TouchBistro Inc. is an all-in-one mobile point-of-sale and restaurant management system that helps streamline your restaurant operation.
It comes up often in conversations about the best point of sale systems for restaurants, thanks to its ease of use. However, some online reviews suggest it might not be as good as it looks at first glance.
In the rest of this TouchBistro review, we break down all aspects of this business to help you determine if this is a viable option for your next restaurant point of sale solution. We evaluate TouchBistro pricing, key features, user interface and support, and more, so you don’t have to.
TouchBistro POS plans and prices
How much does TouchBistro cost? Good question! Expect to pay three times a month to get the most out of TouchBistro’s restaurant management systems.
The TouchBistro website provides a small amount of pricing information, but there’s not as much transparency as we would have liked to see. According to the company’s website, POS licenses start at just $ 69 per month, which is comparable to the entry-level plans of most other companies.
This includes:
- Management of various menus
- Managing tables
- Analysis tools
- 24/7/365 customer support
Unfortunately, however, there is no readily available information on the high-end plans available or what they include.
Additional modules
There are various TouchBistro POS add-ons, shown below.
| Add | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Online order | From $ 50 / month | |
| Reservations | From $ 229 / month | |
| Support for gift cards | From $ 25 / month | |
| Loyalty | From $ 99 / month | |
| Self-service kiosk | From $ 69 / month | |
| Digital menu boards | From $ 20 / month |
On top of that, you can expect to pay card processing and / or transaction fees. However, these vary depending on your country / region, and the TouchBistro website does not provide any information on what exactly you will pay.
How does the TouchBistro point of sale system work?
TouchBistro point of sale software
Is TouchBistro POS cloud based? Yes, in part. Although their software is hosted through an on-premises server, the POS application data is stored in the cloud. This not only means that you can continue to sell your customers without an internet connection, but it also allows you to access company data from any browser.
The user interface itself is quite attractive and functional, if a bit clunky. Various add-on integrations are available, including a kitchen display system, an auto-controlled kiosk display, and a customer-oriented display.
TouchBistro point of sale equipment
TouchBistro uses an iPad-based system that is designed for ease of use and flexibility. Getting started is pretty straightforward, and in many cases, you’ll be able to access professional technical support to make sure you’re up and running as soon as possible.
Small businesses will benefit from a streamlined single iPad point-of-sale system, suitable when you have a single terminal to accept payments and manage orders. Mid-sized systems with up to five iPads can be used with a sixth iPad as the central terminal, for sit-down transactions.
Larger systems can be custom built with a more powerful computer as the central hub, allowing you to connect as many mobile devices as you need.
Features and services TouchBistro POS
Like most restaurant-specific POS systems, TouchBistro offers a range of features designed to help you maximize occupancy, efficiency and customer satisfaction.
✓ TouchBistro table management tool
One of our favorite features is TouchBistro’s table management tool. Of course, it’s not unique by design, but it does allow you to create a unique floor plan that mirrors your restaurant to make day-to-day order management easier.
✓ Order and payment TouchBistro Tableside
TouchBistro’s tabletop ordering and payment tools stand out for their excellence. Each feature provides staff with everything they need to maximize order value, ensure accurate order placement, and process payments quickly and flexibly.
✓ TouchBistro analyzes and reports
There is nothing worse than being forced to make important business decisions without knowing what you should be doing. TouchBistro point-of-sale systems help you make informed business decisions, by providing a range of powerful reports and in-depth analysis.
✓ TouchBistro staff management and planning tools
Save time and simplify the planning process with TouchBistro’s integrated tools. Easily create new lists with the click of a button, track employee working hours and labor costs, and communicate directly with employees when issues arise.
✓ Inventory management
Quickly calculate basic stock inventory and easily monitor beverage costs, with TouchBistro’s user-friendly inventory management feature.
✓ Integration of the TouchBistro application
From WorldPay to Xero, 7shifts and QuickBooks, TouchBistro point-of-sale systems integrate easily with many favorite restaurant industry apps.
✓ TouchBistro Kitchen Display System (KDS)
With real-time performance feedback, improved ordering accuracy, and transparent communication between administrative and internal staff, TouchBistro’s KDS is not to be missed. Your team can minimize human error and optimize every order without the blink of an eye: the TouchBistro point of sale will do the thinking for you!
TouchBistro POS customer support and service
TouchBistro provides a range of support services including multinational phone support and email service through its online contact form. It also has local offices in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Mexico, which have their own local telephone numbers and contact details.
Self-help resources are also available through the Support and Training Center, including various setup tutorials and user guides. There are even helpful videos detailing specific actions.
However, online customer reports do not paint a good picture of TouchBistro’s after-sales support and customer service. The company receives a 4.2 / 5 star rating (out of 308 reviews) on Capterra, a popular software review site, but its customer service rating is only 3.9.
Much of the reviews are about poor customer service and support services, which is a major concern.
TouchBistro POS Contest
If you are looking for a top rated restaurant point of sale service provider, we recommend that you check out Upserve POS. Its software prices start at $ 59 per month, it uses a very flexible system, and its customer service is known to be excellent.
Another great option is Square POS, which offers flexible point of sale services tailored to various industries. It doesn’t charge any monthly software fees, but you will be hit with a 2.6% + 10c transaction fee.
Final verdict
All in all, TouchBistro provides excellent point of sale solutions for restaurants. Its customer service receives poor ratings online, but reports suggest that this is largely due to its agents being slow and response times can be slow.
Ultimately, the company’s feature-rich software, competitive pricing, and straightforward setup process more than make up for these drawbacks. We recommend checking out TouchBistro if you’re looking for a powerful, customizable, data-driven point of sale program designed specifically for restaurants.
