Harbortouch is a comprehensive restaurant POS system tailored for small and midsize businesses, aiming to streamline operations through its centralized dashboard. This platform empowers administrators to access valuable insights from sales reports categorized by items, order types, departments, and profit margins.
Furthermore, managers can closely monitor employee performances, labor costs, and payroll hours while configuring access permissions based on the roles of the staff. Harbortouch facilitates the sending of welcome emails and promotional offers to drive customer engagement and track purchasing patterns. Additionally, it offers tools to manage social media presence analyze ratings, and reviews for maintaining a positive online brand reputation. In this Harbortouch POS Review, we have looked at almost every aspect of the Harbortouch in 2024
What Is Harbortouch?
Harbortouch POS is a comprehensive point-of-sale solution tailored for retail stores, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, cafes, and various other businesses. The system facilitates labor management, sales monitoring, inventory tracking, and financial analysis, all geared toward enhancing overall operational efficiency.
With Harbortouch, administrators can effortlessly apply discounts, handle special client requests, utilize keyword searches for products, and maintain a centralized customer database, all within a user-friendly interface. Additionally, the platform includes a convenient built-in time clock feature for efficient employee management.
An Overview To Harbortouch
Harbortouch, under the umbrella of Shift4 Payments, is renowned for its reliable POS systems, offering an array of solutions tailored for various businesses. Shift4 Payments, a prominent payment processing company, oversees an impressive portfolio of industry-leading point-of-sale systems, including Restaurant Manager, POSitouch, and Future POS.
What sets Harbortouch apart is its emphasis on providing affordable POS hardware and software bundled with credit card processing solutions. The standout feature is their provision of a free POS platform, comprising both hardware and software, alleviating the need for a significant initial investment. Rather, users pay a reasonable monthly service and support fee to access the services.
This approach significantly reduces the upfront costs for businesses seeking a new POS system. While a one-year agreement is mandatory, and usage of their merchant services is required, these constraints are not too much confusing.
Harbortouch presents two distinct POS hardware options – the Harbortouch Echo, an Android tablet, and the Harbortouch Elite, a more robust Android desktop. Each system is designed with specific business environments in mind, allowing you to select the option that best aligns with your business needs. While Harbortouch has made a notable mark in the bar and restaurant sector, its services extend to various other industries, including retail stores, nightclubs, pizza shops, liquor stores, salons/spas, as well as small businesses, among others.
Harbortouch POS Review – In-depth Analysis
Pros and Cons of Harbortouch POS
Pros Of Harbortouch POS
Best hardware included in all packages at no cost
No initial payments or upfront expenses, except for shipping
Elite package offers complimentary menu programming and installation
Cost-effective pricing suitable for businesses of all sizes
Option to choose between tablet and desktop hardware
Versatile for a wide range of small businesses
Lifetime warranty on equipment
The shorter contract period was reduced from 3 years to a minimal 1 year
Cons Of Harbortouch POS
Some customer service issues were reported
The potential occurrence of hidden fees
Installation of Elite systems may take up to 4 weeks
Features Of Harbortouch POS
Harbortouch offers a range of robust features, catering to various industries with a well-presented breakdown on its website, specifically highlighting benefits for both restaurants and retail businesses. Here are some standout features that set Harbortouch apart:
- Tableside Ordering: Through its iPad app, the system enables servers in the food industry to seamlessly take orders remotely, directly sending tickets from the table to the kitchen. This feature is becoming increasingly popular among POS systems.
- Reservations: Harbortouch includes a convenient reservation feature at no extra cost. Employees can easily manage reservations directly within the POS, or customers can make their own reservations online using a dedicated URL. The waitlist is accessible at any time, and customers can receive text notifications when their table is ready.
- Employee Management: Evaluating sales performances is made simple with Harbortouch. Users can effortlessly track employee hours and identify top sellers. Editing timesheets and setting up permissions can be done with just a few clicks.
- Inventory Management: While not overly complex, the system effectively handles the basics. Users can monitor raw goods in the back office and generate purchase orders across multiple locations directly from the POS. Harbortouch POS also integrates with two inventory management tools for more comprehensive inventory needs.
- Delivery Features: The system provides a comprehensive suite of tools for managing delivery services. This includes a dashboard to track current orders and monitor their completion times. The platform integrates with caller ID, and provides mapping and directions, facilitating seamless delivery operations.
- Loyalty Program: Harbortouch boasts an advanced loyalty system that supports the setup of gift cards and promotions. Users can swiftly access customer information and leverage the Mailchimp integration for streamlined marketing campaigns.
Harbortouch POS Pricing Simplified
Harbortouch currently offers the new Onyx POS system alongside its mobile and tableside alternatives. Harbortouch provided clients with a choice between two distinct POS systems, Elite POS, Salon/Spa, and Echo POS, which might still be available in addition to the newer options.
| Product | Best for | Pricing |
| Free | For small businesses | Free |
| Echo | For SMEs | $29 per month |
| Elite | For retail businesses | $39 per month |
| Salon & Spa | For Spa/Salon | $39 per month |
The pricing structure for the Echo POS involves a monthly fee of $29 per system, an installation fee of $150 for the first system, and $100 for each additional one. On the other hand, the Elite POS entails a $39 monthly fee per system, and while there’s no explicit installation fee, a $250 upfront cost for additional wiring may apply.
Although neither agreement includes an early termination fee, businesses ending their contracts must adhere to the equipment return terms specified in the merchant agreement. Failure to comply may lead to an equipment return fee of $500.
Furthermore, both POS agreements outline an array of optional add-ons, each incurring additional monthly fees. These supplementary products and services can also be purchased outright at a one-time cost. Additionally, more economical items such as employee authorization cards, printers, and scanners are billed as one-time purchases.
In addition to its in-store payment processing services, Harbortouch provides details on the expenses associated with its virtual terminal and payment gateway services. For these services, Harbortouch levies a charge of 1.79% plus an additional $0.10 per transaction, along with a $0.35 batch fee.
Usability of Harbortouch
Harbortouch’s interface is relatively straightforward, although it may lack the modern aesthetic of some newer systems. Many users did find the layout of its buttons somewhat confusing, especially when faced with numerous options. Customizability is limited, requiring manual navigation through various screens, which can be somewhat tedious, particularly for items with multiple modifiers.
However, functions like check splitting are intuitive, with the ticket display ensuring accuracy. Nonetheless, mastering the software may take more than a single shift, especially for those new to POS systems. The back end is standard, and while experienced users may adapt quickly, beginners might need some time watching tutorial videos or consulting representatives to get the hang of it.
Harbortouch POS – Customer Support And Security
On the Harbortouch website, you can access a comprehensive knowledge base with well-organized articles covering various topics such as Customer Service, Account Maintenance, and Terminals. Additionally, the platform offers instructional videos guiding users through tasks like voiding a ticket or managing time clock entries.
For urgent inquiries related to payment processing, Harbortouch provides round-the-clock customer support via phone, email, and live chat for its paying customers.
To ensure the safety of payment data, Harbortouch encrypts information at the terminal and securely transfers it to the cloud. The platform maintains PCI compliance, adhering to the industry standard for companies handling sensitive data. This means your confidential information remains protected, minimizing the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access.
Furthermore, Harbortouch employs tokenization, a security measure that substitutes stored card data with a random, alphanumeric value. This process prevents any potential misuse of your data by unauthorized entities, ensuring an additional layer of protection for your business.
Reviews Of Harbortouch
Harbortouch POS has encountered widespread grievances, with many users reporting similar and concerning issues. Despite the company addressing some of these concerns, recent reviews of Harbortouch merchant services continue to highlight the following problems:
- Software Freezes: Users frequently reported instances of system freezing, particularly during card transactions, causing disruptions in the purchasing process.
- Long-Term Contracts: Complaints revolved around the requirement of signing lengthy contracts, although the company has recently reduced the terms from three years to one year.
- Inadequate Customer Service: Many customers expressed frustration with prolonged hold times, ranging from 30 to 90 minutes, coupled with unresolved issues even after speaking to representatives.
Hardware Of Harbortouch
One standout feature of Harbortouch is its provision of free hardware to clients, setting it apart from competitors in the industry. An effective POS system requires a significant investment in hardware. Still, with Harbortouch, this concern is alleviated as they provide you with all the necessary equipment at no extra cost.
Image source: Harbortouch
This complimentary POS program is particularly beneficial for those lacking the initial capital to invest in a new system, making it an attractive solution, especially with its one-year contract term. It’s important to note that while the basic hardware is free, optional add-ons, such as remote printers, KDS systems, digital scales, and barcode scanners, come with an additional monthly cost. Be mindful of this if you opt for these supplementary features.
Integrations Of Harbortouch
Although other point-of-sale platforms offer more extensive third-party integration options, Harbortouch POS is steadily growing its partnerships with external software companies like Uber Eats, Menufy, MailChimp, and DoorDash. These collaborations enable businesses to streamline their operations, improve customer experiences, and foster growth in a competitive market.
Harbortouch POS Alternatives
In the sea of available point-of-sale options for businesses today, Harbortouch POS stands out with its accessible premium hardware and software. Let’s explore some other alternatives that entrepreneurs in the US might consider:
- Stripe
Stripe is a comprehensive solution that combines in-person payment capabilities with advanced online selling tools. If you’re looking to build an eCommerce platform with customizable payment processing and gateways, Stripe has you covered. Additionally, the platform maintains transparent pricing policies, making it easy to comprehend your financial obligations.
- Square
Known for its sleek, user-friendly POS systems, Square caters to a variety of businesses, including restaurants and retail stores. It offers an array of mobile card reader options, making payment processing effortless for businesses of all sizes. If you prioritize transparent processing rates, affordable hardware, and user-friendly software, Square could be a solid alternative to Harbortouch POS.
- Clover
Clover shines for its user-friendly setup, intuitive interface, and a diverse array of integrations available on the Clover app market. Every merchant account is equipped with tools to monitor earnings and gain insights into top-selling products and peak sales periods. Additionally, certain plans enable merchants to establish both digital and physical gift cards, adding an extra layer of versatility to their services.
Conclusion – Overall Rating
Harbortouch POS emerges as a robust solution, offering accessible hardware and diverse features tailored for small to midsize businesses. While challenges with customer service and occasional system freezes persist, its free hardware and customizable loyalty program make it an attractive option for entrepreneurs seeking affordable, efficient POS solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Harbortouch provide online ordering services?
Yes, Harbortouch offers a complimentary online ordering system for restaurants as part of your subscription.
Q: What are the costs associated with Harbortouch?
Harbortouch Echo is priced at $29 per month, while Harbortouch Elite is available for $39 per month. These prices include both software and hardware. A one-year POS and merchant services agreement is required.
Q: How does Harbortouch fare in terms of its BBB rating?
Harbortouch POS has received a disappointed “F” rating from the BBB.
Q: How are the reviews for Harbortouch?
Harbortouch has garnered mixed to negative reviews, particularly concerning its customer service and numerous complaints regarding its contracts and fees.
