Integration nightmares (and how to avoid them)
Your restaurant runs on five different systems. Making them talk to each other shouldn't require a computer science degree.
Why your POS, delivery apps, and accounting software hate each other
Different data formats. Incompatible APIs. No standard protocol. Your POS records a "Chicken Tagine" while your delivery app calls it "Tajine Poulet" and your accounting software needs "FOOD-101-B".
The result? Manual data entry. Errors. Hours wasted reconciling systems that should sync automatically.
The "single dashboard" promise — what's real vs. marketing fluff
True single dashboard: all orders (dine-in, delivery, pickup) flow into one system with unified reporting. Marketing fluff: separate logins with a "summary page" that shows basic totals.
Test question for vendors: "Can I change a menu price and have it update everywhere instantly?" If they hesitate, it's not truly integrated.
API requirements your IT person will thank you for asking about
REST API with JSON responses. Webhook support for real-time events. HMAC authentication. Rate limiting that's reasonable (1,000+ requests/hour). Clear documentation with code examples. These aren't nice-to-haves — they're essential for custom integrations.
OCHI provides all of these through public API keys, plus 18 different webhook events for everything from new orders to inventory changes.
Staff training reality check — the 72-hour rule
If your staff can't learn the basics in 72 hours, the system is too complex. Period.
Why "user-friendly" doesn't mean "staff-friendly"
User-friendly means pretty buttons and smooth animations. Staff-friendly means: Can a stressed waiter split a bill during rush hour without calling for help? Can a new cashier process a refund without manager override? Can kitchen staff mark items out-of-stock from their station?
Design for the worst day, not the demo.
The features that cause the most mistakes (and slowdowns)
Modifier hell: nested options that require five taps to order a coffee with oat milk. Manual discounts: percentage calculations during busy service. Unclear table status: is table 7 occupied, reserved, or being cleaned?
Good POS design eliminates decision points. One tap for common modifications. Visual table maps with color-coded status. Preset discount buttons instead of manual entry.
Training time: realistic expectations for different staff roles
Cashier: 2-4 hours to handle 90% of transactions. Waiter: 4-6 hours including table management and modifications. Kitchen staff: 1-2 hours for order display and status updates. Manager: 8-10 hours for reports, inventory, and configuration.
Any system claiming "no training needed" is lying. Budget for proper training or budget for mistakes.
Multi-location management — when one login isn't enough
Running multiple restaurants from separate systems is like driving with one eye closed. You might manage, but you're missing half the picture.
Centralized control without micromanaging individual locations
The balance: standardize the important stuff (prices, recipes, suppliers) while allowing local flexibility (daily specials, staff scheduling, table layout). Branch managers need autonomy. Owners need oversight.
OCHI handles this with role-based permissions — branch managers see their location, owners see everything, accountants see financial data across all branches.
Your Casablanca location sells alcohol. Your Marrakech location doesn't. Your Agadir beachfront branch offers seafood specials. One POS system, three different menus.
Look for: inherited menu structures with branch overrides. Core items stay consistent, branch-specific items are managed locally.
Staff permissions that actually make sense
Eight roles minimum: Owner, Branch Manager, Shift Supervisor, Cashier, Waiter, Kitchen Staff, Delivery Driver, Accountant. Each with specific permissions. Cashiers can't delete orders. Waiters can't access reports. Kitchen staff can't process refunds.
Customer data across all your restaurants — unified loyalty and insights
A customer who orders weekly from your Rabat location visits your Fès branch. Do they start from zero? Unified customer profiles mean their preferences, points, and history travel with them. One customer, one profile, all locations.
The POS system you choose shapes every interaction in your restaurant. Choose based on what happens after you tap "order" — not what happens in the sales demo. Start with a clear view of the complete system at ochi.ma/partners.
