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Lavu’s versatility, customization options, and value-added features make it a compelling POS choice for a wide range of restaurant businesses. In this review, we’ll examine its features, pricing, and competitors.
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What is Lavu?
Lavu is a cloud-based iPad POS system that offers a suite of features tailored to enhance the operational efficiency and customer experience of restaurants, bars, and cafes. Key features include customizable order and menu management, inventory tracking, payment processing, and integrated online ordering.
We found that it’s well-suited for independent establishments that require diverse payment processing options. Lavu provides an all-in-one, built-in payment processor that works seamlessly with third-party providers like PayPal. Thanks to its mobile optimization, third-party app integration, and 24/7 customer support, Lavu stands out as one of the best POS systems, making it a versatile choice for businesses looking to streamline their service and grow their revenue.
Lavu POS Pricing & Plans
Lavu POS system offers competitive pricing with three main subscription tiers tailored to different business sizes and needs. We’ve listed the three tiers below so you can easily compare them.
| Plans | Price (lowest price) from | Transaction fee | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | From $59/month | From 2.6% + 10 cents | Small cafes and food trucks |
| Growth | From $129/month | From 2.6% + 10 cents | Mid-size restaurants |
| Optimize | From $279/month | From 2.6% + 10 cents | Large or chain venues |
Due to its balance of features and cost, the Growth plan may be better suited for a team of up to 20. It provides the necessary tools for efficient operation and continued business without the complexity of the Optimize plan, which may be more than what a smaller team requires.
Compared to competitors like CakePOS and Lightspeed, Lavu’s cost is competitive, especially considering the comprehensive features included in each plan. Some competitors, such as PayPal Zettle, may offer free versions or trials, which Lavu does not, but Lavu’s plans are robust and designed for scalability.
Lavu Key Features
Lavu has helpful features that simplify restaurant management, enhance customer experience, and improve operational efficiency. They include:
Lavu’s online ordering feature simplifies operations and reduces third-party fees by syncing sales data, managing orders, and tracking inventory across both online and onsite orders.
If you need customizable templates, customer relationship tools, loyalty programs, and reporting capabilities, their online ordering solution, MenuDrive, is a great tool for maintaining a consistent brand experience and driving profitability.
Lavu’s open architecture and API integrations allow for easy connection with various online ordering and delivery partners, giving restaurants the flexibility to choose the best solutions for their business.
This feature lets you digitize your paper invoices and create organized records and reports, helping you better understand your business finances.
Lavu connects invoice management to inventory tracking, so you can see stock levels, costs, and orders in one place, allowing you to manage inventory in real time. You can also link Lavu to your accounting software to automate accounts payable and receivable.
For even more control, you can integrate Lavu with the Sourcery platform to handle all your ordering, purchasing, and bill-paying in one system.
Lavu’s Payment Processing feature, Lavu Pay, offers a secure and integrated solution for handling transactions. It prioritizes security, with PCI compliance and 24/7 support, while also offering transparent pricing and the ability to accept payments even during internet outages.
We love that Lavu Pay also provides value-added features like the Cash Discount Program, allowing restaurants to save on processing fees and reward customers.
This allows for centralized control of menu items, pricing, and specials. In other words, it simplifies your business operations by enabling updates to be pushed to all locations simultaneously, ensuring consistency and efficiency.
We like that the system also offers every restaurant owner the flexibility to set location-specific prices and recall changes if needed. MLMM includes features like full sync capabilities for initial setup and an enterprise management extension for comprehensive control over the menu management process.
The restaurant POS system’s analytics features allow you to generate comprehensive reports on sales, inventory, labor, and cash flow. These data-driven insights help you identify best-selling menu items, optimize staffing, control costs, and manage financials more effectively.
We also noticed that you can connect Lavu’s analytics with accounting software like Xero and QuickBooks to further streamline the flow of financial information.
Lavu POS Integrations and Add-Ons
Lavu’s open API offers a diverse range of integrations and add-ons designed to enhance the functionality of a restaurant’s point-of-sale system. These integrations cover various operational aspects such as inventory management, payment processing, employee management, customer loyalty, and accounting.
Lavu’s integrations in this category aim to facilitate inventory tracking, track sales, reduce waste and save time, thereby boosting profitability. Notable integrations include Bar-i Liquid Accounting, Digital Pour, Marketman, and CheddarSuite.
Lavu provides scalable solutions with integrations for QR payments, which can help restaurants turn tables faster and reduce credit card fraud. Integrations include Up’n Go and CheckPlease.
To help fill empty seats and build a loyal customer base, Lavu integrates with platforms that manage online waitlists, offer loyalty programs, and reward customers, which can lead to increased repeat visits. They include OpenTable, LoyaltyMatch, and Pepper.
For financial management, Lavu connects with back-office software and services that integrate payroll, time tracking, and other essential accounting functions, helping restaurants manage their finances more effectively. Integration includes Restaurant365, Shogo, Dolce, Paychex, Quickbooks, Xero, ADP, and Gusto.
These integrations provide a convenient way for customers to order directly from the restaurant’s own platform or through popular delivery services. They include Otter, Chowly, DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, FlipDish, Checkmate, and Open Dining.
Lavu Security Features
Lavu POS system ensures transaction security through advanced encryption and compliance with industry-standard security protocols. This robust security framework safeguards your data and the integrity of your business.
Also, Lavu’s latest updates include secure payment processing options, which support magnetic stripe, chip, and contactless payments. The system maintains PCI compliance to provide secure and reliable payment processing, even during internet outages.
Lavu POS Hardware
Lavu’s hardware suite includes options such as networking equipment, printers, cash drawers, and card readers. Notably, Lavu’s hardware is compatible with Epson printers, which can be set up wirelessly using the Epson TM Utility App, and they also provide support for AirPort Express for wireless printing.
For payment processing, Lavu offers solutions like the BOLT EMV for Lavu Pay and the Verifone card reader, which ensure secure transactions. Lavu’s hardware lineup supports iOS devices and offers accessories like the Dual Tablet Display Stand for more efficient customer interaction.
Lavu Alternatives & Competition
Businesses have more POS options than ever before, and Lavu is just one of the many choices. Discover how Lavu compares to its leading rivals in the market.
| Best For | Free Version | Monthly Starting Price | Transaction Fee | Hardware Cost | Built-in Payment Processing | Inventory Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lavu | Food Trucks | No | From $59/month | From 2.6% + 10 cents | Included in monthly fee | Yes | Yes |
| Epos Now | Retail and Hospitality Businesses | No | From $99 + subscription | Quote-Based | From $349 for a complete POS solution | Yes | Yes |
| Square | Small Businesses | Yes | From $60/month | From 2.6% + 10 cents | $10 for card reader, terminals start at $299 | Yes | Yes |
| Revel | Multi-location stores | No | From $99/month | From 2.49% + 15 cents | Quote-based | Yes | Yes |
| Vend | Retail | No | From $69/month | The cost varies based on your choice of payment processor | From $99 | No. It offers integrations instead. | Yes |
| Clover | Reports and Analytics | No | From $14.95 for professional services | From 2.3% + 10 cents | From $49 | Yes | Yes |
| SpotOn | Multi-location restaurants | Yes | From $99/month +$3 per employee |
From 1.99% + 25 cents | Included in monthly fee | Yes | Yes |
| Cake | Customer Experience | No | From $69 per month | From 2.5% + 15 cents | Included in monthly fee | Yes | Yes |
Lavu POS System Customer Reviews
With a 4.7 rating on Trustpilot, customers have shared their experience with Lavu expressing a high level of satisfaction with Lavu’s POS system and their incredible support staff. General feedback showed a lot of customers switching from their last point of sale software to Lavu for a modern system with cheaper pricing, improved onboarding experience, and much better functionalities for restaurants.
“We tried other POS systems but customizing was expensive and they didn’t work as we wanted them to. Lavu system multi purpose-built with the features and reporting were right on and we were able to merge it to our own easily, they work great”
Customer review collected from Trustpilot.
“We’ve been working together for a few month now and I can’t resist the outstanding quality of their products and service. The POS system they will bring to my restaurant fits all our needs perfectly. It is clear, reliable and provides organized order processing. Technical support at the highest level – any issues are resolved instantly. Thank you for your effective and reliable cooperation!”
Customer review collected from Trustpilot.
Lavu offers 24/7 customer support via phone or email. This round-the-clock assistance from the support team ensures that businesses can rely on Lavu for continuous operational support.
How to use Lavu POS System - Quick Guide
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use the Lavu POS system:
Setup Assistance
You can hop over to the platform to get a free demo before purchase. After purchase, a Lavu representative will work with you one-on-one to configure your software and ensure you have the necessary hardware. They’ll customize your settings and build out your entire menu for you.
Menu Building
Lavu’s onboarding process includes setting up your menu groups, categories, and items. You’ll start by creating menu groups, which serve as the top level of your menu hierarchy. These groups contain all your menu categories and their items. You can populate your menu categories with items. Each item requires a name, and you can optionally set prices. Lavu makes it easy to add and manage menu items using an iPad or your phone.
Using Lavu
Once your system is configured, using Lavu POS is straightforward. The ordering process involves selecting a table, choosing items for the order, and either sending them to the kitchen printer or saving the order. For faster service, you can utilize the self ordering kiosks feature, which allows guests to place orders themselves. Lavu POS also offers delivery capabilities, enabling you to set up online ordering and delivery directly from your restaurant’s website. Payment processing is secure and tailored to your needs, ensuring a smooth transaction experience. Additionally, Lavu POS helps you manage invoices by converting them into organized digital records, aiding in business growth.
How We Review and Test POS Software
To provide our readers with accurate and well-informed recommendations, we test the most popular POS products on the market to find the best options for you. Our methodology consists of the following criteria:
- Features – We examine the features offered by each POS software, how useful those features are, and how they compare to others on the market.
- Scalability – We look at how many users can be added to a platform and how easy it is to do so to ensure companies can easily add more employees to their payroll as they scale their operations.
- Integrations – We evaluate each piece of software’s integrations to determine how well it fits in with other key pieces in a business’s software stack and whether its functionality can be expanded as required.
- User Experience – We get hands-on with each product to put ourselves in the shoes of a new user, testing each platform to gain an understanding of the platform is easy to use or requires onboarding.
- Total Cost – Transaction fees, hardware costs, and additional costs. We look at the features, integrations, customer service, and extras to determine if the price of the software matches the value it provides. We score a product higher if it offers customers a free trial and is upfront and transparent about its pricing plans.
- Security – We delve into the security protocols of each company, assessing the measures in place to safeguard user data.
- Customer Reviews – We consider customer reviews from reputable third-party websites as a crucial aspect of our evaluation process.
How to Choose the Best POS Software
Selecting the optimal point-of-sale software for your business is a crucial decision that can greatly impact your operations and overall success. When choosing the best POS system, consider the following key factors:
Evaluate the software’s cost, including any upfront fees, monthly/annual subscription plans, and potential hidden charges. Ensure the pricing aligns with your budget and provides a good value proposition.
Assess the software’s functionalities, such as inventory management, sales reporting, customer management, and payment processing capabilities. Prioritize the features that are most essential for your business needs.
Consider the POS software’s ability to grow with your big or small business, accommodating an increasing number of customers, transactions, and locations as your operations expand.
Evaluate the software’s user-friendliness, intuitive interface, and the learning curve for your old and new employees. A user-friendly POS system can streamline operations and increase productivity.
Examine the software’s compatibility with other business applications, such as accounting systems, e-commerce platforms, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Seamless integrations can improve efficiency and data synchronization.
Ensure the POS system provider offers reliable and responsive customer support, including troubleshooting, training, and ongoing maintenance. Dependable support can be invaluable when issues arise.
Our Other POS Guides
Running a company is no easy feat, but we’re here to help. Explore our diverse range of POS guides to expand your expertise:
- Best POS System
- Best POS System for Restaurants
- Best POS System for Bars
- Clover POS Review
- Square POS Review
- Best Restaurant Accounting Software
