E-pub: Keep track

EPoS systems help keep tabs on sales and trends.

Today's customer demands a wider choice of food and drink than ever. The challenge to the pub operator who wants to respond to that demand is to select products that people will actually buy, and not have to be left with too much unwanted stock lying around. That's where EPoS (electronic point-of-sale) comes in handy.

When Saltire Taverns opened its £2m outlet the Standard in Edinburgh it was a natural decision to install Zonal EPoS terminals, the same system already operating in the rest of the group's pubs. The Standard, in the centre of the capital's New Town, is a late bar-cum-brasserie aimed at attracting a broad cross-section of the Edinburgh community as well as a healthy mix of tourists. It boasts an extensive food offer from a kitchen led by award-winning chef Alisdair Ritchie, and the menu lends itself to an equally large choice of accompanying drinks - the pub has a wine list of 38 wines including 12 champagnes, and a beer list featuring fruit beers.

It has five EPoS terminals, two in the main bar, one on the main floor, one in the downstairs bar and another on the serving floor on the lower level.

"We have been using EPoS since day one and have identified clear benefits for the staff and the bar itself," says general manager Neil King. "The system provides us with a wide range of information that assists us in managing a busy bar and brasserie, and the information is also available to head office management.

"When there are so many different products to order it is important that we have the information at our fingertips to help us make the right ordering decisions, without too much hassle.

"EPoS enables us, among other things, to keep track of what's selling and what isn't. It helps us to restock and shows us the busiest times of the day, which is useful when it comes to working out staff rotas."

Staff also use hand-held EPoS terminals, which allow them to offer improved table service to customers. "They take orders for food and drink at the table and the order is automatically printed out in the bar, as well as in the kitchen," explains Neil. "Someone can prepare the drinks and the chef and his team can start preparing the meals straight away.

"Although the terminals have many functions they are straightforward to use, and it was a great advantage for us to be able to train all the staff to use the EPoS terminals very quickly."

Get hands-on experience​

The Entertainment Zone at The Publican's Pub & Bar Show next month will give visitors the chance to get hands-on experience of the latest entertainment technology including:

• Compendium: a fully interactive, screen-based entertainment system that offers a range of quizzes and pub games, linking several players at once through easy-to-use handsets
• INTATV: a system that can do everything from video jukebox to local advertising, texting to screen and mobile downloads, all extra ways for your pub to earn money
• EPM: from JD Promotions this links together a venue's EPoS tills and TV screens to enable a pub to stage
  interactive promotions.

To find out more about what's on at Pub & Bar, and to register for free tickets call 01923 690641 or visit www.pubandbar.co.uk.