In today’s restaurant landscape, “data” is everywhere. From your POS system to your scheduling software to your inventory reports, you are sure to see it at every turn…but here’s the catch: data doesn’t help you grow until you know how to use it.
Too many operators are sitting on mountains of untapped insights, while still making decisions based on gut instinct or outdated routines. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone and the fix isn’t as complicated as it sounds.
In this blog, we’re breaking down how to turn your restaurant’s raw data into real results, using tools you already have and a few key performance indicators (KPIs) worth tracking every week.
Why Data Gets Ignored in the First Place
It’s There, but It’s Not Always Obvious
Most restaurant software tools (like your POS or QSROnline) already collect performance data in the background. The issue is that operators are busy, and reporting dashboards often feel overwhelming or underutilized.
If you’ve ever said:
- “I’ll look at that later…”
- “I don’t even know what half these numbers mean…”
- “It seems fine. I haven’t heard any complaints.”
Then it’s time to rethink your relationship with data.
Gut Instinct Isn’t a Strategy
We love experience. It’s what makes restaurant leaders so resilient, but gut instinct can’t tell you:
- Which items are dragging down your food cost
- When you’re consistently overstaffing by $700/week
- Which server is quietly upselling desserts like a champ
Data doesn’t replace instinct, it sharpens it.
What You Should Be Tracking (And Why It Matters)
Let’s cut through the noise. These are the core restaurant performance metrics that directly impact your revenue and that your POS and ops software can already help you monitor.
1. Sales Per Labor Hour (SPLH)
Why it matters: It shows how efficiently your team is driving revenue during scheduled shifts.
How to use it:
- Compare by shift or daypart to find your strongest and weakest zones
- Identify overstaffed timeframes and adjust future schedules
- Tie it into scheduling tools (like QSROnline) for auto-optimized labor plans
2. Item-Level Profitability
Why it matters: Not all top sellers are high earners. Some low-cost dishes carry better margins than your most popular entrée.
How to use it:
- Pull item sales and food cost reports together to find underperformers
- Cut or reprice low-margin dishes
- Promote high-profit items with staff contests or limited-time deals
POS data analysis reveals opportunities that are hiding in plain sight.
3. Void and Comp Trends
Why it matters: Frequent voids or comps can signal deeper issues like training gaps, kitchen errors, or even theft.
How to use it:
- Track by employee, shift, or menu item
- Look for spikes after new hires or menu changes
- Use as a coaching tool, not just a discipline
Small operational leaks add up. This is how you plug them.
4. Hourly Sales Trends
Why it matters: Your customer flow isn’t static. Knowing when sales rise and fall helps with everything from staffing to prep.
How to use it:
- Identify dead zones and reduce labor during slow hours
- Discover unexpected peak times for targeted promos
- Forecast more accurately week-to-week
This is also crucial for seasonal adjustments and LTO planning.
5. Guest Check Averages & Upsell Rates
Why it matters: A team that consistently upsells adds major revenue without extra traffic.
How to use it:
- Compare average check sizes by server or location
- Reward top performers
- Use insights to build better staff scripts and menu layout
Data-backed training = stronger sales floor = higher revenue.
Connecting the Dots with QSROnline
Streamlined Reporting, All in One Place
QSROnline makes it easier to gather and act on performance data. From labor reports to sales trends and food cost summaries, you can see everything in one place and stop jumping between tools.
- Combine POS sales data with labor and inventory insights
- Create custom dashboards for what you want to track
- Schedule auto-reports so the insights come to you
Real-Time Alerts So You’re Never in the Dark
Waiting for the end-of-month report to realize you overspent by $2,000? No thanks.
With QSROnline:
- Get notified when labor percentages spike
- Track overtime risks as they happen
- Stay proactive, not reactive
The best part? You don’t need to be a data analyst. The platform does the heavy lifting, you just make the calls.
Turn Your Existing Data Into Real Growth
Every restaurant has data and the ones who grow? They use it!
By tracking just a handful of key performance metrics and integrating your POS and ops tools, you can uncover hidden revenue, cut avoidable costs, and lead your business with clarity.
You don’t have to drown in spreadsheets or hire a full-time analyst. You just need to start asking your data the right questions—and letting tools like QSROnline help answer them.
Schedule a demo with QSROnline and start making smarter, faster, data-driven decisions.
