How We Review Products
At Kitchenbusiness.com, our goal is to provide accurate, unbiased, and comprehensive information to help our readers make informed decisions. We understand the importance of a reliable and efficient POS system for restaurant success. These review guidelines ensure our content maintains the highest standards of integrity, objectivity, and relevance.
What We Do
Objective Evaluation: We evaluate each restaurant POS system based on predefined criteria: ease of use, features, customization, integrations, customer support, and value. Our unbiased reviews are not influenced by advertising or sponsorship.
Thorough Research: Before reviewing any restaurant POS system, our team extensively researches the product, features, pricing, and user experiences. We gather information from various sources, including the manufacturer’s website, user reviews, and industry reports.
Vendor Reputation and Track Record: We research the reputation and track record of each POS system vendor, considering their industry history, customer reviews, and commitment to innovation and improvement. Stability and reliability are essential for long-term success.
Testing: We test or demo the product to gain first-hand experience with its functionality, user interface, and performance, providing readers with a more accurate assessment.
Pricing and Value: We analyze the pricing, including hardware costs, software subscriptions, and additional fees, and assess the overall value considering features, performance, and scalability, to help restaurant owners make informed decisions based on their budget and needs.
User Interface and User Experience: We evaluate the user interface and overall user experience of each POS system, considering factors such as ease of navigation, customization options, and the learning curve for staff. A user-friendly interface is essential for efficient operations and minimizing training time.
Comparative Analysis: We compare the reviewed POS systems with other leading products to help our readers understand how they stack up. This enables them to make informed decisions based on their needs and budget.
Regular Updates: As restaurant POS systems evolve and new features are added, we update our reviews to ensure our readers have current and accurate information. We also monitor user feedback and industry trends to identify emerging issues or concerns.
Security and Compliance: We examine the security measures of each POS system, including data encryption, secure payment processing, and compliance with industry standards like PCI DSS. Protecting customer information and ensuring secure transactions are top priorities for any restaurant.
Scalability and Flexibility: We assess each POS system’s ability to scale with a growing business and adapt to changing needs. This includes evaluating the system’s compatibility with hardware options, handling multiple locations, and integrating with other restaurant management tools.
Transparency: We’re upfront about our review process and any potential conflicts of interest. We disclose any compensation or incentives from software providers in our reviews.
User Feedback: We value our readers’ opinions and experiences, and encourage them to share feedback and insights on the POS systems we review. This helps us improve our content and provide a more comprehensive perspective for our audience.
Continuous Improvement: We’re committed to improving our review process and guidelines to deliver valuable and trustworthy content to our readers. We regularly assess our methods and adjust based on industry best practices and user feedback.
What We Don’t Do
Paid Reviews: We don’t accept payment or any form of compensation in exchange for positive reviews or product rankings. Our reviews are based solely on our objective evaluation and the merits of each POS system.
Promote Unverified Claims: We don’t make or promote unverified product claims. Our reviews are based on factual evidence and our testing.
Ignore User Feedback: We do not ignore or suppress user feedback, whether positive or negative. We believe that the experiences and opinions of our readers are valuable and contribute to a comprehensive understanding of each product.
Rating Methodology: How We Evaluate Restaurant POS Systems
At Kitchenbusiness.com, we take our restaurant POS system reviews and ratings seriously, following a precise methodology to ensure our readers trust our information. Our team has been reviewing POS systems for 3 years, evaluating many software and hardware systems.
We update our POS reviews at least twice a year, with some popular systems getting quarterly updates. Our goal is to provide actionable and accurate information to our readers, so while we love to recommend great products, we don’t shy away from pointing out the areas where popular providers fall short.
Our product reviewers conduct independent research and testing for each Point of Sale (POS) review, evaluating usability, cost, features, customer service, contract length, and other factors. The star rating for a vendor is based on these areas.
- Features
- Pricing (subscription & processing fees)
- Brand Reputation (reliability and innovation)
- Ease of use
- Customer Support
- User Reviews
Each section has a different weight, with features and pricing receiving the highest. These scores are combined to determine the overall product rating out of 5 stars.
Features (30% of score)
When scoring Restaurant POS software features, we consider various aspects like:
- Reservation and Ordering System (30% of total rating)
- Kitchen/Order Management (30% of total rating)
- Marketing and Loyalty Features (20% of total rating)
- Mobile POS features (10% of total rating)
- Retail and subscription features (10% of total rating)
Pricing (20% of score)
We consider various factors when determining the Pricing score, such as the number of software plans, cost compared to similar products, available hardware, payment processing inclusion, hidden fees, free trials, and more.
- Subscription Plans (40% of total rating)
- Hardware Options (30% of total rating)
- Payment Processing Fees (30% total rating)
Brand Reputation (20% of score)
The Brand Reputation score considers the POS vendor’s reliability and innovation, including factors such as the company’s history, financial stability, market share, and commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in restaurant technology.
By following this rating methodology, we aim to provide our readers with accurate, unbiased, and actionable information to help them make informed decisions when choosing a restaurant POS system.
Usability (15% of score)
When calculating the Ease of Use score, we assess software and hardware setup intuitiveness, employee training complexity, UI navigability, setup time, and other factors.
- Initial Setup (35% of total rating)
- Customization (35% of total rating)
- Everyday Use (30% of total rating)
Customer Service (10% of score)
When evaluating customer service, we focus on support options (phone, email, in-person), quality of support, training options, and the usability and comprehensiveness of online materials.
- Personal Support (50% of total rating)
- Self-Service (50% of total rating)
User Reviews (5% of score)
We research the internet for user feedback on all the products we review, using aggregated user scores from review sites like GetApp, Capterra, G2, and more for the total rating.
- User Feedback (30% of total rating)
- Review Site Aggregate (70% of total rating)
