In today’s tight-margin foodservice environment, cutting costs isn’t just smart—it’s essential. But what if your biggest opportunity isn’t in your pantry or payroll, but in your POS system?
With Cardwatch’s powerful reporting tools, you already have access to deep insights hiding in plain sight. Here’s how to unlock them.
1. Pinpoint Menu Items That Waste Dollars
Use the Item Sales Report to identify low-performing menu items. If a dish consistently underperforms, it may be costing you more in inventory, prep time, and waste than it’s worth.
Action Tip: Remove or rework any item with low sales volume and high prep complexity. Combine this with waste tracking reports to identify high-loss items.
2. Track Labor-Efficient Meal Periods
The Guest Check Times Report reveals the average time from order to kitchen print to close. This helps determine which meal periods are most efficient—or where staff might be stretched too thin.
Action Tip: Reallocate staff shifts to match your most active service times. Fewer labor hours with more transactions leads to improved efficiency.
3. Boost Meal Plan Usage to Maximize Value
Are residents or students using their meal plan benefits fully? Use the Plan Usage and Redemptions Report to see who’s underutilizing their plans.
Action Tip: Encourage higher usage with targeted engagement—like promoting high-value meals, pre-ordering features, or sending plan balance reminders. Increased usage drives both satisfaction and value recovery.
4. Reduce Food Waste Through Prep Forecasting
By reviewing Menu Item and Meal Period Trends, you can better forecast demand and reduce overproduction. This is especially important in senior living and healthcare, where individual preferences and dietary plans matter.
Action Tip: Use historical data from similar weeks or seasons to guide prep quantities for recurring menus.
5. Spot Hidden Revenue Leaks in Payment Trends
Run the GL by Payment Type Report to uncover issues like underutilized prepaid plans, excessive refunds, or meal plan leakage.
Action Tip: If a large percentage of resident meals are being charged outside the plan, it may indicate misuse, confusion, or a need for staff retraining.
Your Data. Your Advantage.
Cardwatch isn’t just a POS system—it’s a financial control tool. With a few smart reports and consistent analysis, your dining operation can shift from reactive to proactive, saving thousands in hidden costs.
Need help unlocking insights from your POS reports?
Contact our support team or schedule a complimentary reporting review session.
