8 tips for choosing the right bakery POS system

Choosing the right bakery POS system can transform your bakery’s efficiency, accuracy and profitability. The right system does far more than take payments - it connects your sales, stock, reporting and customer data into one streamlined workflow.

Below, we explore the key factors to consider and why our solutions, particularly when integrated with Cybake, are designed specifically for modern bakeries.

1. Understand your bakery’s operational needs

No two bakeries operate in exactly the same way, which is why your POS system should reflect how your business actually runs. A busy morning rush requires speed and simplicity, while pre-orders for celebration cakes demand accuracy and clear order tracking. If you operate a bakery café, table service and split bills may also be important.

Before choosing a system, map out your daily workflow - from how products are entered at the till to how orders reach the kitchen or production team. Features such as touchscreen layouts, quick product search and custom modifiers (for example, sliced or unsliced bread) make a significant difference in fast-paced environments where queues build quickly. The goal is technology that supports staff confidence rather than slowing them down.

2. Choose powerful reporting & sales insights

A modern POS should function as a decision-making tool, not just a cash register. Detailed reporting allows you to understand not only how much you are selling, but what, when and why.

Clear visibility over sales trends helps you refine your product range and staffing levels. You may discover certain items consistently sell out too early, or that quieter trading periods present opportunities for targeted promotions. Over time, this data-led approach improves margins and removes guesswork from key business decisions, allowing you to respond to customer demand with confidence.

3. Prioritise inventory control & waste reduction

Waste directly impacts profitability in bakeries, where products are perishable and ingredient costs can fluctuate. Your POS system should provide accurate, real-time stock visibility so production decisions are based on facts rather than estimates.

When sales data feeds automatically into stock tracking, you gain tighter control over what is being used and what is left over. This helps reduce over-production at the end of the day while also preventing ingredient shortages that can interrupt service. Better stock awareness ultimately leads to more consistent product availability and stronger cost control.

4. Integrate with bakery production software

One of the most valuable features of a modern bakery POS system is the ability to integrate with specialist bakery management software. Our POS solution integrates with Cybake, an industry-leading platform built specifically for bakery production and administration.

This integration connects front-of-house sales with back-of-house planning. Sales data from the till feeds directly into forecasting and production schedules, meaning baking volumes are guided by real demand patterns rather than assumptions. The benefits include:

• More accurate forecasting

• Reduced manual data entry

• Improved stock reconciliation

By aligning sales and production, bakeries can significantly reduce waste, improve efficiency and free up valuable time previously spent on admin.

5. Support customer loyalty & promotions

Building long-term customer relationships is essential in a competitive market. A capable POS system should help you recognise repeat customers and reward them in meaningful ways. Loyalty schemes, digital rewards and targeted promotions can all be managed directly through the system, making it easy to encourage return visits and increase average spend.

By tracking purchase behaviour, you can run smarter promotions, such as offering a discount on pastries to regular coffee buyers, which feels more personalised and drives additional sales without eroding margins unnecessarily.

6. Ensure online ordering works seamlessly

Convenience now plays a major role in customer expectations. Online orders, click & collect and pre-paid cake orders should feed straight into your POS rather than relying on separate systems or handwritten notes.

When ordering channels are fully integrated, information flows smoothly from customer to counter to kitchen. This reduces errors, keeps reporting accurate and ensures production teams have clear, organised order details in advance - particularly important for bespoke or large orders.

7. Focus on ease of use & reliable support

A system may be feature-rich, but if it is difficult to use, it can slow service and frustrate staff. An intuitive interface allows employees to learn quickly and serve confidently, which is especially important in environments with part-time or seasonal staff.

Reliable support is equally critical. Working with a UK-based provider like Cunninghams means access to knowledgeable assistance, professional installation and ongoing guidance. This reassurance is invaluable during busy trading periods when downtime can have a direct impact on revenue.

8. Plan for growth and multi-site capability

Your POS should support not only where your bakery is now, but where it is heading. As businesses grow, they often expand product lines, introduce new services or open additional locations. A scalable system ensures you can manage multiple sites, maintain consistent pricing and access centralised reporting without replacing your technology.

Planning for growth from the outset helps avoid disruption later and provides a stable foundation for long-term expansion.

Choose a bakery POS that’s right for you

Selecting the right POS technology is about creating a connected system that supports smarter decisions across your entire bakery. With strong reporting, stock control, customer engagement tools and seamless integration with Cybake, we offer a solution tailored to the way bakeries operate.

To find out how we can support your bakery, get in touch with our team on 0330 024 5014 or email info@cunninghams.co.uk.