Micros or Radiant

[dooricem]

Hi there,

I really need help about deciding among these two POS systems for my new Quick Service Restaurant. 5 employees, 1 terminal to start with, simple menu. The concept is similar to Chipotle's (not the menu, but the flow). We want Quickbooks Integration, delivery module, labor tracking... In terms of service, reliability, user friendliness, reports and other variables, which system will you recommend for a small Quick Service Start-up? I have seen good and bad reviews about both from different users from different backgrounds and I really got confused. It looks like both of them will meet our needs for sure and both of them can actually do more than what we need. So, which one is the way to go? Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. (We will chose one of these systems. So I would appreciate if you can limit your reviews to these systems only, but of course I would like to read if you have to say something about other guys as well.)

Sincerely,
Jim

 

[moodgrl]

Stay Away from MICROS, absolutely a nightmare!!! I know a few places that use Micros and we all say the same thing, once they take your money they drop you and system is way to difficult to operate!!!

 

[coorsman]

Maitre'd

 

[azrobert]

I use Micros in 7 locations and have love it!
it is expensive but in my opinion the best.
If you are looking for a cheap answer micros is not
it, but you get what you pay for kind of applies here.
You will hear complaints from people about the cost and
difficulty level but most of those come from people that
do not want to pay for support or should not be using computers.

 

[coorsman]

Please check out this link

http://www.maitredpos.com/products/demos/md_en/default.html

 

[TobeThor]

Out of the box perspective. POS sales reps generally just skim the surface of their POS OPS and capabilities. Invest time and do your homework. Two aspects to consider heavily; 1. they are both public companies, 2. their focus and market share is largely on chains.

There are (IMO) big drawbacks to both. Despite what they tell you, public co's are responsible to create profits for their share holders. Many of those profits are created when they sell their products to their Dealers (not to end-users). IOW when the company needs to generate more profits, they consider various ways to get more revenues from their Dealer network, which by the way drives up the Dealers overhead and thereby will result in a higher cost of ownership because the Dealer will pass any new costs onto you. That's only one drawback of the public company.

Chains - POS companies that focus their attention on chains (IMO) have a less flexible product. Chains do not need or desire a POS product that tells the site Mgr every little detail of the operation. To the chain that's a dangerous situation.

Don't assume TGI Fridays or any of the big chains rely on Aloha & Micros's reporting engine. It's more likely they use a 3rd party software package to deliver reporting data of real value.

 

[DrZogg]

Micros needs a system champion in your business. As a programmer I find it easy, but I always find sites that have problems are the ones where no dedicated administrator is assigned, or where IT is not respected as a business tool
mrpinks

 

[coorsman]

I owned a restaurant and had Squirrel - it is very functional and easy to add - delete and change prices, items and employees you can do all changes real time -"without refreshing or rebooting the system". All changes and most reports can be made from the terminals and are updated immedietly. Keeps management out of the office!

They now have Squirrel in a box. Up to 3 terminals great new pricing - based on user modules and they can be upgraded at any time with just a phone call.

I still say it's the best system for full service and fine dining restaurants.

Check it out....

http://www.squirrelsystems.com/restaurant-pos-systems/fine-dining.htm

 

[pmegan]

I've got to agree with azrobert and mrpink3. We use the Micros 3700 in all 17 of our restaurants and I wouldn't use anything else. I spent a few years as programmer for a Micros dealership so I'm a little biased, but I just don't like the other POS products. I looked into other POS products when we upgraded a few years ago, going as far as loading copies of Aloha and Positouch software on test servers, (which will surprise some friends who work for a local Aloha dealership). Positouch was, in my opinion, the most cumbersome product I've ever tried to use so they were out almost immediately. Aloha was OK, but there was nothing there to make me consider switching.

My company is all table service restaurants. I know from the readme docs that there are a ton of features in the Micros 3700 specifically for quick service ordering. I don't know what Aloha offers since I had no reason to look into it, but if I was in your position I'd compare Micros 3700 & E7 systems along with whatever Aloha offers and the features each system offers for quick service. Every product will have problems, so don't make your decision solely on what the systems can do. I'd also recommend digging through this forum and checking out the posts for help with Aloha and Micros. That might give you an idea of the problems other users are having with both systems. Talk to some other restaurants in your area who use these systems too. Find out what the service is like from both companies; that could be a huge factor. Here in NY the local Micros dealership has there own helpdesk and service teams. There's around 40-50 techs all over the city and a few supply vans roaming around in case a tech doesn't have a part. We rarely wait more that 2 hours for service.

Whichever way you go, I would definately recommend buying your hardware from the vendor. It will probably be more expensive, but when a workstation tanks on a busy friday night you want to be sure that the service tech who shows up has the right parts.

Hop that helps,
Pat

 

[SwampGas]

Don't go to a forum and get advice from stranges (Like me). Go see some demos of POS systems and then contact others directly who use the systems you are interested and ask them.

Most pos companies will give you references of who to contact. These references will tell you the good and bad.

Me, I'm an Aloha shop with 500 restaurants. I'll tell people who contact me for references the good and bad of any of the pos systems we've used. One good point with the references most pos companies will present to you is they will usually match the references to concepts similar to your size. My opinion about a POS system for my company size most likely will not be for the same needs and support you may need. But I cannot on a forum cannot tell what product is better, about the same as asking what is better.. mac or pc.

MegabyteCoffee.com

 

[alohaakamai3]

This discussion could go on forever, I could think of a ton of reasons to go with either one, or recommend several others. But I think TobeThor brings up what may be the best comment and similar to what I consistently recommend to prospective buyers.

The more popular systems seem to have a very take it or leave it approach to the way they due business... quite frankly, because they can. In terms of your relationship with the dealer, you often find very little flexiblity, and sometimes less personal service after the sale. Like Tobe said, dealers carrying these products are under tremdous pressure to make their numbers, not only for their own company, but also for the companies they represent.

I'm not bashing Aloha here or it's dealers (the bulk of my experience comes with them), I actually have a number of customers who use their product and for most part I find it to be very solid. But the reason I got many of these clients is due to horrible service, inflexibility with service contracts or billing, and poor hardware.

Regarding the latter, while I have heard Aloha hardware has gotten better, they have put out some very shakey POS terminals that have an extremely variable life. I've had clients who bought some of their POS terminals as little as two years ago, that are no longer working (in one restaurants case, 4 out the 5 they purchase were dead in under 30 months). They do offer warranties, but as they say, the warranty is only as good as the company backing it.

My point? It was about profitability, just like Tobe said, and creating a low cost terminal that would make Aloha more competitive, but unfortunately, at the cost of quality.
You'd be hard pressed to find any of the two dealers you mentioned willing to let you provide your own hardware... they have hardware sales quotas too, and most dealers of any software may let out an audible groan when you tell them you want to provide your own equipment (I don't recommend doing that either).

In short, I am saying the software of the two companies you mentioned may very well work for you... it's often the relationship with the dealer than smaller customers find lacking.

I am not sure why you have narrowed it down to these two, maybe you have your reasons. But features have gotten so standardized over the last few years, there are many solutions that will do the job. The most important thing is that you get references from customers who have the product that was installed and maintained by the same dealer you'll be using.... extremely important.