Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Heartland Retail VS Toast

Compare Heartland Retail VS Toast and see what are their differences

Heartland Retail logo Heartland Retail

Heartland Retail (previously Springboard Retail) POS software a robust, user-friendly cloud point of sale solution designed for the business of retail. A complete retail management platform built for growing single, multi and franchise brands.

Toast logo Toast

Built to make restaurants better. Toast gives your restaurant the technology you need to succeed in today's fast-paced environment.
  • Heartland Retail Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-09
  • Toast Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-17

Toast

Release Date
2011 January
Startup details
Country
United States
City
Boston
Founder(s)
Aman Narang
Employees
1,000 - 1,999

Heartland Retail features and specs

  • User-friendly Interface
    Heartland Retail offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it simple for users to manage sales, inventory, and customer data.
  • Robust Inventory Management
    The platform provides comprehensive inventory management tools, including real-time tracking, automated reorder alerts, and detailed reporting.
  • Customizable Reporting
    Heartland Retail allows users to generate custom reports tailored to their specific needs, helping businesses make informed decisions based on data insights.
  • Multi-location Capabilities
    The system supports businesses with multiple locations, enabling seamless operations and inventory management across all stores.
  • Integrated Payment Processing
    Heartland Retail includes integrated payment processing, facilitating secure and efficient transactions through various payment methods.
  • Strong Customer Support
    The platform offers reliable customer support through multiple channels, including phone, email, and live chat, ensuring users get help when they need it.
  • Cloud-based System
    Being cloud-based, Heartland Retail allows access from anywhere, providing flexibility and ensuring data is consistently updated.
  • Mobile Accessibility
    The platform can be accessed via mobile devices, allowing users to manage their business operations on the go.

Possible disadvantages of Heartland Retail

  • Cost
    Heartland Retail can be expensive for small businesses or startups, with various pricing tiers based on the number of features and users.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, new users might still face a learning curve when navigating and utilizing all the features effectively.
  • Integrations
    The platform might have limited integrations with certain third-party applications, potentially causing issues for businesses relying on specific tools.
  • Feature Overload
    Some users might find the extensive range of features overwhelming, especially if they only need basic functionalities.
  • Internet Dependency
    As a cloud-based solution, Heartland Retail requires a stable internet connection, which could be a drawback for businesses in areas with unreliable connectivity.
  • Customization Limitations
    There may be limitations in terms of customizing the software to fit unique business needs or specific workflows.
  • Customer Support Response Time
    While customer support is generally strong, response times can sometimes be slower during peak periods or for complex issues.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Some users might face compatibility issues with existing hardware, necessitating additional investments in compatible equipment.

Toast features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Toast offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, which simplifies the training process for staff and minimizes operational errors.
  • Comprehensive Features
    The platform includes a wide range of features such as table management, online ordering, and inventory tracking, providing a complete solution for restaurant operations.
  • Integrated Payment Processing
    Toast includes its own payment processing, making transactions seamless and secure, and offering transparent pricing without the need for third-party processors.
  • Cloud-Based System
    Being cloud-based, Toast allows real-time access to data from any device with an internet connection, facilitating remote management and decision-making.
  • Regular Updates and Support
    Toast regularly updates its software to include new features and improvements, and it offers robust customer support to assist users with any issues.

Possible disadvantages of Toast

  • High Initial Cost
    The upfront cost of setting up Toast can be significant, which may be a barrier for small or budget-conscious restaurants.
  • Long-Term Contracts
    Toast often requires long-term contracts, which can limit flexibility and pose a risk if the system doesn't meet the restaurant's needs over time.
  • Dependency on Internet
    As a cloud-based system, Toast relies on a stable internet connection. Any disruption can affect the functionality and accessibility of the system.
  • Limited Customization
    Some users may find that the customization options in Toast are limited compared to other POS systems, which could restrict tailored experiences for specific restaurant needs.
  • Potential Overwhelming Features
    The wide array of features might be overwhelming for smaller operations that don’t need extensive functionalities, potentially making the system complex to navigate.

Analysis of Heartland Retail

Overall verdict

  • Heartland Retail is generally regarded as a good solution for retailers seeking a powerful and flexible POS system that supports multi-store and multi-channel operations. Its ease of use, combined with robust analytics and reporting features, makes it a strong contender for those looking to streamline retail management processes. However, as with any software choice, specific requirements and business contexts should be taken into consideration.

Why this product is good

  • Heartland Retail, formerly known as Springboard Retail, is designed to cater to the needs of independent retailers and small to medium-sized businesses. It offers cloud-based POS systems that are intuitive and user-friendly, providing features such as inventory management, analytics, customer management, and multi-channel selling. The platform is particularly appreciated for its ability to centralize retail operations, improve inventory accuracy, and offer insights into sales performance with comprehensive reporting tools. Furthermore, its integration capabilities with various third-party applications enhance its functionality, allowing businesses to create a tailored solution that fits their unique needs.

Recommended for

  • Independent retailers seeking a versatile POS system.
  • Businesses looking for strong inventory management capabilities.
  • Retailers needing comprehensive sales and performance analytics.
  • Stores with multi-channel sales operations (e.g., online and brick-and-mortar).
  • Companies wanting a scalable solution that grows with their business.

Analysis of Toast

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Toast is considered a strong POS solution for restaurants of various sizes due to its robust capabilities, industry focus, and ease of use. However, whether it is the best choice depends on the specific needs and budget of the restaurant.

Why this product is good

  • Toast is a popular point-of-sale (POS) system designed specifically for restaurants and the foodservice industry. It is praised for its user-friendly interface, comprehensive feature set, and industry-specific solutions that help streamline restaurant operations. Toast offers features such as menu management, inventory tracking, online ordering, delivery integration, and real-time analytics. Its cloud-based system allows for easy updates and remote access, making it a reliable choice for restaurant owners looking to improve efficiency and customer service.

Recommended for

    Toast is particularly recommended for small to medium-sized restaurants, quick-service restaurants, cafes, and bars that are looking for a comprehensive POS system with built-in features for managing different aspects of restaurant operations. It is also suitable for restaurant owners who value a cloud-based system with the flexibility to grow with their business.

Heartland Retail videos

Springboard Retail: Product Spotlight

Toast videos

Eating Toast For The First Time. A REVIEW 🍞 (A Spoof)

More videos:

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  • Review - JANJI JIWA JUAL ROTI BAKAR ? SUKSES / GAGAL TOTAL ? - REVIEW JIWA TOAST - Makanan Kekinian

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Heartland Retail and Toast)
POS
59 59%
41% 41
Payments Processing
44 44%
56% 56
Payment Platform
54 54%
46% 46
Credit Card Payments
5 5%
95% 95

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Heartland Retail and Toast

Heartland Retail Reviews

The Best Retail Management Software of 2021
Heartland retail (formerly Springboard Retail) is a cloud-based retail management solution explicitly made for multistore and multichannel retailers. This platform is fully accessible via any device through modern web browsers.
Source: digital.com

Toast Reviews

Top Restaurant Loyalty Software Options for 2023
Toast is a convenient restaurant management platform that includes a wide range of features. There’s a POS system, online ordering tools, marketing features, and more. Of course, the platform includes Toast loyalty tools.
POS: Best Point of Sale System Software for Small businesses
A software business called Toast is situated in Boston. The customer is promised ease of use by the Toast POS system. It creates point of sale and administration systems for restaurants. The architecture of Toast POS is cloud-based. The company also offers round-the-clock assistance.
Source: qpe.co.in
Best Restaurant POS Systems For 2019
Toast may have the most electronic and socially-distanced ordering/payment options of any of the restaurant POS systems on our list. Dine-in features for COVID-19 include a self-ordering kiosk, NFC-friendly card readers, reservation management, and a QR code payment option that customers use to pay for their meal on their phone. For customers who want to stay home, Toast...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Toast seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 11 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Heartland Retail mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Heartland Retail yet. Tracking of Heartland Retail recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Toast mentions (11)

  • Problems with Grubhub?
    Toast is the point of sale system that many restaurants use - it integrates a lots of aspects of the restaurant https://pos.toasttab.com/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • What is the best CRM for a small business?
    Hey! I'm not as familiar with the restaurant space but I've heard good things about Toast. You may need to use their point-of-sale system to get the full benefits, but they do have a CRM, ERP tools, and some marketing capabilities built into their software. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Waitstaff, do you prefer separate checks for parties of 10-15 or waiting for them to figure out how to split the check?
    For others who are confused: Toast is a point-of-sale (POS) app used by restaurants to charge customers. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Japan: Depopulation a surefire formula for national ruin
    Even without robots, services like Toast can cut down the number of waiters needed by moving ordering & table service to smartphones. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Data science for small businesses / restaurants
    I think toast https://pos.toasttab.com/ does this for restaurants. They sell point of sale systems, but also back office software too. That enables them to collect all the data, then they provide analytics that is supposed to help the restaurant be more profitable. Source: about 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Heartland Retail and Toast, you can also consider the following products

Square - Square helps millions of sellers run their business-from secure credit card processing to point of sale solutions. Get paid faster with Square. Sign up today!

Lightspeed - retail and restaurant point-of-sale, ecommerce, and omnichannel solution

QuickBooksPOS - QuickBooksPOS offer POS system software for small businesses.

TouchBistro - iPad based Point of Sale solution for restaurants

Shopify POS - Shopify POS is point of sale system with integrated retail software for retail sales.

Odoo Point of Sale - Odoo is an online point of sale solution for retail and restaurants.