Aloha POS Reviews, Competitors, and Alternatives
At Katalyst OS, we pride ourselves on being our own biggest fans, but we thought it would be helpful to stack ourselves up against one of our top point of sale competitors. Aloha.
In fact we used Aloha for 14 years, we got tired of the platform and decided to create Katalyst OS. You might say we were scratching our own ich.
So, take this Aloha POS review and comparison with a grain of salt and enjoy the ride!
How Does Aloha Compare to Competitors?
Aloha has all the essential features of a POS system, such as payment processing, menu management, a kitchen display system, online ordering, and handheld device capability.
Here’s how the Aloha POS software stacks up to competitors in some popular services:
Cloud Point of Sale
❌
✅
✅
✅
Payment Processing
✅
✅
✅
✅
Reservations
❌
✅
✅
❌
Waitlist & Table Management
❌
✅
✅
❌
Loyalty Program
❌
✅
✅
✅
Gift Card Program
✅
✅
✅
✅
Kitchen Display System
✅
✅
✅
❌
Handhelds
✅
✅
✅
✅
QR code order & pay at table
❌
✅
✅
❌
Online Ordering
✅
✅
✅
✅
Catering
❌
✅
✅
❌
Dual Pricing Capable
✅
✅
✅
✅
Branded Mobile App
❌
✅
❌
❌
Self Order Kiosk
❌
✅
✅
❌
Open API
❌
✅
❌
❌
What is Aloha POS?
Overview & History
Aloha POS has been in the restaurant game for over 30 years now and is the preferred POS system of food spots ranging from small, independent cafes to global chains. The company competes in the restaurant industry with two main products: Aloha Essentials POS, which is made for restaurants looking for an “all-in-one” product, and Aloha Cloud POS, popular for restaurants that want a cloud-based solution.
Key Features & Functionalities
Front of House: Everyone benefits from Aloha: front of house, back of house, customers, restaurant management and restaurant owners. A key feature that’s particularly helpful to Front of House staff is the ability to send all orders to the kitchen using either a printer or a kitchen display monitor. Front of House can also choose between quick-service and full-service mode, depending on their needs.
Back of House: Menu items and pricing can be changed in an instant from the back office using Aloha. Plus, with online and in-person orders automatically behind sent to Back of House staff, efficiency and accuracy spike and stay high throughout the work day.
Guests: Customers are big fans of Aloha, too. After all, who doesn’t like free food? Aloha POS allows customers to enroll in a built-in loyalty program, which tracks sales and rewards customers with discounts or freebies.
Business Owners: Let’s face it- data isn’t really all that helpful unless you can actually read it. Aloha POS takes data and transforms it into easy-to-read and comprehend graphs and dashboards so that business owners can identify trends and automate sales forecasting.
Target Audience
Aloha POS is designed to cater to a wide range of restaurant and retail industries, from quick-service eateries with a handful of employees to corporate chains with thousands of guests and workers each day. The system’s scalable features are flexible and made to work in both small and large-scale operations. Features like inventory management, employee scheduling, and customer relationship management can all be customized to fit the unique requirements of both small and large businesses.
What is Aloha POS?
PROS
- 24/7 live support from Aloha POS customer service for system and menu setup
- Confusing business data is transformed into clear, concise reports
- Employees submit schedule availability and shift requests into Aloha Cloud, which in turn can make suggestions for scheduling
- With its built-in customer loyalty tools, Aloha Cloud can help turn customers into loyal regulars
CONS
- Aloha POS pricing can be expensive, particularly for small businesses. Aloha Cloud and Aloha POS cost of initial setup , payment processing fees, POS terminals ongoing maintenance and subscription fees can be significant.
- Some customers report long response times and difficulty in resolving technical issues.
- Since Aloha POS and Aloha Cloud are designed to work online, internet outages can disrupt and slow down every area of the restaurant operations.
- Some restaurant workers that use Aloha complain that its look and features are outdated when compared to other systems, while other Aloha POS users dealing with employee training claim a steep learning curve with the system.
How to Choose the Right POS Systems
POS systems aren’t a one-size-fits-all type of deal. To choose the right system for your restaurant, first answer these questions: What kind of restaurant do you run? Is it full-service, quick service, a food truck, or a bar? Do you accept cash only, card only, Apple Pay, or a mix of everything?
Next, decide which features are most important to you. Does your restaurant change menus often? If so, look for a POS system with a robust and easy-to-use menu customization feature. Would you like your system to handle reservations, waitlists, and employee scheduling? Choose a system with an employee and table management system.
Additionally, consider the ease of integration with your existing technology stack, such as accounting software or inventory management systems. User-friendliness and the quality of customer support are also critical factors that can affect the daily operations of your restaurant.
No matter which speciality features you choose to use, there are a handful of features that are paramount to the success of any restaurant. Be sure that your chosen POS system has all of the following: a built-in loyalty program, online ordering capabilities, a kitchen display system, table management, and of course, payment processing. Features like reservation creation, gift card programs, catering, and customized mobile app creation are the cherry on top of the cake.
Cost-wise, be sure to determine your budget, including upfront costs for hardware and ongoing costs for software subscriptions. Compare different pricing models such as flat fee, subscription-based, and per transaction to see what works best with your financial situation. Don’t get too spooked on pricing, though – consider the potential return on investment and how the POS system can help increase revenue.
Alternatives To Aloha POS System
Now is the time for our shameless plug. After decades of experience running restaurants and almost a decade of faithfully using the Aloha POS system, Katalyst founders Dan Roland and Scott Bleczinski started feeling the itch for something more. They wanted a system that could do it all—handle reservations, create branded mobile apps, offer guests a variety of payment options – you name it. Thus, Katalyst OS was born.
Katalyst OS is designed to exceed the capabilities and operational efficiency of popular POS system competitors like Toast and Square, providing a comprehensive solution tailored specifically for the needs of modern restaurants. The Katalyst sale system not only streamlines day-to-day operations but also enhances customer engagement through integrated loyalty programs, user friendly interface and advanced data analytics. It can manage inventory levels, employees as well as restaurant data. It’s built to be user-friendly yet powerful, ensuring that restaurant owners can focus on delivering exceptional dining experiences rather than wrestling with technology.
We’ve also prioritized seamless integration with third-party applications and flexible scalability, making Katalyst OS an ideal restaurant POS choice for both single-location eateries and expansive restaurant chains. To learn more about Katalyst OS’ exclusive system features,
click here.
