Toast Brings Cellular Connectivity And An Intelligence Engine to Its Handheld Terminal for Restaurants

Toast Inc. early Thursday unveiled Toast Go 3, the latest version of its handheld point-of-sale terminal for restaurants. Toast Go 3 offers cellular connectivity, as opposed to Wi-Fi only, and includes ToastIQ, an intelligence engine intended to offer personalized recommendations.

The addition of cellular connectivity will enable staff to use the terminal in locations where Wi-Fi connectivity can be weak, such as outdoor seating or for curbside orders, Toast says.

Toast Go 3 can be used by food trucks or at pop-up events, such as festivals or farmers’ markets, and within stadiums, according to the company. The latest version of the terminal also features a “sleeker more durable design” that can withstand drops from as much as five feet, according to Toast.

“Toast Go 3 is not just about breaking free from Wi-Fi—it marries cellular service with improved, durable design and Toast IQ features that will help every server be your best server, turning every interaction into a new opportunity to provide excellent hospitality,” Jessica Sargent, vice president of product marketing for Toast says by email.

The integration of ToastIQ will help restaurant servers “nail the little things” that can enhance the customer’s dining experience, such as sending prompts to help staff remember a regular customer’s birthday or wedding anniversary, suggest upsells, and provide real-time updates on out-of-stock menu items, says Toast. The app also keeps servers appraised of staff changes during their shift.

The goal of embedding ToastIQ, which launched earlier this year, was to provide restaurants a POS terminal that can “actively help its employees provide a better hospitality experience,” Sargent says.

While cellular connectivity can increase the range at which a handheld terminal can operate, it has become table stakes for restaurant POS devices, says Cliff Gray, principal at Gray Consulting. “Cellular connectivity is where the market is going. All the major POS terminal makers offer it,” because Wi-Fi connectivity alone can be limiting, Gray says.

The inclusion of ToastIQ is seen as a way for restaurants to offer more personalized service. “AI is enhancing restaurants’ intelligence about their customers, so why not offer it,” Gray says.

Toast Go 3 comes in two models, one supporting Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity and a Wi-Fi-only version. The Wi-Fi/cellular model is priced at $749 plus a $20 monthly fee of $20 per device for cellular service. The SIM card is pre-installed in the device and is not removable, and restaurants are required to use Toast’s cellular service with this model, Toast says. The Wi-Fi-only model is priced at $599.