Why the Restaurant Industry Needs to Choose Android Over iOS

Let me start by saying - I'm an Apple lover, not an Apple hater. I'm writing this post on  my mac, with my iPhone next to me and my iPad charging in another room. Yet I have no doubt that, when it comes to the restaurant tech space, Android is the way to go.

The restaurant industry is already making significant moves from the old school, heavy, on-site POS systems to cloud-based tablet systems for a variety of reasons: remote access to data, mobility, easy software updates, and cost savings. The tablet POS market is filled with an abundance of iPad-based systems because of the overall love of Apple among consumers. But when it comes to finding something for a business environment - and a rigorous business environment at that - it's time for Android to shine.

The Importance of Flexibility in the Restaurant Industry

No two restaurants are the same. From the concept and ingredients to the kitchen or checkout workflow, there may be hundreds of customizations a restaurant staff needs in order to set up the ideal technology solution. In the fast-paced restaurant environment, a few-second delay in closing out a check is truly felt, especially considering how many times that action happens at the busiest times.

When identifying our own customers' needs at Toast, we've seen dozens of specific customization requests such as medium kitchen printer font (in addition to small and large that already existed), larger POS screen buttons, and control over sharing tips with non-tipped employees -- all examples of customization-focused feature updates driven by customer requests.

The restaurant industry itself is unique, but even moreso, each restaurant is unique in its technology needs and operational workflow. Ultimately, flexibility is a core feature in a robust restaurant POS solution.

Why Android over iOS for a Restaurant POS?

1. Android allows for a highly customizable experience: Android as a mobile operating system is known for being open and flexible - allowing developers to have more control over the software and app experience. Apple's closed environment enforces limitations not only on when and how an app makes it into the App store, but also on developers' flexibility when customizing the experience within that application.

2. Software updates are speedy: While both Android and Apple offer regular software updates, the controlled and secretive nature of Apple updates has been known to cause apps on idevices to break, starting the clock for Apple app store developers to hustle to develop and publish a fix, and get that update reviewed and approved. This level of disturbance can severely impact restaurant operations.

3. Android affords flexibility in hardware form factors: While Apple offers some of the most beautiful hardware on the market for consumers, options are limited for restaurants choosing tablets (8-12" iPads and 5" iPod Touches). Meanwhile, there are dozens of manufacturers and hundreds of Android device models. Android also comes in small form factors such as a 5" phones but scales to much larger form factors, upwards of 22" - offering endless flexibility and customizability to restaurants outfitting their tech.

4. Android provides durable yet affordable hardware: The normal daily demand on tablets in restaurants is very different from their expected consumer use. Think of the extreme heat of the kitchen, the wet fingers tapping the screen, or the number of times a tablet is likely to get dropped in a restaurant. There are many Android device manufacturers that specialize in developing POS systems specifically for this extreme restaurant environment. And, as a bonus, these equivalent tablets and phones are also significantly more affordable than their Apple counterparts.

It's no surprise, then, that Toast specifically chose Android as its tech platform. If you're interested in learning more, check out this original post on the Toast blog that offers more detail.