NCR used to be known as National Cash Register, back when cash registers were leading POS solutions. Times – and POS systems – have changed, and so has NCR. The Aloha Cloud POS system is NCR’s signature product for hospitality point of sale. It’s a long way from the old-fashioned cash register, and that’s a good thing for food service.

Review
Aloha Cloud POS	Rating
Features	★★★★★
Ease of Use	★★★★
Help & Support	★★★★★
Summary	★★★★★
Reviewed by Expert Market:	2023/09/21

Getting Started with the Aloha Cloud POS system

It doesn’t provide the flashiest user experience, but Aloha Cloud’s essential FOH and BOH functions are easy enough to pick up. That said, some users report having trouble setting up the system’s more complex reporting features.

It’s fortunate, then, that NCR clearly understands the challenges involved with implementing POS solutions for the first time. To ensure smooth Aloha Cloud POS integration, they’ve partnered with Hospitality Control Solutions (HCS) to offer staff training at their facilities or yours.

Aloha Cloud Restaurant POS Features

Aloha Cloud POS has an extensive range of features. Core features include:

Front of house (FOH) terminals with order entry and payment processing
Back of house (BOH) displays with prep instructions and special requests
Guest management
Takeout and delivery management
HR and inventory controls
Mobile device functionality
Local and cloud installation with several layers of redundancy
Customer engagement
Security and theft prevention
High degree of customization
Extensive reporting features

Aloha Cloud Hosted Services

In addition to POS terminals, Aloha Cloud offers cloud-based “Hosted Services” that can augment your POS system and enhance your customers’ experience:

PULSE Real-Time: Access analytics on server performance and customer behavior from anywhere with an internet connection.
Aloha Stored Value: Gift card sales and management help new customers discover your business.
Aloha Loyalty Program: Customize a loyalty program that keeps your customers coming back.
Aloha Restaurant Guard: Loss prevention and scam detection can be built into your everyday workflow.
Aloha Online Ordering: Integrate easy ordering with your existing website.
Aloha Insight: Understand the data that drives your business.
Customer Voice: Give your regulars the tools to evangelize for your business.
Aloha Command Center and Network Security Services: Maximize the performance and safety of your Aloha Cloud system without compromising your sensitive data.

Eligible for Point of Sale System Quotes?

Click your state below to find out

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY

Support

In an industry where customer support is sometimes an afterthought, the Aloha Cloud POS system truly stands out by offering several modes of support. Phone support is available seven days a week, 8.00am to midnight. Aloha Cloud technicians are also available on-call during regular business hours for on-site troubleshooting.

Aloha Cloud’s ‘Depot Service’ also deserves mention. With Depot Service, NCR provides same-day shipment of new or replacement hardware, equipment rentals, asset management, installation, and setup. Given that hardware issues tend to affect users of any POS system over time, same-day delivery of replacement modules can be a lifesaver.

Plans and Pricing

Here’s a summary of Aloha Cloud’s key pricing plan, which starts off completely free:

Swipe right to see more

Package

Starter

Cost

From $0/month

Key features

Payment processing
Menu management
Site management
Reporting
Email marketing
Loyalty

The following capabilities are also available as optional add-ons, so you have the option to benefit from them for an additional cost:

Online ordering
Advanced reporting
Inventory management
Employee management
Accounting integration
Kitchen production
Delivery marketplace integration

If you’d like find out exactly how much your dream POS system is going to cost you, try our free quote comparison tool. Answer a few questions about your business and what you’re looking for, and we’ll match you up with trusted POS providers that can cater to your needs. They’ll be in touch directly with tailored, no-obligation quotes for you to compare.

Case Study: Newk’s Eatery

When Newk’s Eatery first opened in 2004, they could scarcely have imagined that they would be a chain with more than 100 locations in 14 states by 2019. Newk’s credits Aloha Cloud as a key component in that expansion, as well as a valued partner, noting their help with day-to-day operational concerns and customizing systems to keep up with the needs of a rapidly-expanding chain.

How We Tested Aloha POS

The Expert Market team rigorously assessed and tested 15 different POS systems to bring you this list. In total, we spent around 160 hours researching POS platforms, and over 20 hours testing them.

During that time, we used our learnings to evaluate how each POS system fared in six categories that are important to hospitality businesses, broken down into up to 12 subcategories, in order to award an impartial ranking. Here’s what we looked at:

POS software: The breadth of features included in the POS software, and how valuable they are to the average business, including inventory management, menu/product creation, customer engagement tools, and table management.
Hardware/equipment: The variety of equipment available to purchase or rent, with special importance given to key items, such as physical terminals, customer displays, and accessories.
Ease-of-use: How easy each system is to use, based on feedback from several average users who were assigned basic tasks to complete on each system, such as menu/item creation, accessing reports, or applying a discount.
Help and support: How effective and reachable the customer support teams are, with bonus points given to POS systems with help centers and training modes.
Costs: The price of the system, how it compares to competitors, and whether it's good value for money.
User experience: Whether everyday users know and like the system, whether they’d recommend it, and what they say about it in online reviews.

We gave each POS system a score in each of the above testing and research categories and combined them to produce an overall score, which was used to rank them.

Aloha Cloud POS: The Verdict

Few in the tech space can boast a 130-year history. The Aloha Cloud POS hasn’t been around for quite that long, but its parent company has. NCR draws on its experience to deliver a top-notch hospitality solution. Whether you’re running a take-out pizza parlor or a high-end bistro, the Aloha Cloud POS system has a configuration to manage all your touchpoints. This is hardly the only hospitality solution available, but it should be on your shortlist.