| The History of Hand Held Terminals in | | | | (they do get dropped) and easy to operate. The |
| Restaurants | | | | battery needs to be able to swapped during |
| The desire for restaurant hand held terminals and | | | | operation without loosing memory. |
| wireless restaurant software has been around | | | | The network needs to be able to handle several |
| since the invention of the electronic cash registers | | | | hand held terminals without slowing down the |
| in the 1980's. When restaurateurs saw the power | | | | entire system. In some cases, the network needs |
| of the electronic cash register how it stored and | | | | to extend beyond the walls of the restaurant so |
| recalled orders, how it dispersed orders to various | | | | additional customer may be served in patios, |
| kitchen and preparation printers and how it helped | | | | parks and parking lots. |
| control the flow of the restaurant the desire to | | | | The Solution Hand Held Terminals Provide |
| have this power in the palm of your hand has | | | | Restaurants |
| been there. It is only recently that technology | | | | Some point of sale systems have an interface |
| caught up to the demand. | | | | that allows the download of their software to a |
| In the 1990's a couple of companies introduced | | | | PDA using Windows Pocket PC technology and |
| hand held terminals to restaurants with limited | | | | Windows Terminal License software. Multiple hand |
| success. Displays were small and therefore limited | | | | held PDA terminals can be in the wireless network |
| menu items. Battery life was short and limited | | | | at the same time. |
| use. But the demand was still there because the | | | | Through the use of wireless routers and wireless |
| tremendous benefits to the restaurant owner. | | | | access points an entire restaurant can be set up |
| I distinctly remember a trip to an NFL game | | | | for wireless hand held terminals for every server |
| where the stadium food provider used Seiko hand | | | | waiter/manager. Additional wireless access points |
| held terminals to take orders from customers | | | | may be installed outside the restaurant to give |
| sitting in their seats. I was about 6 seats from | | | | broader coverage and allow for taking orders |
| the aisle and placed an order for a drink and a hot | | | | outside the restaurant. |
| dog fixed the way I wanted. The server took the | | | | We have one customer who walks across the |
| order, told me the total and I passed the money | | | | street to a park and takes orders. The server |
| down to her. As I was receiving my change my | | | | collects for the food, even swipes a credit card |
| food arrived from the kitchen! Now THAT is | | | | and the system processes the approval without |
| service. | | | | the server having to go to a terminal. A food |
| Most recently, restaurant software companies | | | | runner brings the food to the person who is still |
| have taken advantage of the PDA craze and their | | | | sitting/laying in the park. |
| technology and have adapted their software to | | | | Servers/waiters are able to enter orders and |
| these devices. Screens have become larger and | | | | take payments at the table. Managers are able to |
| now can display entire menus. Battery life has | | | | authorize voids, check sales and other manager |
| been extended and we now have "hot swap" | | | | functions from their hand held terminal. Imagine |
| batteries that allow you to swap a battery | | | | the ability to view reports on a hand held terminal |
| without loosing the program. | | | | or to approve a void without having to go to a |
| Table service restaurants are now entering orders | | | | terminal. All these things are possible with |
| at the table and having food runners deliver the | | | | restaurant hand held terminals. |
| food. The server/waiter only has to leave the | | | | The Benefits of Hand Held Terminals To You |
| floor when it is time to print the check. | | | | - Dramatically increased speed of service for your |
| Quick service restaurants are taking orders in the | | | | customer. |
| drive through ahead of the speaker box. Others | | | | - Greater customer service because your servers |
| are creating entire sections for curbside ordering | | | | waiters do not have to leave the floor to place |
| where the customer parks and a server with a | | | | orders. |
| hand held takes their order and payment then the | | | | - Increased table turns because of faster service. |
| food is brought out to them. | | | | - Increased customer throughput in Quick Service. |
| With hand held terminals restaurants are providing | | | | - Wait on more tables/customers per server |
| a speed of service only dreamed of before now. | | | | waiter. More time on the floor equals more ability |
| The Need for Hand Held Terminals in Restaurants | | | | to handle additional tables. Increase manager |
| To be able to take orders at the table or car, | | | | efficiency. |
| receive payment and have the food delivered | | | | The ability in Table Service to turn just 1 additional |
| with amazing speed of service. Thereby increasing | | | | table per night with a $20 ticket average equals |
| table turns and customer throughput. | | | | $600 per month in additional revenue. |
| The hand held unit needs to be reliable, durable | | | | |