Author: Roy Casiano — August, 2025
For decades, the point-of-sale (POS) system has been the beating heart of food and beverage operations. It’s where every order starts, payments are processed, and transactions are recorded. But in an era of mobile ordering, self-service kiosks, and third-party delivery, many operators are asking a provocative question: Is the POS still the center of the universe?
The Changing Role of the POS
Traditional POS systems were designed for a world where nearly every order happened face-to-face at a counter or table. Today, guest interactions happen everywhere, on phones, at kiosks, from a table-side server, through drive-thru lanes, and even in the palm of a guest’s hand before they arrive. This omnichannel reality means the POS is no longer the sole touchpoint for capturing and managing transactions.
The numbers back it up. According to QSR Magazine, digital orders have sustained their pandemic surge, holding at over 30% of total restaurant transactions and representing more than $100 billion in annual revenue. Deloitte research shows that 57% of diners prefer to order digitally when given the option, and operators are adapting by adding more self-service and mobile options.
As technology stacks evolve, some operators are taking an agnostic approach. Instead of making the POS the operational hub, they connect multiple ordering channels directly into their kitchen management, payment gateways, and reporting systems. In this model, the POS is just one of many channels.
The global restaurant POS market will grow from $22.3 billion in 2023 to over $38 billion by 2030, reflecting an 8% compound annual growth rate.
The Case for Staying POS-Centric
For many, the POS still makes sense as the anchor system. A strong, modern POS can:
- Centralize order capture from all channels into one source of truth.
- Provide deep integration with inventory, menu management, and labor scheduling.
- Serve as the audit-friendly record of transactions for accounting and compliance.
And POS technology is far from stagnant. Forrester estimates the global restaurant POS market will grow from $22.3 billion in 2023 to over $38 billion by 2030, reflecting an 8% compound annual growth rate. POS vendors have expanded their capabilities with APIs, cloud-based deployments, and integrations that pull in online orders, loyalty programs, and analytics.
The Case for POS-Agnostic Operations
Going POS-agnostic means you don’t rely on a single system as the “center.” Instead, your tech stack is built around a central data layer or back-office platform that connects all channels — mobile, kiosk, online, third-party delivery, and in-person POS — directly to kitchen production, inventory, and reporting.
This approach can:
- Allow you to swap or upgrade ordering channels without disrupting core operations.
- Reduce dependency on a single vendor.
- Unlock faster adoption of emerging technologies like AI-powered forecasting or dynamic pricing.
- Become more hardware agnostic.
POS-agnostic operations are especially appealing to brands that value flexibility, have multiple concepts with different ordering needs, or operate in high-volume, fast-changing environments.
Finding the Right Balance
The question isn’t simply POS or no POS. It’s about determining the role your POS should play in your broader ecosystem. For some, the POS will remain a robust hub. For others, it will become one of many tools in a nimble, interconnected system.
The POS isn’t dead, but its role is evolving. The winners will be the operators who build systems that can adapt as quickly as guest expectations change.
How Cinchio Can Help Either Way
At Cinchio, we know there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Our platform integrates with a wide range of POS systems, 3rd party delivery services, and back-office solutions. Whether you want to keep your POS as the central hub or move toward a more agnostic, integration-first setup, our connected ecosystem ensures data flows seamlessly across channels. With centralized reporting, production planning, and real-time analytics, you can make informed decisions no matter which structure you choose.
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