What Should Your Restaurant Management Software Entail?

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There is no shortage of restaurant management software available. The problem is knowing how to choose what’s going to best suit your needs.

Spend time digging into what your actual needs are. Finding a system that meets those needs will have a lot of benefits, not the least of which is improving productivity by streamlining some of the work that has to be accomplished.

It can be a formidable task considering all the variables that come into play. Daunting, perhaps, but not impossible. All you need is a little help!

Considerations for your software

These are some of the areas which need some thought when it’s time to look into software for your restaurant:

  • How much can you spend? This should be the first question you answer. There’s no sense in falling in love with a system that has all the bells and whistles if it’s way out of your price range! Also, don’t forget about costs like fees for monthly support, licensing, and additional hardware you may need. Get a handle on the budget before you start shopping!
  • Where do you want your data stored? In other words, would you feel more comfortable with your updates and data stored on a computer that is physically at the restaurant or are you fine with everything being stored in a cloud-based server?
  • What features do you need? There are differences in the features that are offered by many POS systems. Which of these are necessary for your system to have? This is a sampling of the kinds of needs you may have:
    • Will you be integrating Quickbooks?
    • Do you require the capability to take online orders and/or reservations?
    • Will you need to process credit cards?
    • Do you need mobile payments to be a possibility?
    • Will your system be used for managing employee time cards?

Software choices

All restaurant POS systems aren’t created equally! Let’s take a look at the ones that are generally accepted as the best of the best.

  • Toast POS. The pros of the system are the ease of use and simplicity of the setup. A reported downside is the difficulty reaching customer support in a timely manner.
  • TouchBistro Restaurant POS. This is an iPad based system. The pros include ease of use and set-up, especially for someone who is already familiar with Apple products. It is compatible with iPhones, which is a handy feature for Apple users. Similar to Toast, the biggest drawback appears to be the timeliness with which customer service responds.
  • ShopKeep POS. ShopKeep is also an iPad system. The customer service with this system is quite responsive. Other pros include the ease of use and sales tracking. The cons are a lack of compatibility with chipped cards and iPhones.
  • Torqus POS. As opposed to some of the other systems on our list, this one is Android based. The support users receive is excellent without much of a wait time involved. The solutions Torqus provides are comprehensive and can boost productivity. A con is the system’s incompatibility with Apple iOS.

You won’t be sorry for spending an adequate amount of time researching the different products available. Researching gives you the best opportunity to assess what your needs are and the restaurant management system that fits those needs best.

Electronic Health Records: What You Need to Know

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Electronic Health Records, or EHR, have been around since 1991.

The idea was introduced by a report put out that year by the Institute of Medicine.

At that time they were called Electronic Medical Records, though a modern distinction has been made between the two terminologies.

The overall concept is the same. It’s a digital version of a patient’s medical chart.

The differences in EHR and EMR are basically in the scope of what they include in their data.

EMR vs. EHR

The terms are often used interchangeably, though that isn’t actually correct because there are contrasts.

An Electronic Medical Record includes all the information that would normally go on a patient’s paper chart, such as history, diagnoses, treatments, and any other pertinent details for one provider or practice.

An EMR isn’t shared between providers.

An Electronic Health Record includes all the same information that an EMR does, plus some.

An EHR is a more comprehensive compilation of health history and it is designed to be shared between providers.

The sharing of an EHR also extends to places like labs and pharmacies and can even extend beyond state borders.

Electronic Health Records are basically the natural effects of advancing technology!

The benefits of EHR

More than two-thirds of physician respondents in the Physician Sentiment Index feel that EHR have the capability to improve patient care.

How exactly do they raise the level of care a patient receives?

  • Convenience. At a basic level, there are no stacks of paper to deal with. The necessary information can be retrieved with a few clicks. There is less hassle and time involved, increasing overall productivity.
  • Fewer errors. Paper records tend to have more mistakes than their digital counterpart. Obviously, medical mistakes can have larger and more important implications than mistakes in other fields.
  • Open communication. When all the medical professionals involved in the care of a patient can have equal access to the big picture of their medical history and records, a diagnosis and treatment plan are quicker in coming.
  • Follow ongoing care. Doctors are able to follow the progress and ongoing care of their patients more easily when it is all in one easily accessible database. Collaboration of care is greatly simplified.
  • Lessen the stress of emergency situations. EHR can literally be life-saving in an emergency. Having a patient’s complete medical history at their fingertips can save precious time, especially in a situation where the patient is unable to speak.

Choosing the right software

All EHR software isn’t created equal.

There are some components providers should look for when choosing the best software for their practice.

  • Make sure it’s certified. The certification comes from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology or ONC. There are rules and requirements that must be followed at the risk of receiving penalties.
  • Think about privacy and security. The software should guarantee the safety of files, as well as backup. Make sure that the company is using the most up-to-date safety measures.
  • Consider the cost. Some EHR software has a large initial cost but lower fees to maintain. Others are free or less costly up-front but don’t have the features needed or charge a lot for maintenance and upgrade. Consult with a representative of the software company and make sure to be apprised of all the costs associated.
  • Put a lot of weight on customer care. If something malfunctions, having the necessary help to get back on track is vital. Choose a software company that is known for their client care, like Medipro, Inc.

The benefits of an EHR program outweigh any initial hesitancy that is associated with implementing a new program.

How to Design the Perfect Flyer

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When it comes to getting attention for your business in a quick and economical way, you can’t do much better than a flyer. Long since seen as simplistic and a little behind the pace in the digital age, a flyer is in fact an extremely effective piece of marketing collateral. And the fact that flyers can be printed cheaply and quickly adds to their effective appeal.

 

Designing a flyer seems equally as simple, but it can be difficult to get it just right. Flyer printing and leaflet printing can form an integral part of your marketing campaign, so long as you design the right materials for your purposes. Here are some tips for getting your flyers just right.

 

Work Out Your Message

Before you contact printing companies to print your flyers, and before you start actually designing the flyers themselves, you need to know what you want to say. This may appear obvious, but many businesses don’t get as specific as they need to when working out the design of a flyer, and as a consequence the design becomes cluttered and any useful messages are lost. A flyer should have one purpose, whether that is advertising an event, promoting a new service, launching a product, or offering a discount or reward. Once you know what you are promoting you also need to be clear about your audience. The design of your flyer will be highly dependent on the audience you want to attract. If you are unsure about the overall message and style you should be aiming for, look at flyers chasing the same kind of audience and see what works and what could be improved.

Simplify Your Message

Once you’ve worked out your message, make it simpler. You need something that will be instantly recognised and understood in just a few seconds. This is the time your audience has when they walk past a display with your flyer, or they are handed a flyer in the street. Leave the in-depth and complicated text and images to brochure printing or a website. You can use bullet points or different sections to draw attention to the key messages of your flyer.

 

Use High Quality Images

And make your images large. Effective flyer printing makes excellent use of images. A large image calls attention even from far away – the more eye-catching the better. Steer clear of stock images and generic images. Choose the right image that is perfect for your brand and your event or offer. If you use the right image you can keep text to a minimum, and stick to using only the bare essentials for telling people what you are promoting.

 

Image courtesy of Naypong/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

3 Reasons Work-From-Homers Shouldn’t Use Their Homes as Meeting Spots

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Working from home can be a liberating experience, particularly if you’ve spent a good chunk of your professional life reporting to an office every day. Additionally, conducting business from the comfort of your residence is synonymous with a number of perks. Not having to get up early, contend with rush hour traffic and allow someone else to determine your work hours are just a few of the perks of being your own boss. Still, while your home may make a great workspace, it’s not necessarily the best place to meet with current or prospective clients. When meeting with clients or business associates, it’s generally a good idea to rent out a professional office or conference room for the following reasons.

1. Noise

If you cohabitate with pets or small children, odds are you’re no stranger to noise. Although you may have grown accustomed to high levels of noise, the clients you meet with may not be so amenable. Attempting to hold a business meeting in an environment that’s plagued by noise pollution is practically guaranteed to cause you and any clients with whom you’re meeting a great deal of frustration. Furthermore, holding a meeting with a prospective client in a noise-laden home is liable to make him or her think twice about enlisting your services. With this in mind, make a point of renting out a conference room or professional office – like the kind offered by Main Suites LLC – for your next meeting.

2. Messiness

When meeting with clients, it’s important for your workspace to project an air of professionalism. However, since most homes are chockfull of everyday clutter, children’s toys and assorted personal items, it can be difficult to imbue one’s living environment with a professional feel. Furthermore, most people possess neither the time nor inclination to clean their residence from top to bottom every time a client is scheduled to come over.

3. Safety

Meeting a prospective client in person for the first time is always a little risky. Even though the odds of something going wrong are very slim, allowing someone you’ve never met to enter your home isn’t always a good idea. As such, it’s recommended that you meet with first-time clients in public places before inviting them into your residence.

There’s little wonder as to why many people find working from home preferable to reporting to a traditional workplace every morning. However, home offices generally aren’t great places to meet with clients, be they current or prospect, for the reasons listed above. The next time you’re slated to meet with a client, take care to book a temporary office or conference room.

Rise and Fall of Indonesia Market

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As fluctuative and unstable as markets are in all parts of the world, the Indonesia market has undoubtedly been on the rise. Reports show an upward trend in a few sectors of the market. But which economic sectors that previously did well for the past few quarters that are now starting the 2017 on the wrong foot and falling on a downward spiral? Keep reading to find out.

In the third quarter, PT. Surya Internusa Tbk (SSIA) may have reported a massive revenue of over Rp 3.01 trillion – quite a huge chunk of revenue for those who do not keep an eye on the company. Little do they know, as big revenue as that was, Rp 3.01 trillion is actually still 21.8% lower compared to its revenue in 2015. So how could this extreme dip happen? Various reports and charts show that the tragic dip of one of the stars in Indonesia market is largely caused by a drop of overall net profit – which means all of the business lines that belong to the company took such a significant to their revenues. Take PT. Nusa Raya Cipta Tbk (NRCA) for instance, the construction business that belongs to PT. Surya Internusa Tbk (SSIA) may have done well during the first and second quarter of 2016 and was shown to be hovering above 64.8% of its initial target revenue all thanks to a number of massive construction projects it landed – unfortunately, however, it slowed down when 2016 almost drew to a close.

Another one in Indonesia market that fell off its track is PT. Asuransi Bina Dana Arta Tbk (ABDA), the story of this insurance giant is a tragic one. Previously booked a revenue for a whooping Rp 220.94 billion in the third quarter of 2015, in the same period last year, PT. Asuransi Bina Dana Arta Tbk (ABDA) could barely make it out of 2016 with Rp 90.31 billion – if that doesn’t seem like the worst of tragedy, I don’t know what else. How could this happen to PT. Asuransi Bina Dana Arta Tbk (ABDA) though? According to the financial reports we obtained, all of the available investment schemes that belong to the company faced issues and were all significantly decreased – resulting in loss of income of about 59%. This unfortunate incident is due to the combination of significant increase of PT. Asuransi Bina Dana Arta Tbk (ABDA)’s expenses and also the decrease of its investment.