Aloha POS: Enhancing Restaurant Efficiency

Company Overview

Aloha POS has been a top point-of-sale system for over 20 years, standing as one of the first to emerge. Today, the NCR Voyix Corporation owns the system. Additionally, NCR is the only authorized Aloha provider under Hospitality Control Solutions.

This company is known as a leader in the hospitality industry, and thousands of restaurants, bakeries, and bars use this POS system. The features include quick and table service, kitchen operations, takeout and delivery, table management, reservations, and connected payments. This includes modifying orders and sharing updates, managing multiple tabs, splitting checks, and automated kitchen scheduling.

They also take every step possible to ensure sensitive information is secure. This POS system uses point-to-point encryption, payment terminal device management, and payment system health monitoring, and private information is never stored on point-of-sale devices. Furthermore, they are QIR-certified by the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI-SSC).

This company has won the Software Reviews 2022 Conflict Resolution Award, the 2022 Emotional Footprint Championship, and the 2022 Top Rated Award for three capabilities and four features.

Company's Features & Services

NCR Aloha POS systems use specialized features for quick-service and full-service restaurants. Businesses can use the POS system to manage kitchen operations, tables, reservations, takeout, and delivery services. Multifunctional management features allow staff to split checks, seats, and tips. Additionally, you can engage customers through updates, promotions, and surveys.

Overall, the POS features aim to make daily restaurant operations more accessible, safer, and efficient. These features include:

• Inventory management: Prevent stockouts and overstock by tracking inventory levels and managing menu items and pricing to ensure fresh ingredients are available during orders
• Payment processing: Use NCR-connected payments for safe, reliable methods, such as debit, credit, and mobile payments. You can also use a cloud-based system to secure payment information while taking orders anywhere in the establishment. The easy-to-use interface is the same on all screens for seamless payments
• Cloud-based POS system: Stores data on a secure server rather than on hardware. Their cloud features include online ordering, guest interaction, theft prevention, and reporting
• Analytics and reporting: Restaurants can use analytics and reporting to make informed decisions on their menu items, prices, and other business aspects. One example is checking customer behavior to determine the most popular items and upsell similar products. Owners can also identify their busiest times and adjust prices and promotions accordingly
• Customer loyalty programs: Use loyalty programs to gain, reward, and retain customers through point-based systems, promotions, and discounts. Allow customers to earn points regardless of their payment method, and customers can earn based on visits and dollars spent. Track their rewards, points, and loyalty statuses from anywhere
• POS monitors: Use the touchscreen POS monitors to send orders from the front of the house to the kitchen, allowing cashiers to view transaction details for quick ordering and in-store and online orders in real-time on the screen. This creates a consistent workflow between servers and kitchen staff to decrease ticket times
• Customer order management: Orders are entered through handheld systems or self-ordering kiosks, which ensures accuracy while making it easy to modify orders as needed. This feature also uses automated kitchen scheduling to protect future food orders and shares real-time order status updates with customers

Pricing & Plans

The company offers two plans to ensure your needs are met. Unfortunately, the prices are hard to find on their website. However, through our research, we have found the following plans and pricing:

Aloha Cloud

Aloha POS offers free starter plans that give businesses the essential functionalities they need without charging a fee. On the other hand, the Pro Package, designed for more advanced needs, is available for a monthly subscription fee of $65.

• Basic loyalty: Yes.
• Email marketing: Yes.
• Online ordering: Optional add-on.
• Gift cards: Optional add-on.
• Payroll: Optional add-on.
• Labor and inventory management: Optional add-on

Aloha Essentials

The price is customized based on the additional features you choose for your package, which is done to ensure the package meets your needs.

• Basic loyalty: Yes.
• Email marketing: Optional add-on.
• Online ordering: Yes.
• Gift cards: Yes.
• Payroll: Optional add-on.
• Labor and inventory management: Optional add-on

Aloha POS also offers a low monthly fee for lease-to-own or subscription POS and restaurant technology packages. They advise restaurant owners to contact an HCS sales representative for more information and to inquire about their POS hardware installation costs.

The Advantages of Working With Them

User-friendly interface

The user-friendly interface is straightforward, with easy-to-read labels and prices. For instance, you can quickly select a soft drink by looking for the brand's logo. The layout is also the same across all devices, ensuring everyone is on the same page as you train employees and manage your restaurant.

Free package

The company offers a free starter package for restaurant owners needing only a few basic features. This free package gives you access to basic loyalty and email marketing services.

Customizable packages

You can customize the packages to meet your restaurant's needs. While gift cards and email marketing services are included, you may only need payroll or inventory management. Therefore, you are only paying for the features you use.

Cloud-based applications

The cloud-based system is great for accessing information from anywhere. Moreover, the cloud protects sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands.

Integration with third-party software

Aloha is easily integrated with payroll, accounting, and mapping tools. With easy integration, you can use various tools in one convenient program.

Why You Might Not Choose Them

Lack of transparency

The plans and prices are not transparent on the company's website. We had to search other websites to find the features and prices for each plan, which might not be accurate or misleading. Therefore, we encourage you to contact the provider to understand their prices and plans thoroughly.

Expensive packages

The Pro Package is expensive compared to companies that charge around $30 for their packages. The $65 monthly fee is not ideal for small businesses getting off the ground.

Poor customer support

Some customers have dealt with support issues ranging from long response times to lacking solutions. Restaurants cannot afford to shut down operations until a problem is resolved.

User Reviews & Testimonials

Aloha POS has a 4.7 rating on Trustpilot. The company is also rated 3.8 out of 5 on G2 and 7.2 out of 10 on TrustRadius. Unfortunately, the NCR Corporation has received a D- from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and is not accredited.

Many customers are satisfied with the knowledge and professionalism of Aloha's technicians. They reported that the technicians and representatives were responsive and worked step-by-step with them. The technicians were able to resolve issues ranging from getting the program running to troubleshooting issues. Other customers felt the setup and learning process were easy. Customers also believe Aloha is an invaluable tool for real-time restaurant management, especially digitally sending orders from the front of the house to the kitchen. Others have praised the multifunctional management, such as splitting checks or updating the menu for multiple channels.

However, some customers find it challenging to review reports, while others feel the system is outdated and does not meet their needs. One customer even mentioned needing upgrades after paying off the original plan. Additionally, some customers have had a poor experience with customer service, such as waiting too long for a response or solution. Rather than the technicians, the sales team has handled most of this. Unfortunately, others have mentioned unresolved billing issues on the BBB, which is not good when restaurant owners need to take care of business expenses.

Representatives of Aloha have not responded to many positive or negative reviews other than on Trustpilot. The responses to negative reviews asked for further contact to resolve issues, while responses to positive reviews simply thanked customers. The NCR Corporation has not responded to any reviews on the BBB website.

What Customer Support & Services Options Do They Offer?

To contact a Hospitality Control Solutions in-house help desk representative, call (888) 353-4275. Help desk members are available seven days a week, from 8 AM to 12 AM CTS; if you want to contact the company directly, call (615) 385-4275 or (888) 353-4275.

Before purchasing, you can schedule a free demo on their website to understand the system's functionality. Hospitality Control Solutions also provides staff training for Aloha POS at individual locations. Furthermore, you can contact them for assistance with your company's PCI compliance by calling 1-888-353-4275 or emailing [email protected].

Conclusion

Aloha POS is popular because the system provides a range of features that can be used in many restaurants and bars. They cover all the necessary features a restaurant needs, from inventory management to NCR-connected payments. Additionally, their cloud-based storage ensures all sensitive data is secured, eliminating the risk of storing information on devices.

Furthermore, they set themselves apart by offering a wide variety of plans, which include a free introductory package. Choosing their customized plan provides access to mandatory features and optional add-ons, guaranteeing that you only pay for the services critical to your business's operation. The services include fundamental loyalty programs, email marketing, simplified online ordering, and gift card functions. Furthermore, they provide on-site training to guarantee that your staff can quickly adapt to the software and hardware.

Your needs, preferences, and business goals determine whether or not Aloha's POS system is the best choice for your restaurant. We recommend diving into past and present customer reviews to understand how this company does business. If you still need help choosing the right POS system, we regularly post reviews of other POS systems, informative blog posts, and detailed comparisons.

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