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How to prepare a restaurant menu migration to a new POS in the UK
A menu migration is easier to plan when import, review and service readiness are separate tasks. Servio produces a draft from your source menu; allow time to check it and rehearse the ordering and payment workflow before opening.
By Amaan Tanveer, Co-founder · · 4 min read
Moving a menu is a chance to check what the venue actually sells and how guests order it. Servio can produce a reviewable draft from a file, image, PDF, text or URL. Extraction may leave gaps or misread details, so the operator reviews and completes it before publishing.
Three stages to prepare your menu
- Import a file, image, PDF, text or menu URL to create a draft
- Review completeness, prices, categories, modifiers and operator-verified allergens
- Prepare service: finish payment and device tasks, test orders and brief the team before publishing
Import a draft from your source menu. Review categories, items, prices, modifiers and verified allergen information against the source, then publish only when complete. Rehearse representative orders on the staff till and guest phone, checking payments, receipts and kitchen tickets before service. Servio needs no proprietary till, but confirm device and reader compatibility.
The tidy-up worth doing while you move
Use the review to check low-selling dishes with your seller reports, considering margin, waste and guest needs before removing them. Merge duplicate modifier labels only after confirming they mean the same thing. Name dishes clearly for the QR menu, and verify that the prices, choices and allergen information match the venue’s approved menu.
Rehearse the changeover before service
Practise the new workflow during a quieter period, then choose a first service with enough staff support. Keep the old system available until the changeover has been checked, and agree which system records each order and payment to avoid duplicates. Suitable existing devices can be reused, but readers, extra equipment and overlapping subscriptions may still cost money. Retire the old till after sign-off and reconciliation, without assuming a same-week timetable.
The questions people actually ask
“What about my sales history?” Ask the old provider about export formats and access before cancelling, then retain the records your business needs. Do not assume historic sales can be imported into the new system or recovered after access ends. Check the first reports from the new workflow against your retained baseline.
“What if my menu is a photo?” Servio accepts images as well as files, PDFs, text and URLs to create a draft. Review missing items, prices, categories, modifier groups and operator-verified allergens before publication. Menu import is included on every plan; it is not a guarantee of a complete reconstruction.
“When is the right time?” Check renewal dates, notice periods and any overlap with the old subscription; our switching notes outline the questions. Choose time for review, device preparation, payment readiness and staff practice. Check the signup and billing terms that apply rather than planning around an assumed trial length.
The go-live checklist
Before: retain old-system records and review the full menu, prices, modifiers and verified allergen information. Test routing, devices, payments, receipts and QR codes; a successful charge does not prove payout readiness. First service: use one agreed system for each order and payment and keep a fallback. After: reconcile transactions and investigate missed or duplicate orders before retiring the old system.
Test the details that matter to your service: a complex modifier group, the payment reader, receipt delivery and any printer you intend to use. Fix unresolved problems before relying on the new workflow during a rush. Our guides for Square, Toast, Lightspeed and Revel provide questions to ask when planning the change.
Questions
How long does a restaurant menu migration take?
It depends on the source menu, missing details, review work, equipment and payment readiness. Import creates a draft, so plan time to check completeness, prices, modifiers and operator-verified allergens, then rehearse service. There is no guaranteed afternoon or same-week timetable.
Can I import from my old POS export?
Use a supported file or share the menu URL to create a draft. Check the extracted items, categories, prices and modifier groups against the source, and fill in anything missing. Ask the old provider separately about exports and retaining sales history.
What should I check before going live?
Check menu completeness, prices, modifiers, availability and operator-verified allergens; entitled kitchen routing; devices and connectivity; Stripe payment and payout readiness; receipt delivery; QR codes; and staff understanding of the workflow. Software notes do not replace food-labelling or allergen obligations.