The deli counter is fast-paced and high-pressure. Customers want their orders fast, fresh, and labeled correctly — but behind the scenes, your team is juggling weight-based pricing, special requests, and tickets from every direction.
All-in-one deli ordering software connects your point of sale (POS), scales with printers, and e-commerce platform into one system. It handles slicing, labeling, real-time inventory updates, and routes online orders straight to the assembly area, so staff can work faster and keep service moving.
Learn seven features you need in a deli ordering system — and top providers to consider for your grocery store counter.
Must-Have Features of a Modern Deli Ordering System
Grocery store delis aren’t like other departments. They deal with variable pricing, high customization, and compliance-heavy packaging. If your system isn’t built specifically for deli operations, it’ll create more work, not less.
Modern deli ordering systems support real-time orders, accurate labeling, and multichannel tickets while syncing everything across departments. These seven features make that possible.
1. Integrated Scale and Label Printing
Deli teams shouldn’t waste time retyping weights or guessing at pricing. When the scale links directly to the POS, it calculates price by weight and prints a clear label with data your customer and scanner need — product name, sell-by date, ingredients, and barcode. That means faster checkouts, fewer pricing errors, and less confusion at the counter.
2. Modifier Management
Sliced thin, double wrapped, no seasoning — every customer has a preference and expects it to be followed. Modifier tools let staff select common requests like shaved or separate containers with a tap, sending clear instructions to both the workstation and the printed label. During busy hours, everyone stays on the same page without guessing or backtracking.
3. Online and Kiosk Order Integration
No one likes waiting in line for a pound of turkey. Orders placed online or through a store kiosk should pop up immediately at the slicing area with the correct timestamp and details. This keeps the counter clear, pickup times accurate, and staff focused on what’s ready to make, not what got scribbled on a sticky note.
4. Ingredient-Level Inventory Tracking
Sliced roast beef for one customer shouldn’t mean running out for the next. Ingredient tracking tools monitor usage in real time, so if the deli, hot bar, and catering team pull from the same supply, nothing slips through the cracks. It’s the difference between knowing you’re low — and finding out when it’s already gone.
5. Unified Order Management
Intake happens everywhere: walk-ups, kiosks, online orders, and phone calls. Your deli ordering system should centralize it all into one queue that assigns ticket times and keeps staff focused on the right task at the right time.
6. Flexible Label Customization
Every deli product has its own packaging requirements. Grab-and-go items might need full nutrition panels and allergen warnings, while sliced meats need vacuum-sealed packs with labeled weight, price, and sell-by date. Flexible templates let staff print the correct label for each product without slowing down or violating regulations.
7. Order Routing and Prep Visibility
Orders can pile up fast when the lunch rush hits — unless they’re routed where they need to go. Efficient deli ordering systems assign tasks by station or staff load, so no one gets overwhelmed while others stand idle. Kitchen teams see what’s next at a glance — and managers can spot bottlenecks before they back up the line.
Top Deli Ordering System Providers for Grocery Stores
Many off-the-shelf POS systems promise deli features, but few are built for the pace, complexity, and food assembly behind a grocery store deli counter. Mislabeled products and disorganized routing are just the start — generic systems often slow service instead of speeding it up.
These five providers offer deli ordering systems built to handle the day-to-day realities behind the deli counter.
1. Markt POS: Best for Full-Service Grocery Deli Operations
Markt POS supports grocery delis with automated label printing, live restocking visibility, and cross-department syncing. Staff can manage modifiers, route online orders, and keep everything tied to the larger store systems. Its interface is user-friendly, and deli managers can easily access performance data.
2. IT Retail: Best for Multi-Department Order Management
IT Retail combines barcode scale support with modifier entry and ticket printing. It works across multiple departments and offers instant insights. Stores with mixed service models can benefit from their strong reporting and operational tracking tools.
3. ECRS Catapult: Best for Unified Storewide Integration
ECRS Catapult is a unified retail system built to support grocery delis alongside full-store operations. It integrates deli scales, barcode labeling, and multichannel order intake while keeping inventory data consistent across departments. Its tools help teams manage custom order fulfillment and reduce back-end data entry.
4. LOC Software: Best for Data-Driven Inventory and Labor Decisions
LOC Software connects deli performance to broader store sales. Features include ingredient tracking, modifier flexibility, and synchronized product usage reporting. Stores focused on tying performance to their bottom line can use LOC to make data-driven staffing and inventory decisions.
5. Auto-Star: Best for High-Volume, Multichannel Deli Service
Auto-Star helps delis handle multiple order streams while managing ingredients and labeling. It supports payment processing and assigns tasks based on order load. Managers can monitor ticket time trends to adjust scheduling and increase deli efficiency.
Simplify Your Deli and Satisfy More Shoppers
Grocery delis move fast — and they need systems that can keep up. The best centralized deli ordering systems connect your assembly station, label printer, and digital order channels so every order flows smoothly from intake to checkout.
Markt POS was built for grocery delis that need to move quickly. From modifiers and labels to online pickup and inventory tracking, it brings everything together in one system that works from prep to checkout.
Build and price a tailor-made POS for your deli counter with Markt POS. See how it can help your team move faster, fulfill accurate orders, and keep lines moving.
by Luke
