Breadcrumb Rolls Out Mobile POS Control For Restaurateurs

Breadcrumb, the Groupon-owned POS outfit focused on food and beverage businesses, launched an iPhone app yesterday (May 18) that enables restaurateurs to monitor their businesses in real time.

Dubbed Breadcrumb Live, the app – which debuted at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago – offers real-time sales data, which can be “drilled down” into total net sales and top categories, as well as average check size; time series data compiling week over week sales and traffic data; and even check/customer data, which helps pinpoint staffing needs.

Breadcrumb management stated in its product release that owners can use existing Breadcrumb login information to access the app, which means no additional setup is required.

“Our team has extensive hospitality industry experience, so we understand how important it is for business owners to always know what’s going on inside their restaurant,” said Seth Harris, founder of the POS company, which launched in 2011 and was acquired by Groupon the following year, according to a press release. “Breadcrumb Live provides them with the ability and freedom to do just that and gives them the peace of mind they need when they’re away.”

Given the latest announcement from Groupon and Breadcrumb, it may be that the rumors swirling around Groupon’s desire to exit the POS business may have been premature. Reports surfaced last month that Groupon had been mulling selling at least a portion of its Breadcrumb business, or perhaps even raising money in order to spin the unit off into its own, separate entity. The movement into real-time restaurant data follows up on the popular restaurant deal platform, which has been a hallmark of Groupon’s.

Breadcrumb plans start at about $99 monthly, which includes free installation and phone and email support, though no additional fee information was available from Groupon about Breadcrumb Live.