Intro:
Everyone at some point has had a moment where they realized what was best for them and sometimes after you figure that out, you want to stick with what you know. Toast encompasses a more old-fashioned style POS compared to the new, modern style. Clover is innovation and continues to pursue a better way. These are important to consider when deciding if Clover or Toast would be better for your business that’s why, in this article, we’re going to be dissecting the differences between Toast and Clover, so you can be well informed.
General Differences:
Toast:
Toast has a unique way of operating compared to most other credit card processors. Toast is a web-based POS company that is solely focused on serving restaurants but can be utilized anywhere that serves small food or alcohol such as a bakery, café or bar. Since its web based instead of cloud based, information is stored on each piece of equipment and can be accessed when the internet is offline but isn’t fully supported when the connections’ out. The system is android-based also, making it cheap and more flexible but as a disadvantage, its less secure and not as up to date. Toast is also one of the few companies that act as their client’s payment processor.
Clover:
Clover is a cloud-based POS company which allows all of their machines to be functional all throughout the day. and can be used in a variety of diverse industries. The all in one POS system can accept any type of payment method. If you happened to lost connection from LTE or Wi-Fi, then all transactions will be saved and processed when the network returns. All Clover merchants will process with First Data, but the equipment can be bought from many different places.
Prices and Instillation
Toast:
No matter which POS system and terminal you decided to choose, you have to prep and sustain it through the entirety of its life. Toast charges $499 for installation regardless of who sets up the equipment whether that be yourself or a Toast Representative. If a representative installs it, they will provide training for employees, managers or anyone else that needs to learn how to navigate the interface. Toast has a quality knowledge base and a FAQ section on their website to help answer any questions that customers might have. A toll-free service number can be called where you can speak with the representative that will walk you through any problems, Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 12 AM EST. Many reviews online praise Toast for their dedication to their customer support.
Clover:
Clover has a 24/7 customer service line that their customers can call when having any types of issues with the machine. The installation for Clover is free because it will have already been paid for in the processing. A representative from Clover will come and install all of the equipment. There is also an option to email clover support and a help section online to troubleshoot issues. They provide online and in person training on how to use the terminals but most of the support will come from a third party. Most merchants who purchase Clover will buy their equipment and processing through a bank or an Independent Sales Organization (ISO) instead of buying directly from First Data. So, depending on which third party company you decide to buy from, you could have best service in the world or the worst. It’s important to be careful on who you sign up with when purchasing your Clover devices because it will determine how serious the customer support will be taken.
Features and Benefits:
In a utopian world, no one would ever need to pick a phone and customer support for anything. But sometimes humans make mistakes and you have suck it up and troubleshoot your problems. There’s more possibility to have problems from the Clover terminals than the Toast terminals and it all comes down to how modern and complex each terminal is. For anyone that would consider themselves less tech savvy, Toast would be the better route. Clover is more difficult to use but the capabilities can be higher if used correctly. Both have their own unique way of dealing with functions such as ordering and menu configuration, but both will get the keep a business running and get the job done.
Conclusion:
Settling on which POS system is perfect for you is not a simple task. There’s an abundance of factors, that you must consider when deciding what the backbone of your business will be. Whichever POS system you choose is going to determine how well and efficient your business is going to run but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so it all depends on what’s right for you. There’s only person that can tell you that so continue on your search and stay on the lookout for future articles that will go even more in depth about Clover and Toast.
