6 Top POS Reports: Know Your Business, to Grow Your Business

Growing your business is shockingly easy when you have access to the right insights, to make the right decisions.  With these 6 Top POS Reports you’ll know how to increase sales, optimize labor costs, and improve production schedules, event programming and menu building. 

1. Tab Tags

What is it?  Tracking return on investment based on customized guest group tags.

Why does it matter?  You have a beautiful, welcoming space that attracts groups of all kinds in search of their go-to meet-up spot—from corporate baseball teams to knitting clubs. Tag each of their tabs with a descriptive tag so you can measure total sales from the group over time. 

Okay, give me an example.  This year you decided to sponsor the local baseball league’s dues with the guarantee they’ll come in after each game. Tag their tabs every time they come in to see their spend. Those baseball players eat and drink a lot! The reports show a return on your investment so be sure to sponsor them again next year.   

2. Employee Performance

What is it?  Total sales by each employee, and product category to see what they’re selling.

Why does it matter?  Though you’re often on-the-ground with your staff and get first hand experience of what they’re up to, the data will highlight your best performers. Use total sales by employee to make informed staffing decisions or know when to create incentives for more engagement and add some fun to the workday. 

Okay, give me an example.  Terry’s sales are consistently higher because they’re always sending guests home with a 6-pack to-go. You want Terry in your busiest venues on Friday night. If you want your staff to sell more packaged beer, have Terry share their secrets. Then start rewarding staff with the highest to-go sales with weekly growler bonuses!

3. Ounces Poured

What is it?  How many ounces were poured, by size, and time. 

Why does it matter?  Track trends in what’s selling to drive production schedules, marketing, and distribution. 

Okay, give me an example.  Your data shows that in the last week you poured 1,000 tasters and 200 pints of the Pilsner. Meanwhile, you poured 1,000 tasters and sold 950 pints of the Hazy. Which beer was better received?  You’ve got it, the Hazy. Increase production on that Hazy IPA and start pushing for distribution.

4. Hourly Total Sales

What is it?  Total orders by hour of the day.

Why does it matter?  Hourly sales data helps you plan ahead. Track trends over time to know what you’re selling, when you’re selling it. Staff up when you’re typically slammed and plan events to incentivize visitors when you’re typically slow. 

Okay, give me an example.  You already had a sense, but once you look at the data, it’s clear: Tues and Weds 2-4pm is slow. Perhaps run a teacher’s special to incentivize afternoon grading parties, and advertise to the local schools. 

5. Hourly Sales by Product

What is it?  Sales by product, by hour of the day.

Why does it matter?  Make informed menu decisions and keep food costs down with hourly sales by product.  With reports that show the exact time each product is ordered you can curate timed menus with only the most popular menu items. No more keeping extra ingredients in stock and wasting unused food.

Okay, give me an example.  You love the lobster roll, your Mom loves the lobster roll, but—shockingly— it turns out your happy hour crowd does not.  Strike the lobster roll and minimize your happy hour menu to just the items that sell again and again. (And save those lobsters for you and your Mom!)

6. Weekly Sales

What is it?  Total sales by day of the week.

Why does it matter?  Maybe you’re freshly open (congrats!) and don’t have a ton of historical data or you’re coming off a pandemic year where each business day was a mystery. Understanding trends each day of the week helps you to make proactive decisions to help boost sales and keep your business relevant. 

Okay, give me an example.  You’re seeing a trend of low sales on Tuesdays, it’s barely worth it to keep the doors open. Now what can you do to get guests in seats? That might be the perfect day for trivia! Use your loyalty program to send out offers redeemable only on that day and build hype for your new weekly trivia.  

Wrap Up:

Data matters. A lot! Starting with these 6 top metrics, you’ll be able to track what is working in your space, iterate, and wow your guests while improving efficiency. 

Founded in 2016, Boulder, CO based Arryved is a point-of-service based software company specializing in craft food & beverage: breweries, brewpubs, cideries, distilleries, wineries, and non-brewery taprooms. Arryved is a team of tech geeks with relentless passion for, and extensive experience in, the craft beverage industry, as both employees and consumers. The goal is simple: Deliver a flexible, reliable, team-centric platform that puts service first in every way. 

6 Key Features To Look For in a Brewery Point of Sale

Are you getting everything you need out of your point of sale? Are your guests receiving the top-notch experience they want with all the bells and whistles they need to feel comfortable? Does your current system allow you to adjust service at a moment's notice with all the data to back-up your decisions?

If not, or even if you’re unsure, we put together this handy list of point of sale must-have features—features that are especially useful in a time when service methods are evolving daily.

1. Extensive Reporting Capabilities

As a business owner or manager, you already know how necessary good data is! Are you getting the right insights? Immediate access to data specific to your business’ operational needs is not only important, it’s critical for maximum efficiency. A comprehensive system gives decision-makers access to data on the fly, providing immediate insight to sales numbers and labor costs. These insights will help you make the smartest staffing, service, and event decisions to optimize efficiency, revenue, and guest experience—whether it’s a slow, snowy Monday or a hopping, blistering Saturday.

2. Contactless Payments

Seek out a point of sale that allows your guests to pay in a way they feel comfortable—whether in an app, online or with tap and pay technology (either via Credit Card or with Apple, Google and Samsung pay). By doing so you are Investing in your customers’ happiness by giving them the flexibility to control their experience. Payment apps like Arryved’s that directly integrate with your point of sale allows your guests to open and close tabs from the safety of their own phone while keeping all transactions in one place—meaning comprehensive reporting across all your sales channels.

3. Online Webstore

As winter fast approaches and your patio comfort is at the whim of your climate, an online webstore could be the saving grace in offering additional revenue streams for your business. Make it easy for your fans to grab swag and to-go items by ordering ahead online. With an integrated system all your inventory syncs from the same place, eliminating the need to update menus in multiple systems; all orders, online or on premise, print to a centralized printer, so staff can monitor orders in one place; all sales reports aggregate on the same dashboard, providing a comprehensive view of your business.

4. Card on File 

No customer likes the feeling of reaching for their wallet and realizing they left their credit card (and their open tab) at the last taproom; no business wants the liability of hanging onto their guests’ credit cards in a Rolodex. The ability to keep a card on file without holding onto the physical card changes the game. Guests feel confident  because their card never leaves their sight; businesses gain a safety net in case a guest forgets to close out without the liability of holding onto their card. 

5. No Extra Charges for Additional Features

Features that are critical to running a successful business shouldn’t be “pay to play”. Features such as digital menu board, gift cards, online ordering, time tracking, as many mobile devices as you need or a customer loyalty program are core to delivering a top-notch guest experience. Premium features shouldn’t require a premium price tag. Choose a point of sale that adapts with you as you grow so you can put your guests first. 

6. Free and Fast Support Services

Your point of sale is central to your business and if you need help, you need help quickly and from a friendly and knowledgeable partner.  Fast and reliable support services are essential for keeping your business (and brews) flowing without interruption. Reaching the support service for your point of sale should never be a hassle and should never incur added cost. Excellent support will understand where you’re coming from and use their knowledge to make sure a) your problem gets resolved b) you’re set up for future success and c) you hang up with a smile on your face!

MBG Con Goes Virtual - Offering Three Days of Online Learning

Technical Brewing, Business & Communication | Oct 5, 6 & 7

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- (9/16/2020) The Mass Brewers Guild, a non-profit trade association dedicated to protecting craft breweries across Massachusetts, today announces that MBG Con, the organization’s 3rd annual technical brewing and business conference, will shift to an online model starting Monday, Oct. 5 and will run through Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. 

A lineup of renowned experts, including Rob Tod, founder of Allagash Brewing Co., Matt Stinchfield, Safety Ambassador of the Brewers Association, Dr. J. Nikol Jackson-Beckham, Diversity Ambassador for the Brewers Association, Jim Koch founder of Boston Beer and Dan Kenary, founder of Mass Bay Brewing Co., will share best practices, hard lessons learned, and strategies for survival during these challenging times. 

This year’s conference will have three main areas of focus; technical brewing, business, and communication, covering everything from SOPs to bookkeeping, paid advertising strategies and yeast management. Attendees can choose the day, or track, that best suits their role within the industry, or they can attend the entire conference. 

“It’s been a difficult few months for the brewing community, to say the least,” says Katie Stinchon, executive director of the Mass Brewers Guild. “Despite the fact that we all can’t be together -- learning, listening, and being inspired by fellow brewery owners and colleagues is the best way to survive this pandemic. Even now, with all of the heightened competition, our brewers are ready to share how they are navigating these waters -- what’s working, what’s not – in order to support one another. It’s what makes the brewing industry so unique and amazing to be a part of.” 

Tickets are just $25 a day for Mass Brewers Guild members, and $50 for non-members. All ticket proceeds support the Mass Brewers Guild and its work to protect and promote the craft beer industry across the Commonwealth. Due to festival and event cancellations, this is the only fundraiser slated for the association this year. The event hopes to raise $7k for the Mass Brewers Guild. 

“We wanted to make this event as accessible as possible for our beer family,” says Stinchon. “One of the great perks of a virtual event is that we can draw experts and attendees from all over the country. Our goal is to ensure that the brewing community is armed with the knowledge and skills it needs to remain successful, independent, small businesses that continue to stimulate the economy, revitalize downtown communities, and employ locals.”

All sessions offer ample time for Q&A and ticket holders will receive supporting materials and the recording of each session for later viewing. MBG Con is made possible thanks to presenting sponsor, Bernstein Shur and supporting businesses ABS Commercial, Acadia Insurance, arryved, Bowditch, Cavallo & Signorello Insurance, Drink Tanks, Four Star Farms, InTouch Labels, Micro Matic, Omega Yeast, Petainer and Solar On Earth. All of these businesses are associate members of the Mass Brewers Guild and help make our educational programs possible.  

To view the entire lineup of speakers, or to purchase tickets to MBG Con, visit MassBrewersGuild.org.

About the Mass Brewers Guild
Founded in 2007 by a group of committed and passionate brewers, the Mass Brewers Guild, is organized for the purposes of promoting craft brewing and protecting the interests of craft brewers across the Commonwealth. The association is membership based and open to all Massachusetts breweries licensed by the federal Tax and Trade Bureau and the Commonwealth’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. The nonprofit creates a community of brewers while shining light on the broad range of breweries and styles offered throughout the state. Through industry and educational events, its mobile application beer trail map, and by providing resources and marketing support to brewers, the nonprofit works to highlight Massachusetts as a top travel destination for craft beer in the U.S. The board also continues its work at the legislative level, fighting for license and franchise law reform, and serving as the voice of craft brewers on Beacon Hill. The Massachusetts Brewers Guild is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit corporation.