Toast POS System Review: Efficiency Meets Innovation for 2024
In search of an honest Toast POS system review? Our article provides a straightforward examination of its service, helping you decide if it’s the right choice for your restaurant’s needs.
From usability to price points and customer support, learn what Toast POS brings to the table without the fluff.
Key Takeaways
Understanding Toast POS: A 2024 Perspective
Praised for its ubiquity, Toast POS is a cloud-based restaurant pos system that allows users to access it from any location. It is specifically designed to cater to a range of establishments, including full-service restaurants, coffee shops, and bars.
As a comprehensive restaurant management solution, it is equipped with features such as payment processing, customer care, gift cards, and loyalty programs, making it one of the most reliable restaurant pos systems in the market.
The regular software updates introducing innovative features demonstrate Toast POS’s unwavering commitment to the restaurant industry.
Navigating the Interface
Designed intelligently, the Toast POS system’s intuitive interface minimizes technical distractions, enabling staff to focus on customer interactions.
Although some users find the interface plain, its functional design contributes significantly to the overall ease of use.
However, it is worth noting that some users have reported interface accessibility issues, such as difficulties with the user interface and card reader for magnetic stripe cards.
Integrations and Add-Ons
Toast POS offers the following features:
A range of add-ons are provided by Toast POS, including:
The Nitty-Gritty of Toast POS Hardware
The Toast POS hardware is industry-grade, guaranteeing durability. It is also IP-rated, allowing it to withstand steam and dust intrusion. This rating confirms its suitability for high-volume environments.
Toast offers a variety of hardware options, including Toast Flex, Toast Go 2, and kitchen display systems that synchronize operations in both the front and back of the house.
However, it’s worth noting that Toast POS's Android-based platform restricts hardware compatibility, requiring users to purchase Toast’s own hardware options.
Despite the generally robust design, users have reported issues with Toast’s handheld devices, including card reader and battery problems, and subpar quality leading to a shorter lifespan.
Point of Service with Style
Blending style and comfort, Toast offers hardware options like Toast Go 2 and Toast Flex. The Toast Go 2 features a sleek and slim design, emphasizing both style and comfort for users during long shifts.
Toast Flex, on the other hand, is designed with a modern aesthetic, including a swiveling 14-inch main touchscreen that enhances interactivity in diverse dining settings.
In addition to its stylish design, Toast Flex features a convenient receipt printer and the option for an additional 8-inch customer-dedicated screen, further customizing the dining experience.
Durability Meets Functionality
Designed to endure the rigors of a restaurant environment, such as spills, drops, and heat, Toast provides restaurant-grade hardware. The Toast Go 2, for instance, is restaurant-grade durable, being spill-proof, drop-proof, and dust-proof, with a long battery life and a processing speed up to three times faster than its predecessor.
The Toast Kitchen Display System, rated for higher temperature and greater durability compared to iPad screens, can be integrated with Toast Go 2 for real-time order transmission to kitchen staff.
Despite the robust construction, there have been criticisms regarding the design and some reports of hardware, like card readers, breaking or malfunctioning, which Toast is presumably addressing to maintain their standards of durability and reliability.
Toast POS Software Capabilities
Toast POS’s software capabilities are well-rounded and designed for optimal restaurant management. It integrates third-party delivery orders directly into the system, firing orders to the kitchen seamlessly and improving kitchen efficiency.
The integration of major third-party delivery platforms with Toast POS eliminates the need for separate delivery tablets or manual entry, saving on labor costs and improving operations.
The system’s centralized tools for third-party delivery partnerships offer insights into each partner’s contribution to sales and margins.
Users commend Toast POS for its:
The Toast POS software's all-in-one nature, encompassing sales reporting to payroll, offers users a cohesive experience and positive feedback on ease of use.
Toast POS is valued for its intuitive user interface, robust reporting capabilities, and high system reliability. It boasts an uptime of approximately 99.9%.
Mastering Menu Management
Enabling users to swiftly and simply update the menu in real-time from any device, the Toast POS system allows adding or removing items, changing prices, and instantly ‘86’ing items.
Owners and managers can easily add items with descriptions and photos, an especially beneficial feature for enhancing the online ordering experience.
Menu management for third-party delivery services is streamlined within Toast POS, simplifying the management of new items, specials, and item availability across all delivery platforms.
However, some users have encountered obstacles during the setup process for menus and revenue centers, and have faced difficulties when trying to access basic financial reports for restaurants.
Payment Processing Made Simple
As the sole manager of all credit and debit card transactions, Toast POS requires businesses to utilize its in-house payment processing service.
Payment processing rates on Toast POS vary from 2.49% to 2.99% plus 15 cents for high-volume restaurants, with adjusted rates for established businesses and options for value matching with current processors.
While contractually agreed upon, Toast POS can still increase transaction fees with a thirty-day notice during the contract period, imposing potential cost pressures on restaurants.
Although users have concerns about transparency and issues with credit card processing fees, Toast POS aims to promote transparency by offering custom rates and employing dedicated payment experts to mitigate hidden fees.
Toast POS Pricing Models Demystified
Offering several subscription tiers, Toast POS includes:
Toast POS stands out for its billing transparency, promising no hidden costs, bait-and-switch tactics, or unexplained rate hikes. The pricing model includes all fees upfront such as interchange fees paid to the issuing bank and network fees paid to card networks, ensuring that restaurants are well-informed about transaction costs.
Toast POS offers different payment models to cater to different needs:
In addition to the standard processing fees, Toast POS also provides an instant deposit option for credit card sales. With this option, funds are usually available in under 30 minutes, including on weekends and holidays. However, please note that there is an additional fee for this service.
Entry-Level Access
Toast POS offers a Starter Kit starting at $0/month, which includes 24/7 customer care, real-time fraud monitoring, order and table management, menu management, reporting, and analytics.
The Quick Start Bundle, available as an entry-level option, provides a hardware setup with one terminal and the basic POS software without any monthly cost or upfront fee.
Entry-level Toast POS customers opting for Pay-as-You-Go plans receive their basic hardware without upfront costs but are subject to higher transaction fees.
Scaling Up with Essentials
The Essentials plan includes critical features such as Toast Online Ordering, Toast Delivery Services, and integrations with third-party delivery services. Restaurants aiming to grow their online sales can utilize the Essentials plan’s email marketing, loyalty program, and gift card offerings.
The cost of the Essential plan is $165 per month, providing value for growing businesses seeking advanced features.
Toast POS Exclusive Services
With exclusive services such as the Toast Takeout App, comprehensive delivery service solutions, and a seamless loyalty program, Toast POS stands out.
The Toast Takeout App is part of the Toast POS offering, showing a commitment to streamlining the takeout process for customers and contributing to business growth.
Toast POS also offers a comprehensive delivery service solution that enables customers to place orders online and track their delivery status in real-time; Toast even provides access to a network of drivers for deliveries.
The loyalty program from Toast POS presents a seamless and personalized way to build customer loyalty. It offers the following features:
Toast’s CRM capabilities help manage customer relationships with tools such as basic customer feedback, email marketing, and custom loyalty programs.
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Toast Takeout: Simplifying Orders
The Toast Takeout app offers the following features:
Toast Takeout offers the following features:
These features ensure a seamless and convenient experience for users.
Delivery Solutions for Every Need
Toast POS provides delivery solutions through partnerships with DoorDash Drive, a white-label delivery service, enabling restaurants to offer deliveries without the need for their own fleet of drivers.
Toast allows restaurants to manage delivery operations by setting order acceptance windows during peak times, employing sound notifications for incoming orders, and putting limitations on delivery options.
The integrated online ordering system offered by Toast streamlines the process and sends orders directly to the kitchen, but has certain requirements that can lead to complications like the necessity for full 10-digit phone numbers and house numbers.
To help cover DoorDash charges, Toast adds an automatic delivery fee to orders, sends monthly invoices for delivery fees and tips, sets a 20% default tip during checkout, and restricts delivery zones to 5 miles.
Restaurants in Washington D.C. have witnessed effective control over delivery services and operations through the aid of Toast’s system.
Customer Support and Training Resources
Toast provides multiple customer support options, including:
The tech support team at Toast received mixed feedback, with a top vendor response to the 2024 Software Advice review. They also managed to win the Stevie Award for their customer service team.
For new users, Toast POS offers comprehensive training materials, including video tutorials and demos, as well as an extensive knowledge base and Toast University for troubleshooting and system education.
The quality of customer support provided by Toast is indicated by recognitions such as the Stevie Award for customer service, showcasing their commitment to excellent client support.
Always-on Assistance
Toast POS offers 24/7 customer support ensuring uninterrupted assistance any time of the day. Customers can reach Toast support through multiple channels, including phone support and live chat.
While customer service is generally friendly and helpful, there have been some challenges with response times during power outages, equipment failures, and high-demand periods such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Toast provides specialized account management and technical support to cater to the needs of enterprise brands.
Empowering Users
Toast POS offers video tutorials and user guides to help users understand and utilize the system effectively, thus enhancing their ability to onboard and train staff.
Through Toast Classroom, users have access to a ‘Getting Started’ series covering key functionalities like Menu, Toast Web, and POS, allowing for self-guided training across different aspects of the Toast system.
To facilitate the transition process, Toast employs onboarding consultants to help restaurants with setup activities like configuring menus and pricing on third-party delivery platforms, ensuring time savings and accuracy.
The Toast POS system is known for being intuitive, especially for new staff members who can learn to use it with minimal training. However, the installation process may require additional assistance.
Some users have reported negative experiences with the installation process of Toast POS, describing it as disastrous and claiming losses that lack accountability from Toast’s end.
Real-World User Experiences with Toast POS
Users commend Toast POS for its user-friendly interface that simplifies navigation and staff training alongside an updated and efficient system.
Restaurants experienced operational improvements with customizable nightly reports tailored to management needs after overcoming a learning curve to utilize full functionality.
Despite the system’s advantages, users faced issues with duplicated credit card charges and often encountered poor responsiveness from customer service, including difficulties with trained agents and reaching advanced support levels.
Though some users found Toast POS overwhelming due to its multitude of features, there’s a positive acknowledgment for its detailed reporting capability and sales-enhancing functions like QR code ordering.
Positive Feedback Highlights
Users laud Toast POS for its simple, user-friendly platform, real-time inventory editing, sharp and clean visual design, making it intuitive to use.
Toast POS is rated highly for its solid reporting features and the efficiency of its order management system. The friendly customer service and the reliable performance of the Toast POS system contribute to its positive reception.
Overall, Toast POS boasts a Forbes rating of 4.8 stars, indicating substantial satisfaction among its users and showing how Toast POS ranks highly in the industry.
In light of this, a Toast POS review would likely be positive and informative for potential customers, making it essential to check out various Toast POS reviews before making a decision. I also created a Toast Review on YouTube with pricing details, pros vs cons, and alternative solutions.
Addressing Criticisms
Toast POS has been the subject of various criticisms, both from end-users and expert reviews. The system’s policies on long-term contracts and payment processing have been flagged as inflexible; with a minimum two-year contract and hefty early termination fees, Toast POS is seen as rigid and prohibitive for new establishments.
There have been reports of equipment failures and challenges reaching customer support, which have had a detrimental impact on restaurant businesses' operations.
Operational frustrations arise from the system’s CRM offering and issues with specific features like the Toast Delivery Platform, which requires specific input that sometimes hinders efficient order-taking. So this is all something to keep in mind for your evaluation.
Streamlining Operations: Toast POS for Different Restaurant Sizes
Offering flexibility, Toast POS caters to businesses of all sizes, addressing varying operational needs from small coffee shops to large, multi-location establishments.
Whether you’re running a compact cafe or managing a chain of restaurants, Toast POS has the tools to streamline your operations and enhance efficiency.
Small Business Solutions
Toast POS offers a Quick Start Bundle starting at $0 per month and $0 upfront, which includes initial hardware and basic POS software, making it ideal for food trucks and single-location cafes. Handheld devices and online ordering features from Toast POS are praised for leading to increased sales and providing ease of use for small businesses.
For instance, Rosella Coffee successfully expanded their operation by implementing cafe software from Toast, demonstrating the system’s potential to support the growth of small businesses.
Enterprise-Level Efficiency
Toast POS serves over 400 leading enterprise brands, indicating its successful scalability for large-scale operations. National franchised brands and individual franchisees leverage Toast POS for corporate and operational needs.
Bareburger and Beach Hut Deli have successfully implemented Toast Enterprise POS across multiple locations, enhancing efficiency.
Toast POS offers the following benefits:
Toast POS in Action: Case Studies
A few case studies can illustrate the real-world effectiveness of Toast POS:
Bottom Line
As we’ve seen throughout this comprehensive review, Toast POS is a robust and versatile restaurant management solution. It offers a range of features from seamless third-party delivery integrations and robust payment processing to an intuitive interface and industry-grade hardware.
Whether you’re a small cafe or a large chain of restaurants, Toast POS has the tools to streamline your operations and enhance efficiency. However, it’s also important to consider the reported issues with customer service responsiveness and the system’s inflexible policies on long-term contracts and payment processing.
In conclusion, Toast POS is a comprehensive solution that blends efficiency with innovation, providing restaurants with the tools they need to succeed in the digital age. The system’s commitment to continuous innovation and its focus on providing a seamless restaurant management experience make it a compelling choice for any restaurant looking to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toast payment safe?
Yes, Toast payment is safe and secure, as it complies with PCI DSS standards and encrypts payment data to protect customer information.
Is Toast a reputable site?
Yes, Toast, Inc. is a reputable cloud-based restaurant management software company with an easy-to-use and flexible POS system. It offers a wide range of features and integrates with many software programs, making it a trustworthy choice for businesses.
Why is Toast POS so popular?
Toast POS is popular because it offers a comprehensive platform of software-as-a-service (SaaS) products and financial technology solutions that cater to all aspects of restaurant business management. This allows restaurants to manage their operations efficiently.
Is Toast the best POS system?
Yes, Toast is considered one of the best POS systems for restaurants, offering comprehensive features, user-friendly software, and strong community support.
What are the key features of Toast POS?
Toast POS provides seamless third-party delivery integrations, robust payment processing, an intuitive interface, and industry-grade hardware, making it a comprehensive solution for restaurant needs.
Additional Questions about Toast?
If you have any additional questions about Toast, let me know, and I'll do my best to answer them or to get an answer from the team.