SkyTab POS: Your Restaurant's Pay-At-The-Table Solution

SkyTab Overview 

SkyTab, a subsidiary of Shift4, boasts its innovative technology and sleek product designs. They offer a comprehensive range of software and hardware solutions tailored to enhance restaurant operations and elevate customer experiences. Catering to venues of all sizes, this system works best for full-service and quick-service restaurants, bars and nightclubs, cafes, and pizzerias alike. They do so not in a one-size-fits-all solution, but rather with minor tweaks and differences to ensure each type of restaurant will get a bang for their buck by aligning with their wants and needs. 

Curbside, pay-at-seat, pay-at-table, waitlist management, and even custom floor plans are all included in this steadily rising POS system. Although they are relatively new to the industry, they are already getting recognized, bringing the Best Value Point of Sale Software (2023) and Best Value Restaurant Management Software (2023) awards to the table. Offering an all-in-one POS platform with secure payment processing through Shift4's network, they claim to ensure reliability and peace of mind for businesses of all types via point-to-point encryption. However, keep in mind that while Shift4 is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Skytab is not.

SkyTab Features

From intuitive software solutions that optimize order management and streamline online ordering to state-of-the-art hardware devices that facilitate seamless transactions and elevate service efficiency, SkyTab offers a comprehensive suite of tools tailored to meet the unique needs of modern restaurants. 

• InCharge mobile application: You can keep essential data at your fingertips, whether you need a high-level overview or granular details for one or multiple locations. Stay informed about total sales, sales per ticket, average ticket time, open tickets, and void usage. You can also monitor labor and keep tabs on employee performance, including hours worked, sales generated, tips received, ticket completion times, and more
• Online ordering: You can bring online orders directly to your restaurant's website. You can tailor your service to your preferences, offering options for curbside pickup, takeout, or delivery, all managed through SkyTab Online. Being directly integrated into your POS system eliminates the need for extra devices. They also include real-time menu management, syncing your online menu with the POS system, or customizing a selection of items suited for online ordering 
• Analytics: SkyTab's back office, known as Lighthouse, equips you with a set of tools to facilitate informed, data-driven decision-making. You can analyze sales data from top to bottom, whether you need a broad overview or detailed insights into specific point-of-sale reports. The platform also offers multi-location reporting capabilities, allowing you to access reports for individual stores or compare data across multiple locations. In addition, Lighthouse features a customizable dashboard, which you can tailor with widgets that prioritize essential information
• Sales reporting: You can view raw data, charts, or trend comparisons to suit your preferences. From X and Z reports to detailed sales summaries and transaction breakdowns, you can gain insights into various aspects of your sales operations. Additionally, SkyTab offers reports on tender types, cost of goods sold (COGS), sales tax, and cash drawer activity, providing comprehensive visibility into your financial performance
• Inventory reporting: Their vendor reports enable you to track supplier performance and maintain relationships with key partners. Analyze gross profit margins to ensure pricing strategies align with profitability goals. Product mix reports provide a comprehensive overview of sales trends. You also have the option to track inventory adjustments to maintain inventory accuracy and minimize discrepancies
• Employee reporting: The system allows you to manage labor costs with employee reporting capabilities. Monitor employee performance, fulfill scheduling requirements, and distinguish top-performing team members from those who may benefit from additional training. There are features such as the time clock, X and Z reports, pay rate tracking, earnings monitoring, and tax management to streamline labor management processes and optimize workforce efficiency
• Customer reporting: Cultivate meaningful connections with your customers through customer reports that delve into their purchasing behaviors and preferences. You can stay engaged with your clientele by acknowledging important milestones such as birthdays and anniversaries through specialized reports. Track customer spending patterns, both per visit and cumulatively, to identify trends and opportunities for targeted marketing efforts. Monitor the frequency of purchases to gauge customer engagement and adjust strategies accordingly
• Extensive support services: They provide 24/7 online customer support from industry experts, along with services such as team training, onboarding assistance, go-live support, and consultations for system customization and business strategy implementation. Additional services may be available at an extra cost
• Training resources: You may access valuable online training, webinars, and an extensive knowledge base at your convenience, with opportunities to provide feedback
• Optional add-ons: Choose from a variety of additional products, including marketing solutions, gift card and loyalty programs, advanced integrations, and pay options for on-site guests as well as curbside
• Website builder: With the help of AI technology, you can create your own website to establish your online presence. Their website builder prioritizes being up-to-date so you can make changes anytime. Every theme offered is mobile-friendly and customizable, enabling you to tailor color schemes and incorporate your logo to reflect your brand identity. You have the flexibility to connect an existing domain or register a new one for free, for your branding needs. It allows businesses to link information such as your location, contact details, and social media links to engage with your customers. With integrated online ordering capabilities, customers can place orders directly through your website, which is connected to your SkyTab POS system. Moreover, streamline reservations by allowing customers to book online, reducing the burden on your staff 

SkyTab’s Pricing Plan

SkyTab's only plan offers comprehensive coverage, but it's priced per station at $29.99 per month, with no upfront costs. While the 30-day risk-free trial is enticing, it's worth noting that it only guarantees a product return without specifying cash refunds. With the plan, they state that you'd receive commercial-grade hardware, encompassing one POS system, a cash drawer, an EMV reader, and a receipt printer, along with contactless solutions such as QR codes.

The package comes with a lifetime warranty, which can be pretty valuable in the unpredictable food and beverage industry. This includes lifetime technical support, which extends to remote and in-person training, webinars, round-the-clock customer service, and technical assistance, 24/7/365, as they say. 

Their one and only price plan covers menu programming, Cloud-Based POS software implementation with cloud-based back office reporting, and POS management with a mobile app to access these reporting and analytical reports, as well as payment processing (including fees). It also includes online back-office management and integration with third-party marketplaces. Although SkyTab offers a variety of free apps for integration, it's important to note that some may incur additional costs, so be wary of that. Additional fees may also apply for third-party Marketplace integrations, although SkyTab claims to have secured the lowest possible fees through negotiations with their marketplace partners.

While the base plan includes reservation systems and waiting lists, certain features like Gift Cards & Loyalty Programs, SkyTab Mobile Pay-At-The-Table, SkyTab Glass Tableside Ordering, a Kitchen Video System (KDS), and Remote Printer functionalities are considered add-ons that require additional fees.

SkyTab Advantages

• Data protection measures: They offer EMV & NFC contactless payment devices to prevent fraudulent transactions. To provide further protection at the point of sale for U.S. and Canadian credit card processing, they implement a PCI-validated P2PE solution that encrypts cardholder data at the terminal and again at multiple points throughout the transaction process. Also, tokenization replaces stored cardholder data with a random, alphanumeric value to mask sensitive data
• Retaining customer loyalty: SkyTab also provides tools for loyalty programs, allowing businesses to capture essential customer data for effective marketing efforts and building a loyal customer base. Real-time customer feedback is facilitated through built-in review functions, enabling managers to address any issues promptly. The integration of SkyTab Mobile POS software with an online back office allows for real-time monitoring and management
• Durable hardware: SkyTab offers reliable and durable point-of-sale hardware, including terminals designed to withstand kitchen environments, all backed by a lifetime warranty. SkyTab Glass provides servers with a fully mobile POS experience, boasting purpose-built hardware and an optimal 8” screen size. Additionally, SkyTab’s Kitchen Display System streamlines operations by seamlessly connecting front-of-house to back-of-house, featuring an intuitive interface and a large 22” touchscreen display 
• Payment variety: With its integrated Wi-Fi and 4G functionality, the system lets you accept credit card payments anywhere. By offering different payment options, including QR codes and NFC, you can effortlessly cater to your customers' preferences. Also, based on what your patrons prefer, you may give them a printed receipt or email it to them

SkyTab Disadvantages 

• Extra fees: There are additional costs to unlock many important features, such as Gift Cards & Loyalty Programs, SkyTab Mobile Pay-At-The-Table, SkyTab Glass Tableside Ordering, a Kitchen Video System (KDS), and Remote Printer functionalities
• Technical assistance issues: Although present, people have complained of there being delays in assistance or poor customer service in general in this area
• System glitches: Consumers have complained about some features glitching, having touch delays, and having trouble getting modifiers aligned

SkyTab Customer Experience

SkyTab is generally perceived as a user-friendly, sleek system that can be incorporated into a range of different types of eateries. They have received excellent 4.7 out of 5 review ratings on both Capterra and Trustpilot. 

Users praise SkyTab’s interface for its simplicity and commend the quality of their local support. They state that the system itself can keep up with the hustle and bustle of restaurant life, and many have specific salespeople they publicly thank and appreciate.

On the other hand, while there weren’t as many negative reviews, they were quite passionate. Many of those showcased starkly opposite impressions about the company, saying that the local support team was unpredictable and not of great service. Some said that the system itself has a few hiccups, such as that if the modifiers are not done correctly from the get-go, it would be difficult to adjust them to the need of an item. However, this may be expected of a new system, so long as they’re proactive in fixing such bugs. 

The relatively small amount of negative reviews could be attributed to their feedback system. At the conclusion of a customer’s transaction, they ask for feedback on their service, and should the customer’s rating fall below a predefined standard, management receives a text message alert. This proactive approach enables the establishment to promptly address any dissatisfied guests' concerns, thus averting potential negative online reviews.

On online review sites, SkyTab staff often reply to both positive and negative reviews as they come. That in itself is a good surface sign that shows they care about customer satisfaction, although we don’t know what goes on behind the scenes afterward. That said, they don’t have nearly as many reviews written about them as most of their competitors, so it may not be entirely fair to compare them to others based on those.

Customer Support & Services at SkyTab

SkyTab stresses their online customer service is always available, year-long, which they manage with an in-house support team. They can be reached via phone at (866) 374-8865, live chat, and email at [email protected]. 

You may make use of their online resource center, which has links to specialized webinars and a knowledge base. They also offer on-site installation and service from their nationwide network of certified technicians, as well as on-demand resources, including webinars, which are all included in the monthly payment.  

To Conclude

If SkyTab is the first POS system you integrate, you may find it holds some features that can raise your standards before your next upgrade. However, if you already have a system and need to switch to a different one, you could find theirs lacking in some areas that you’re used to.  

As it’s a relatively new system it does present with some hiccups, such as their technical and customer service support not being as good as their competitors. Additionally, they don’t have nearly as many reviews as their predecessors, making partnering with them risky compared to bigger, more established systems. However, maybe the next review would come from you, your pizzeria, coffee shop, bar, or enterprise. Because whether you’re a seasoned restauranteur or a startup, we can see that their customizable interface may be molded to your needs. Also, with their risk-free trial, you can properly assess before committing.

Their perks include secure payment options, secure payments, a smooth user experience, seamless integrations with a variety of other business aspects such as branding and marketing campaigns, and helpful third-party integrations, to name a few— all covered with one monthly payment. They strive to be your most affordable POS system choice, and you may be able to save a lot of money without compromising on features.

For those eager to explore POS systems and industry-leading solutions, or seeking to avoid costly trial-and-error, we highly encourage visiting our comprehensive POS reviews page before putting all your apples in one basket. Just having knowledge of one POS system isn’t enough; you have to see what else is out there that aligns best with your business. This can be through our insightful comparisons page, where you can see which companies have the features or product offerings you need at a glance! You can also learn about various associated topics, whether niche or basic, in our informative blog articles, as seeing things from a different angle can make all the bits and pieces of information fit together much better. As you can see, there are plenty of resources— so make sure to do your research before making any decisions!

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