CAKE Review

Why Cake Is Best for Customer Experience

Cake is our pick as the best POS system for restaurants trying to improve the customer experience. Because the software is so intuitive, servers can enter orders more quickly and reduce wait times. Cake also equips servers with tablets for tableside ordering, so you can turn over tables faster without rushing your customers. 

If you provide self-service POS kiosks, customers can customize and place their own orders. Providing self-service options is a great way to reduce the burden on staff while giving customers a way to order food at their own pace. 

But what really sets Cake apart is its customer loyalty program. This program is fully integrated into the Cake POS system and is designed to help restaurants improve customer retention. Guests can sign up for your loyalty program at the point of sale and access their rewards in the store or online. 

You can tailor your customer rewards program to fit your customers’ preferences, offering dollar-off discounts or tiered rewards. And you can use the reporting feature to track your loyalty program’s performance and adjust your strategy accordingly. 

Usability

Cake’s usability is one of its primary benefits as a POS system. We like how user-friendly the system is and how easy it is to operate and navigate. Cake’s system usability is a huge benefit for restaurants that need to quickly and effectively train employees. 

We were also impressed by how easy it is to edit menu items in Cake’s system. Menu changes happen frequently at restaurants, especially with new restaurants that are still testing dishes and tweaking their menu. Cake’s software lets you make adjustments with just a few clicks, and the changes update instantly. This functionality was more intuitive than many of the POS system competitors we reviewed. 

While Cake is a cloud-based POS system, it also comes with an offline mode. That means your business can continue to accept credit card payments even if the internet temporarily goes down. This is crucial for restaurants because it guarantees you can offer uninterrupted service to your guests.

Finally, Cake provides 24/7 customer support, which means any issues that do come up are resolved quickly. Plus, new customers will receive an onboarding manager and customer success manager to help them customize their settings and learn to navigate the software. 

Cake Features

Hardware 

Cake’s hardware was designed to last in a fast-paced restaurant environment and handle everyday wear and tear. The hardware is black with 15-inch touch screens, and the screens are flush with the frames, so nothing can get stuck inside the gaps.

Plus, the company has a wide variety of hardware options you can choose from. There’s a POS terminal, OrderPad for tableside service, self-service kiosk, kitchen display system (KDS) and payment processing hardware. You can also choose from different accessories, like barcode scanners and cash drawers. 

Cake’s proprietary hardware is designed to withstand a busy restaurant environment. Source: Cake

Online Ordering

Cake’s online ordering feature integrates directly with the POS system, reducing errors and ensuring consistent customer service. After a customer places an order, it’s sent directly to the kitchen, so orders never have to be entered twice. Cake also prompts customers to upsell their items at checkout, which can boost your average order value (AOV). 

You can personalize the platform to include your company’s logo, custom branding and images of your most popular menu items. Once customers place their orders, they’ll receive text messages telling them when their items are ready for pickup. We also like that guests can opt for contactless payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay. 

If you want to provide customers with delivery options, you can integrate your POS system with a third-party delivery service. Cake offers third-party app integrations with DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub and ChowNow, which is ideal for small restaurants that don’t have an in-house delivery driver. 

Cake offers integrated online ordering and curbside pickup. Source: Cake

Contactless Payments

We appreciate the wide variety of contactless payment options Cake lets you offer customers. The Cake Payment Cube accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay, and contactless debit and credit card transactions. The POS system supports QR code payments, so customers will scan the QR codes on their phones and pay from their devices. 

You can also provide self-service kiosks to reduce wait times and increase the average order value (AOV). Cake’s self-service kiosks let customers choose between dine-in and takeout options — another perk customers will appreciate. 

With QR code payments, customers can pay their bills from their own mobile devices. Source: Cake

Menu Management

We were impressed by Cake’s menu management features, which make it easy to customize menu items. You can edit your menu from any device, and changes will appear online and in your restaurant. Real-time menu management means your staff is always on the same page and you’re not selling menu items that are no longer available. 

Cake also provides POS inventory management features that help you track inventory and adjust prices as needed. We particularly liked its ingredient-tracking option, which makes ordering easier for customers who have dietary issues.

Use Cake to track your inventory and edit your menu in real time. Source: Cake

Cake Costs

We found Cake’s pricing to be relatively straightforward, especially when compared to other POS providers. The company offers three different pricing plans, so it’s an affordable option whether you’re just starting a restaurant or running an established eatery. 

Software Costs

Software costs start at $69 monthly and include the following features:

• Offline mode
• Online ordering
• QR code payments
• Menu management
• 24/7 customer support
• Secure payment processing
• Reporting and analytics tools
• Smart chargeback assistance
• Access to the Cake University training portal

Hardware Costs

You have a couple of different options when it comes to purchasing hardware:

• QuickService Essentials: The QuickService Essentials costs $1,999. It includes a POS with a customer-facing touch display, receipt printer, cash drawer and Payment Cube.
• Full Service Essentials: The Full Service Essentials costs $1,799. This hardware package includes a POS, receipt printer, cash drawer and Payment Cube. 

Payment Processing Fees

The payment processing fees are 3% plus 0.15 per swipe, dip or NFC payment. 

Cake Setup

Setting up your POS system with Cake is an easy and seamless process, largely thanks to the onboarding team Cake provides. During our demo with the Cake team, they specified that new customers have access to the onboarding team for the first few months. You’ll also have access to Cake University training, which will walk you through installing and activating your POS system. 

Cake University provides detailed resources for implementing and managing your Cake POS system. Source: Cake

Cake Customer Service

We were pleased with Cake’s customer service options. When you sign up for the Cake POS system, you’ll have access to Cake’s excellent customer support. The company is available 24/7 via phone, text, email or chat. This is especially important for restaurant owners, who often have emergencies outside 9-to-5 business hours. 

The company also provides a resource center filled with white papers, e-books, case studies and videos. You should always be able to get your questions answered. 

Cake Drawbacks

There’s a lot to like about Cake’s POS system, but there are a few drawbacks to consider. 

• Fees: Cake charges an activation fee and a one-time signing fee for its guest management add-on. The additional charges may not make much of a difference to established restaurants but could be prohibitive for new business owners.
• Contract required: We were also disappointed to learn that the software comes with a two-year contract. That means you must be sure Cake is the right POS system for your business before you sign up. 

Methodology

When researching the best POS systems for customer experience, we looked at self-service features, online reservations and ordering, mobile ordering and other guest-focused functions. We attended an hour-long demo with the Cake team to see Cake’s software and hardware in action and ask questions. Our in-depth process included comparing Cake to over a dozen competing POS systems. Our research helped us understand where Cake stands out and where it falls short compared to competitors. 

Overall Value

We recommend Cake for …

• Restaurants of all sizes looking for an easy-to-use POS system. 
• Eateries in need of durable hardware options. 
• Restaurants looking for ways to improve the guest experience.

We don’t recommend Cake for …

• Restaurants looking to avoid lengthy contracts.
• Restaurants that want to avoid activation fees.