Is Your POS Ready for the Holiday Rush?
A quick checklist to get your system, your staff, and your supplies ready before your busiest weeks of the year.
We know it's crazy to think about, but the holidays are coming up quicker than you think!
Thanksgiving Eve. Small Business Saturday. Holiday parties. New Year's Eve.
The busiest nights of the year are the worst time to find out something isn't working. A few minutes of prep now can save you a lot of stress later.
Here's where to start.
1. Update Your Menu and Prices
Add holiday specials, seasonal items, and any price changes now, not the morning of.
Then make sure every new item prints or displays where it should: kitchen, bar, or expo.
A quick test order is the easiest way to check.
2. Test Your Hardware and Stock Up
Turn on every terminal, printer, handheld, and card reader. Make sure each one connects and works the way it should.
If something isn't working right, get it fixed now, not in the middle of a rush.
Then stock up on receipt paper and printer supplies before you need them.
3. Get Seasonal Staff Set Up
New hires need logins and the right permissions before their first shift, not during it.
Give them a quick walk-through of the basics, like ringing in orders, taking payments, and closing out.
For quick refreshers, search our Video Support Library for short how-to videos on everyday tasks like printers and end-of-day reports.
4. Make Gift Cards Easy to Buy
Gift cards are one of the easiest holiday sales you'll make, and they bring people back in the new year.
Make sure they're set up, your staff knows how to sell them, and customers can see that you offer them.
5. Know Your Backup Plan
What happens if the power or internet goes out on your busiest night?
Cellular backup covers your internet. Battery backup buys you time when the power goes out. They solve two different problems.
Not sure what your setup has? Read Battery Backup vs. Cellular Backup.
Already an HCS Customer?
Call us before the rush for menu changes, printer routing, or anything that isn't working right. You can also buy receipt paper and other supplies by phone, then pick them up or have them shipped.
Not an HCS Customer Yet?
If your POS gave you trouble last holiday season, don't wait for it to happen again. Let's find a system that's ready for your busiest nights, with real support behind it.