Faithful followers of the system

There is one field in catering that definitely develops faster then the others: restaurant IT systems. It is not new information that the Hungarian market is really price sensitive, therefore Hungarian restaurant owners would like to use software that is extremely cheap and works very well for a couple of hundred years. –

Computer-based accounting and receipt systems changed more in terms of hardware – says Sándor Démy-Gerő, the managing director of Novohost Kft. Wireless devices appeared, which helps to take orders at tables. These have a few disadvantages, for instance a relatively small interface or complicated usage. The company’s latest innovation is a tablet PC-type order taking device. Its display is about the size of a menu, it is light and it runs the same touchscreen programme as tabletop POS machines. István Mérő, the managing director of Hotel Informatika Kft. told Trade magazin that the company has been devoted to highly reliable systems for 20 years and they only install their software on professional machines, e.g. touchscreen POS terminals where the display and the computer are integrated. Lilla Varga, marketing manager at Szintézis Informatikai Zrt. spoke about the classic advantages of PDA and special factors like the device’s usage making a good impression on customers. She added that these days restaurants are more interested in the system certified by the Hungarian Tax Control Administration (APEH), because by using these cash registers can be dispensed with. Gyula Sasvári, the head of DreamCreator Studio told that for their hotel and restaurant systems PDA-based stock-taking is available. Sándor Bagdi, the managing director of UCS Magyarország Kft. is of the opinion that today a hand-held waiter terminal is a basic requirement in taking orders. In the past two years one of the main directions in innovation was speeding up stock-taking; for instance in the case of drinks they do not have to be poured, because by using intelligent scales their weight can be measured and the data is registered in the stock by the computer. Sándor Démy-Gerő estimates that approximately 8,000 bars and restaurants use computers and there are about 85,000 where they should be used. Gyula Sasvári is of the opinion that the importance of product support is growing. Lilla Varga says that restaurant owners look for systems which not only have a good price-value ratio, but are transparent and user-friendly too.
Sándor Bagdi stresses the importance of accounting systems. István Mérő thinks that most owners choose cheap ystems and they do not even consider buying more expensive ones. In 2009, bars and restaurants were investing 5-30 percent less than before the crisis and this affected the IT systems market too. Several companies appeared on the market who rent out such systems. At the beginning of 2010 many owners realised that it was worth to apply for EU-funding (which could cover 25-70 percent of costs) as well. Hardware and software development does not take a break and manufacturers offer their products 25-30 percent cheaper than 3-4 years ago.
Telecommunication technology makes it possible for owners to access their systems from any part of the world and work like they were right there in the restaurant. It is an interesting experiment when computers are built in guests’ tables and they can order food and drinks by using them. Szintézis is looking for a partner or a similar solution, which can also be used by guests to chat or play cards.