use, customer support, and functionality.

Positive comments include praise for its user-friendly interface, robust features, and responsive customer support. However, some users have reported drawbacks such as occasional software glitches and limitations in customization.

Features and benefits: The most commonly praised features of LightSpeed Restaurant include its intuitive interface, detailed reporting capabilities, and seamless integration with online ordering and delivery.

These features benefit users by simplifying daily operations, providing important insights into business performance, and increasing revenue through expanded customer reach.

For example, one user on G2 stated, “I love the simplicity of the interface, and the reports are very easy to access and understand”. Another user praised the integration with online ordering, saying, “The online ordering integration is fantastic. It has helped us reach a broader customer base and increased our revenue”.

Drawbacks and limitations: Some users have reported limitations and drawbacks, such as occasional software glitches and restrictions in customization.

One user mentioned, “There are some glitches in the software that can cause issues. For example, sometimes when editing an order, the screen will freeze, and the only solution is to restart the device”.

Another user expressed their desire for more customization options, stating, “There are limitations on customizing certain aspects of the system, such as the layout of the table map”.

Overall User Satisfaction and Rating: Users have expressed a high level of satisfaction with LightSpeed Restaurant, appreciating its ease of use, customer support, and functionality. The average rating given by users on G2 is 4.5 out of 5.

Source: G2.

Conclusion: Should You Try Lightspeed Restaurant POS

After this Lightspeed POS review, it’s clear that it offers a comprehensive set of features tailored to the unique needs of restaurant owners and aspiring restaurateurs.

With its advanced reporting and analytics, user-friendly interface, and seamless e-commerce capabilities, Lightspeed Restaurant is an excellent choice for any restaurant looking to streamline operations, increase revenue, and enhance the overall customer experience.

By considering the pros and cons, and comparing Lightspeed Restaurant to other leading POS systems, we hope you now have the information needed to make an informed decision.

I encourage you to try Lightspeed Restaurant POS and experience firsthand the benefits it can bring to your business. With its extensive feature set, exceptional customer support, and scalable solution, Lightspeed Restaurant is poised to become an essential partner in your restaurant’s success.

Additional Resources

What type of restaurant is Lightspeed best for

Lightspeed POS is suited for a wide range of restaurant types, thanks to its versatile features and customization options. Some of the restaurant types that can benefit from Lightspeed POS include:

Full-service independent restaurants: Lightspeed’s table management, reservation management, and CRM capabilities cater to the unique needs of full-service restaurants.

Cafes and bistros: The user-friendly interface, menu management, order management, e-commerce capabilities, and payment processing features make it a good choice for small establishments.

Quick-service restaurants (QSRs): The system’s quick order entry, efficient payment processing, and employee management features make it usable for fast-paced environments.

Food trucks and pop-up restaurants: The mobile compatibility of Lightspeed POS, including its iPad app, makes it an option for food trucks and pop-up restaurants that require flexibility and mobility.

Multi-location restaurants: The Advanced and Enterprise plans offer multi-location support, allowing larger chains and franchises to manage multiple locations.

However, it may not be suitable for all types of restaurants or food service businesses. For instance, larger and more complex restaurants that require more advanced inventory tracking features and employee scheduling options may find that the Lightspeed Restaurant POS system does not meet their needs.

Lightspeed Restaurant: how to get started and effective adoption

Now, I’ll discuss how to get started with Lightspeed Restaurant POS, the available training resources, and tips for effective training and adoption.

A. How to Get Started with Lightspeed Restaurant

• Sign up for a free trial or purchase a subscription: Visit the Lightspeed website and sign up for a free 14-day trial, or choose a subscription plan that suits your business needs.
• Hardware setup: Lightspeed Restaurant POS is compatible with a variety of hardware devices, including iPads, receipt printers, cash drawers, and barcode scanners. Determine the hardware you require and set it up according to the provided instructions.
• Software installation: Download and install the Lightspeed Restaurant POS app on your iPad or other supported devices. Sign in with your Lightspeed account credentials.
• Customize your system: Configure your menu items, categories, and modifiers to reflect your restaurant’s offerings. Set up employee accounts with appropriate permissions and access levels.
• Integration: If you’re using Lightspeed eCom or other third-party integrations, configure the necessary settings to ensure seamless communication between your POS and other systems.

B. Onboarding and Training Resources for New Users

Lightspeed offers a variety of resources to help new users become familiar with their Restaurant POS system:

• Online Help Center: The Lightspeed Help Center provides a wealth of articles, guides, and video tutorials on various aspects of the POS system, from initial setup to advanced features.
• Live webinars: Lightspeed regularly hosts live webinars covering specific topics and offering in-depth training on the Restaurant POS system. These webinars allow users to interact with Lightspeed experts and ask questions in real-time.
• YouTube channel: Lightspeed’s YouTube channel features a variety of video tutorials and product demonstrations, providing visual guidance for using the Restaurant POS system.
• Customer support: Lightspeed offers dedicated customer support through phone, email, and live chat. Their support team can assist with any questions or issues you may encounter while using the Restaurant POS system.

C. Tips for Effective Training and Adoption of Lightspeed Restaurant

• Start with the basics: Ensure that all staff members are familiar with the basic functions of the POS system, such as placing orders, processing payments, and managing tables. Build a strong foundation before moving on to more advanced features.
• Create a training schedule: Establish a regular training schedule for your team to review new features, reinforce best practices, and address any questions or concerns.
• Assign a POS champion: Designate a knowledgeable staff member as the go-to person for any POS-related questions or issues. This person can also liaise with Lightspeed support when necessary.
• Utilize available resources: Encourage your team to explore the various training resources provided by Lightspeed, such as the Help Center, webinars, and video tutorials.
• Monitor progress and provide feedback: Regularly assess your team’s progress in mastering the POS system and provide constructive feedback to help them improve.

In conclusion, the key to the successful adoption of Lightspeed Restaurant lies in proper onboarding, training, and support. By utilizing the available resources and implementing effective training strategies, you can ensure that your team is well-equipped to use the POS system to its full potential and provide a seamless experience for your customers.

Tips for choosing a POS system for your restaurant

Choosing the right POS system is essential for restaurant owners to streamline operations and increase profits.

• Restaurant POS systems vary from traditional, cloud-based, to tablet-based, each with its benefits and drawbacks.
• Key features to consider in a POS system include order management, customer management, inventory management, payroll, accounting integration, and reporting analytics.
• When selecting a system, evaluate factors such as cost, ease of use, compatibility, integration, customer support, and scalability.
• Testing the system and considering restaurant-specific needs will help in finding the ideal POS system for your business.

Lightspeed company background

History of Lightspeed:

Lightspeed was founded in 2005 in Montreal, Canada. The company started as a provider of point-of-sale systems for small businesses and has since expanded to offer a full suite of commerce solutions, including Lightspeed Retail POS. In 2019, Lightspeed went public on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Core values and mission:

Lightspeed’s core values are innovation, customer success, collaboration, and ownership. The company’s mission is to bring cities and communities to life by powering independent businesses.

Market presence and industry recognition:

As of 2021, Lightspeed serves over 150,000 businesses in more than 100 countries. The company has been recognized by various industry publications and organizations, including being named a leader in G2’s Grid Report for Retail POS Systems and a top performer in the Winter 2021 G2 Grid Report for Restaurant POS Systems. ^[1] In addition, Lightspeed was named one of the fastest-growing technology companies in North America by Deloitte in 2019 and 2020.

Some recent acquisitions by Lightspeed

Upserve (2020)

Size: $430 million

Upserve is a cloud-based restaurant management software company that provides POS, payments, online ordering, and other services to restaurants. The acquisition expands Lightspeed’s presence in the U.S. restaurant market and strengthens its product offerings.

Gastrofix (2020)

Gastrofix is a cloud-based POS software company that provides services to restaurants, hotels, and bars in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The acquisition expands Lightspeed’s presence in the European restaurant market and strengthens its product offerings.

iKentoo (2019)

iKentoo is a cloud-based POS software company that provides services to restaurants, bars, and hotels in Europe and the U.S.

Overall, Lightspeed’s acquisitions have helped the company expand its presence in various markets and strengthen its product offerings. With these strategic acquisitions, Lightspeed has become a leading provider of cloud-based POS and management software for small and medium-sized businesses across different industries.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Lightspeed Restaurant suitable for all types of restaurants?

Lightspeed supports full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, bars, and cafes, and can handle tables, in-house, and takeout orders, as well as delivery and contactless online ordering.

Is Lightspeed Restaurant POS available globally?

Lightspeed is available in the United States and Canada, with offices in Montreal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto. The company has a strong presence in these markets, with thousands of restaurants using Lightspeed Restaurant.

Lightspeed also has a presence in several European countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The company has acquired several European POS providers, including iKentoo and Gastrofix, to accelerate its growth strategy in the region.

Australia is the only country in the Asia-Pacific where Lightspeed is available. However, the company has stated its intention to expand globally and may consider entering this market in the future.

Lightspeed does not currently have a presence in Latin America. However, the company has partnered with several Latin American payment processors, including Conekta and MercadoPago, to expand its payment processing capabilities in the region.

How secure is the data stored in Lightspeed Restaurant POS?

Lightspeed employs various measures to ensure the security of the data stored on its system. Lightspeed’s integrated payment system provides end-to-end encryption for every transaction at the point of sale and tokenizes data the second it reaches their servers. 

The company is also PCI compliant and adheres to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards. Additionally, Lightspeed’s system is guarded by measures like authentication, advanced firewalls, intrusion detection, event logging, internal firewalls, access control, and encryption. The company also provides a guide on how to protect your business and data from hackers and fraudsters.

Overall, Lightspeed Restaurant POS takes data security seriously and has implemented various measures to ensure the safety of its customers’ data.

Is Lightspeed POS compatible with iPads?

Yes, Lightspeed POS offers a fully functional iPad app, allowing you to access the system from anywhere in your restaurant.

Can I use Lightspeed POS for multiple restaurant locations?

Yes, Lightspeed POS supports multi-location management in its Advanced and Enterprise plans.

Can I import my existing customer data into Lightspeed POS?

Yes, Lightspeed POS allows you to import your existing customer data using a CSV file format.

Can I customize the appearance of my Lightspeed POS interface?

Yes, Lightspeed POS offers various customization options, including customizing the appearance of the interface and creating custom themes to match your restaurant’s branding.