Changing POS isn't changing accounting software. It's rethinking the restaurant's entire digital flow. Here are the criteria that truly matter in 2026, so you don't regret it in 18 months.
1. NF525 certification (in France)
First filter, non-negotiable. All major French POS systems are certified. See [NF525 software](/aide/logiciel-nf525).
2. Native integrations
The POS must integrate with your digital stack without hacks. Check:
- QR ordering solutions (including BipOrder).
- Delivery aggregators.
- Reservation platforms (including BipOrder).
- Accounting (Cegid, Sage, Pennylane).
- Payment terminal (integrated or not).
3. Hardware and durability
iOS tablet, Android, touch PC, Sunmi terminal: each POS imposes its hardware (or not). Prefer agnostic POS (running on any tablet) — you keep control of replacement.
Beware of "POS + tablet + printer at EUR 99/month" offers. Hardware stays the vendor's property, and switching to another provider becomes costly.
4. Multi-venue
Even with a single restaurant today, check the POS handles multi-site without a brutal cost jump. Pricing can double at the 2nd venue.
5. Support and training
Ask these precise questions:
- Phone support: 7/7, evening and weekend?
- SLA (guaranteed response time)?
- Initial training included or billed?
- Cost of ongoing training (new servers)?
6. Pricing model
Three dominant models:
- Fixed monthly subscription (most predictable).
- Flat fee + online-order commission (can sting if volume grows).
- Hardware lease + subscription (watch out for long lock-ins).
7. Migration and reversibility
Check the POS lets you export your data (products, sales, customers CSV). If the vendor refuses, run: you'll be stuck the day you want to switch.
8. Advanced features
By restaurant type, check:
- Split payment (essential in brasseries).
- Happy hours / time-slot pricing.
- Customer loyalty.
- Ingredient stock management (fast-food).
- Multi-cooking service (steakhouse).
9. Reports and steering
The POS must at minimum provide: daily revenue, by mode (dine-in / delivery), by server, by product. Ideally: automatic accounting export to your accountant.
10. Outside France: local compliance
If you operate in Belgium (GKS), Germany (TSE), Spain (Veri*Factu) or Maghreb, check the POS covers the local standard. Not all French POS are certified everywhere.
Classic pitfalls
- Picking your banker's POS: integrated payment terminal yes, but often rigid elsewhere.
- Neglecting support: at 2am on a Saturday, it costs dearly.
- 36-month lock-in: very rare today, run.
- No public API: impossible to integrate with BipOrder or others.
Where does BipOrder fit?
BipOrder isn't an NF525-certified POS — it's the digital layer that plugs onto it. Winning combo: your certified POS + BipOrder for QR, KDS, reservations, delivery. See [Connect your POS to BipOrder](/aide/connecter-caisse-pos).