Generic POS Systems Don’t Work in Pizza—Here’s Why

We all love pizza. That’s no understatement, with Americans eating 350 slices of pie per second. It’s one of the most popular and customizable foods on the planet. But most generic POS systems don’t work in pizza, as customizability can pose many challenges.

The typical POS system is a one-size-fits-all solution that’s simply not engineered to cope with the sheer variety of pizza order options.

In this article, we’re going to cover:

• How relying on generic POS solutions is harming your business
• Why generic POS providers will leave your staff & your customers dissatisfied
• How pizza-specific POS solutions can help

Let’s get right to it.

The Customization in Pizza

Pizza is not a one-size-fits-all food. Some prefer pineapple, others extra cheese. Whatever your customers prefer, you undoubtedly have to deal with a lot of customizations.

Your average order might include:

• A Multitude of Modifiers.  Halloumi cheese, dipping sauce, anchovies, deep pan or Chicago style—the list is endless. Plus, ingredients often have multiple modifiers—double pepperoni, double the cheese, etc.
• Complex Pricing. The pizza industry is famous for its coupons, deals, discounts, and promotions. Most point of sales systems (and their loyalty counterparts) struggle to handle the complex rules required to run these discounts properly.
• Half-and-Half Pizzas. Customers can split their pizzas into two or more sections, each with different toppings and modifiers. They can also mix and match different crusts and sauces on each half.

All these customizations are expected in any pizzeria. But they’re also something most generic POS systems can’t handle—without pricey custom workarounds.

The Domino Effect: Why Generic POS Systems Leads to Dissatisfied Customers

Most POS service providers have never worked in a pizzeria. It’s obvious when you look at what generic POS systems provide: limited modifier support, clunky (and expensive) custom workarounds, and general user unfriendliness.

Generic POS solutions don’t work in pizza and can lead to a domino effect of negativity on your overall operations. Let’s take a closer look:

1. Order Input Errors. These occur when the POS system does not capture the customer’s preferences correctly, or when the staff makes a mistake while entering or preparing the order. 

2. Staff Frustration.  When staff have to manually enter or correct customer orders (extra sauce, extra olives, 25% off coupon), on a generic POS not designed to do so, you’ve got a potential hotspot for order input errors.

3. Customer Dissatisfaction. The final domino to topple?  Customer satisfaction. Customers expect to get their pizza orders exactly as they ordered them. 

When forcing custom orders and coupons into generic POS systems, the chances of order input errors soar. Get this wrong and customers might lose more than their appetite — they may lose their trust in your brand, and even leave negative reviews online.

One study showed that customers are 39% more likely to leave a negative review after experiencing order inaccuracies. 38% fear their order won’t be taken correctly if customization is involved.

The key takeaway? Generic POS systems just aren’t designed for pizza. With your restaurant’s reputation at stake, ensuring accurate order input is more important than ever.

Nailing the Details: How Targeted POS Solutions Elevate Pizzerias

Pizza-specialized POS providers like HungerRush and Slice have popped in recent years to address these challenges, but you’ll still want to do your research before signing on any dotted line. Consider whether they provide:

• An Intuitive UI. Do they offer a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to enter orders, apply coupons, and modify ingredients? Do they allow for customization—applying modifiers to individual sections, pizzas, etc.
• A Complex Pricing System. Targeted POS solutions should easily apply coupons to the right pizzas, or the right sizes. They should also be able to handle complex pricing configurations, such as different prices for various crusts, sauces, toppings, etc.
• Thoughtful Order Display Options. Pizza POS solutions should display order details, such as size, shape, crust, sauce, cheese, toppings, and modifiers, on a large screen or a ticket printer. They might also integrate with kitchen equipment to ensure consistent portion control.
• A Straightforward Learning Environment. The right POS 1) makes it easy to train new staff and 2) makes inputting difficult orders a breeze. This can lead to lower levels of stress during the Friday night rush, higher staff retention, and lower turnover.

Like it or loathe it, your POS is one of the central parts of your employees’ days. If your staff are forced to struggle with a generic POS system that’s not equipped to handle the complexities of the pizza business—that’s going to have a knock-on effect on your staff’s performance and morale.

In the competitive world of pizza, acing complex orders is non-negotiable.

If you’re an IT leader steering the pizza ship — it’s time for a system check. How many order input errors do you get a month? Is your staff comfortable with your POS? Are your customers happy with your service?

And if you think a pizza-specific POS system might be worth the investment, seek out a tech provider who understands the pizza industry—ensuring you serve up perfection, one slice at a time.

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