Aldelo POS System Reviews
Aldelo offers 3 different POS systems and this review covers them all!
Each one has its own set of strengths, features and is ideal for certain businesses.
Continue below to take a look at my handy guide and get all the information you need to decide how well each of these models can work in your business.
Aldelo POS Systems
Quick Answer:
Aldelo Express - Best for Small Businesses
Aldelo POS - Best for Full-Service Restaurants
Xera POS - Best for Restaurant Chains
Aldelo provide three POS systems: Aldelo POS, Aldelo Express and XERA POS. All three are designed to fit different niches within the food and beverage industry, with some businesses even choosing to run a combination of the XERA and Express packages.
Pricing
The basic packages from Aldelo can be accessed free of charge by businesses using the Aldelo Pay gateway, which offers seamlessly integrated payments for Aldelo Express or Aldelo POS. If you prefer payment process functions to be carried out by a third party, there will be a fee for using the rest of the Aldelo software (quote-based depending on the number of terminals and add-on options).
Hardware packages are also available from Aldelo and priced on request.
Key Features
All three systems share a set of common core functions, including:
Each of the systems has advantages within certain areas, so here is a rundown of the key points of difference that make each system so well suited to their specific target business types.
The Aldelo Express cloud restaurant POS works with either iOS or Android mobile devices, which gives extra flexibility compared to several other providers of restaurant cloud POS made for iPad only. This also means greater mobility and streamlined operation compared to Aldelo POS or XERO POS.
Being the most streamlined version, Aldelo Express iPad-based cloud POS doesn't have quite as many features for full-service operations or multi-store businesses as the other options. First, let's take a look at what this system does offer, then I'll run you through the extra features available if you decide to fork out the extra for the full Aldelo POS suite or even XERO POS.
Ease of Implementation
The Aldelo Express mobile POS for Android or iOS is one of the simplest systems to implement I have come across. The combination of intuitive design with an easy-to-follow setup wizard allows you to have at least the basics up and running in minutes.
If you do run into any difficulties, the Aldelo Technical Support team is available to assist at no extra cost to your business. Depending on your payment processing options, it's possible to access various extra levels of free support (as well as software, training, and features).
Menu and Ordering Features
Despite being sold as a slimmed-down mobile version of the full Aldelo POS suite, there's no shortage of field-proven functions to support smooth customer interaction. Menus can be set up with both complete items and "built" dishes e.g. customizable pizzas. All orders can be transmitted directly to a Kitchen Display System or kitchen printer. You can also use a customer display to show pictures and descriptions of your products to diners, allow them to place their own orders, and enter coupon codes for discounts. Bar tabs can be kept separate or combined with table billing.
Online Sales
For companies offering online ordering, a Masa+ online store made for iPad and Android Aldelo Express integration offers flexible online ordering and payment, whether for takeout/delivery or used in-house to allow customers to place their orders straight from their mobile device at the table.
Loyalty and Gift Programs
From the moment customers walk in through the door, Aldelo Express mobile features work to turn walk-ins into repeat customers. You can capture and store customer data and use the Masa+ integration to create coupons, gift certificates, and custom discount offers for those customers.
Integrations
The Aldelo Express mobile POS package includes options for Open API access, allowing for seamless integration with third-party applications and a significant expansion from the basic functions of the core system.
However, the API compatibility of Aldelo POS systems isn't as broad as some other providers (see the "Competing Alternatives" section) so if you are looking to link with a specific application it's important to check whether it's supported.
Best for Full-Service Restaurants - Aldelo POS
Aldelo POS is the company's standard cloud POS for restaurants. Originally desktop-based (Windows/Mac OS), it has been the choice of over 80 000 businesses in the US alone, and the new "Aldelo POS 2e" version has more features than ever, including iOS compatibility so you can also access the power of this system by iPad, similarly to the Aldelo Express cloud restaurant POS.
Menu Management
Each ingredient in a dish can be linked to that menu item in the new Aldelo POS 2e.
This allows for precise monitoring of cost despite fluctuations in fresh produce prices and the tracking of availability via the inventory management module. This avoids that awkward moment when an order is taken before the kitchen realizes they are out of one key ingredient. Aldelo Express does not currently include all the functions of this module.
Employee Management
Restaurant efficiency being key to restaurant success, POS for windows from Aldelo contains a full-featured employee management module. Schedule setting, timesheet management, and tip sharing are all handled with ease, while sales data can be viewed for individual servers and teams.
Reservations
The Aldelo POS allows not only for bookings to be assigned to tables but also the management of waiting lists, reservation adjustments (without having to cancel and remake a reservation within the system). Back office features also allow for guest count to be broken down and analyzed by times of day, group types, etc.
Best for Restaurant Chains - Xera POS
XERO, being designed at larger Enterprise-level businesses, has a broader set of reporting insights and multi-outlet features compared with the other two.
Table Management Features
On the table layout design, XERA allows the addition of other details such as the location and function of counters or kiosks.
Tables can also be divided into sections for the attention of specific servers and moved between virtual sections during service to ensure an even workflow.
Integrated Customer Relationship Management
When a customer calls the restaurant, an integrated caller ID function automatically brings up their previous reservation and order history, allowing staff to immediately tailor their telephone interactions to the customer's preferences, loyalty category, etc. These details are all linked to the back-end reporting system also, so you can get insights on where your repeat custom is coming from and which categories of customers are the most lucrative.
Multiple locations
You want all of your outlets to secure repeat business with multi-store loyalty programs, so even traveling customers can take advantage of rewards. Aldelo's Masa multi-store gift processing, available as either e-cards or physical gift cards, even allows you to join your restaurant with other groups of businesses so you can all benefit from gift cards. For example, if your restaurant is attached to a shopping mall, you could have gift cards sold in stores valid for both store shopping and meals in your establishment.
Common Issues
There are clearly many benefits to an Aldelo restaurant point of sale package, but what are the downsides other than the relatively few integration options compared to other systems?
Where clients have raised issues in their own reviews, these tend to focus on two areas.
Firstly, the interface, whilst having an intuitive design and easy basic operation, has been reported as prone to glitching. Some users also reported that more advanced features can be difficult to locate and access.
Second, there have been reports about the responsiveness of the customer support team dropping off in recent years. For businesses who choose Aldelo Pay, support features being free is one of the main benefits. So, if the level of service provided is not up to scratch this reduces the value of that package.
Toast is a comprehensive mobile POS for Android that restaurant businesses have found highly effective.
It has many similar benefits to Adelo Express in using handheld devices, cloud-based mobility, seamlessly integrated payments, and an offline mode to prevent disruption when experiencing connection issues.
One of the main advantages of Toast is the range of powerful back-office features, offering control of and insights on every aspect of your restaurant.
For example, you can view trends in ordering by dish or even individual ingredients, giving a clear picture of what your customers want and how that changes seasonally and year-on-year.
Toast can get expensive if you require the full feature set, and especially depending on hardware (they warn against using third-party hardware providers and won't provide support for them). Aldelo, by contrast, provides starter POS hardware, services, etc at a more palatable price point.
Upserve is an entirely iPad-based cloud point of sale system, as opposed to the choice between iPad and Android Aldelo Express offers. Powered by the company behind Lightspeed Retail, the cloud-based mobility, seamless interaction, ordering, and payment process features are exactly what you'd expect from such a trusted provider.
Menu management insights are the biggest advantage of this POS made for iPad. Dishes can be categorized as Greatest Hits (bestsellers), One-Hit Wonders (popular at first but rarely ordered twice), Underperforming items, and Hidden Gems (items not many have tried but which tend to attract reorders).
Price point comparisons depend on the required feature set so you may want to get in-depth information from Upserve and Aldelo before making a decision between the two.
Final Verdict
The better Aldelo cloud POS for your business depends on the scale and complexity of your model.
Aldelo Express is the most accessible option but the extra features of the Aldelo POS appeal to higher-end restaurants.
Many larger operations opt for a combination of the Xera POS for their overall business management and Aldelo Express (iPad-based) for front-of-house use.
Tyler Connaghan
Contributing Author
