What is the primary function of a point of sale (POS) system in a restaurant?

The primary function of a point of sale (POS) system in a restaurant is to process orders and payments. This system serves as the central hub for transaction management, enabling staff to take customer orders, send them to the kitchen, and manage the billing process efficiently. With a POS system, every sale is tracked, which helps in inventory management, sales reporting, and overall financial analysis.

Having a reliable method for processing payments is crucial for customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. In addition to handling payments, modern POS systems often integrate additional features such as inventory tracking and sales analytics, further enhancing their role in restaurant management. Other options like managing employee schedules, creating menus, and handling food safety inspections are important tasks but fall outside the primary function of a POS system. These tasks can be managed through separate systems or software specifically designed for those purposes.