Aloha POS Reviews
Aloha is possibly the most user-friendly POS system for restaurant owners on the market today and has made quite a name for itself over the past decade. This software product was developed by NCR, a highly reputable professional services company in the industry.
As one of the oldest POS systems around, people often ask,
Can it still keep up with POS systems from modern competitors, including Toast and Square?
Today, we're going to dive into the pros and cons of Aloha POS to help you make a decision that works for your business needs.
Pricing
Aloha POS runs on a quote-based monthly subscription, which goes for around $99 per month for each subscription.
However, you'll also have to pay more for the hardware, which is around $895 in total. Many people have luck with finding secondhand systems online, which might be worth looking into.
The payment processing system is quote-based. Depending on the size and income of your business, you may be able to get an inexpensive payment processing rate.
To get quotes from point of sale system manufacturers without paying a dime, make sure to click the button below! We ensure that business owners get the best deals on their POS purchases, and our service is completely free.
Features and Benefits
If you're looking for a user-friendly system, the Aloha POS system is one of the best on the market.
The display is clear and simple, making it easy for employees to go through complex operations, even when your establishment is busy.
The system has the ability to handle more complex operations better than other software, such as combo ordering, tab payments, and more.
NCR Aloha POS is the industry standard and is more widely used across the restaurant industry than other POS systems.
Restaurants, cafes, and bars have been using it for decades, so you can be certain that a large percentage of employees coming from other restaurant establishments will be familiar with its functions.
Let's take a look at a few of the features found on the Aloha POS system so that you can determine if it's the right fit for your business.
Payment Processing
Aloha point of sale can process payments in several forms, including cash, credit card, debit card, and mobile wallet. Beyond that, Aloha's payment processing system offers tokenization and point-to-point encryption.
Aloha users receive multi-level integration with major credit card companies and end-to-end transaction support. Your business can also get the deposits it needs quickly, thanks to next-day funding. This is helpful in several situations, especially for new businesses that are still getting their footing.
Order Fulfillment
With a combination of Aloha POS software and hardware, you can process customer orders in several ways, including fast-casual, table service, quick-service, and more. The system also allows for menu management. You can make prompt sales suggestions and modify orders in a pinch. Restaurants can also offer contactless ordering, takeout, and delivery with this system.
Other notable features for order fulfillment include:
These features work across multiple locations too, and can be set up in multiple languages.
Employee Management
You can manage your team with the handy employee management features, including task management, overtime, responsibilities, etc.
One of the really neat things about the Aloha POS system is that it allows for the sharing and distribution of tips. Employees can divvy up their checks with ease, which means less work for you and your management teams.
Mobile POS
Having the ability to manage and check in with your restaurant, even when you're not there, can be extremely helpful. With the Aloha mobile POS app, you can stay up to date with your operations using any kind of mobile device.
With the mobile app, you can check inventory levels, employee working hours, hourly net sales, and plenty of other metrics and performance statistics for your business.
The app works in real-time, so you can even take a look at the details of recently processed checks, the number of guests that are currently at your establishment, who is clocked in or out, and how many free tables there are.
You can even connect your mobile devices to your NCR Aloha hardware, which is the perfect workaround for having more hardware devices in your establishment without having to spend tons of money.
Cloud-Based Tech
The Aloha POS system is a cloud-based application, giving you access to any of your restaurant operations no matter where in the world you are. All you need is an Internet connection and you're good to go!
You can make price changes, menu changes, run promotions, and monitor your system from outside the store.
Reporting and Analytics
The Aloha POS dashboard provides employee reporting information, product information, access to sales, and much more. If you have multiple locations, you can check all of these different data points across your different stores at different time periods.
Whether you need to calculate your monthly labor cost, get a closer look at product changes or trends, or get a side-by-side look at your actual vs. target revenue, Aloha POS software makes it easy.
Hardware Terminals
You can run Aloha POS software on a few different terminals, including the NCR CX and PX terminals.
You can get the CX Series Terminal with a seven or ten-inch screen, or the upgraded CX5 with a 15 or 18-inch screen.
The CX hardware is far more versatile and upscale than the PX series. Plus, unlike the PX Series, you can pair this hardware with any kind of POS software, not just NCR Aloha POS.
On the other hand, you can get the PX Series Terminal with a 10 or 15-inch screen.
This LED-backlit terminal can be paired with a seven-inch customer-facing display, allowing you to visually track orders as they are entered.
Mobile
If you need a bit more flexibility with your restaurant, you can get one of the user-friendly mobile hardware options.
The NCR 7779 Tablet operates with an eight or ten-inch screen. It works with non-payment cards and contactless tags and has near-field communication.
The other option is the M70, which works on a seven-inch Android tablet. This mobile hardware option also supports contactless payments.
Complaints and Limitations
The main complaint about NCR Aloha POS is that there aren't many details regarding pricing online. The parent company, NCR, makes it very difficult for potential users to estimate the costs of purchasing this POS system. It's also very difficult to compare the NCR Aloha software with other software.
Lack of transparency is a major turn-off for many new users, which is likely why several people are moving to more modern and transparent POS systems, such as those from Clover and Square.
The lack of customer support is another complaint we often see. Several NCR Aloha users have noted that they aren't satisfied with the type of support they get from this POS provider. Reviewers also indicated that response times vary greatly. In some cases, it has taken days or weeks to get the help needed with their Aloha system.
If you're a restaurant owner that runs a busy establishment, having subpar customer support is a scary thought. There might be times when your POS system stops working during a rush, leaving you without transactional capabilities. If you're unable to get help desk support from the NCR command center, you might be out of luck for the time being.
Competing Alternatives
Clover POS
If you work in the restaurant industry, you've probably heard of Clover POS. It is one of the most popular POS companies and offers a multitude of quality hardware and software options.
You'll find several features that are similar to those found in the Aloha POS database, including inventory management, loyalty programs, and employee management.
Beyond those features, you'll also find features that are specifically tailored to the restaurant and retail industry.
For example, you can schedule employee shifts, set up low-stock alerts, make transactions without Wi-Fi, or manage your tables on the go.
Visit Clover POS Reviews to learn more.
Square has become somewhat of a household name.
This is the go-to quickservice POS. The company offers great software with several industry-specific features, perfect for bars and ghost kitchens.
The beauty of Square is that the company offers straightforward and transparent pricing.
You can start off with a free software plan or upgrade to the subscription plan, which costs $60 per month.
You'll find all of the features you'd expect from newer POS systems, including gratuity, menu management, table maps, tab-splitting, and more.
You'll also find several quality back-office operations, including customer insights, employee management, and reporting and analytics.
Aloha POS offers all-in-one systems and so does Square. If you need terminal access, cloud-based software, payment processing, and other additional features, this company can provide them.
Related articles include Clover Vs Square and Square Restaurant POS Reviews.
Final Verdict
There are a lot of things that Aloha does better than other POS providers. This system is more powerful and more reliable than most. It comes with all of the features that a restaurant could possibly need, including online ordering, secure access from out-of-store locations, and more.
However, Aloha does not provide the best local support or customer support. The company also lacks a transparent pricing model, which isn't helpful as a restaurant owner, considering you're probably spending so much money elsewhere.
Is there better cloud-based tech?
Absolutely.
Does that take away from the fact that Aloha is one of the most popular and easily-integrated systems in the restaurant business?
Definitely not.
Ready to get pricing information on the most reputable POS companies? Answer the few quick questions below to let us know what you need. It's our job to supply business owners with FREE price quotes based on their POS preferences. While our service won't cost a penny, it is intended to save you quite a few.
Tyler Connaghan
Contributing Author
