How to choose a restaurant POS: 8 practical criteria

1) Does it finish sales offline?

An internet outage at rush hour can happen anywhere. A good system keeps the order on the device, prints the receipt, sends it to the kitchen, then syncs automatically — without the queue stopping.

Ask directly: “If the internet is down for a full hour, what happens?” — and actually test it in the free trial by turning off Wi-Fi.

2) Are the UI and support really Arabic?

There is a big difference between a system built Arabic-first (native RTL, every screen and report) and a shallow translation over a foreign UI. A partial translation slows cashier training and gets reports wrong.

Check that support itself is in Arabic and on a fast channel like WhatsApp.

3) Are POS, kitchen, inventory and accounting one system?

If each module is a separate system, you pay multiple subscriptions and reconcile numbers that never match. An integrated system makes every sale deduct stock and post to accounting instantly, with one support number.

4) Is e-invoicing included — and on which plan?

E-invoicing is a tax obligation, so it should not be on the most expensive plan only. Check that it is built in and submitted from the POS screen, and available on the plan that fits your size.

In RAWA JoFotara is on both plans for exactly this reason.

5) Hardware: does it work with standard network printers and drawer?

80mm thermal printers and ESC/POS cash drawers are standard and cheap. A good system prints directly over the network (port 9100) with no complicated add-ons or proprietary hardware.

6) How long is activation, and does it need a technician?

A modern cloud system self-activates in about a minute: sign up, your account is prepared, and you start adding your menu. No on-site install, no waiting for a visit.

7) Pricing: clear and simple?

A large number of plans and paid add-ons hides the real cost. Two clear plans (small / integrated) are easier to compare and budget. Ask about every extra line item.

8) Can you actually try it before paying?

A free trial with no card lets you test the real scenarios: a rush, an internet outage, an item void, a shift close, a sales report. Don't settle for a demo.