Nova - 2026 Pricing, Features, Reviews & Alternatives

NOVA is an AI-driven restaurant point-of-sale (POS) platform designed to unify critical operational areas, including front-of-house, back-of-house workflows, inventory management, loyalty programs, and reporting. Built on a single codebase, it eliminates the need for complex integrations and minimizes data delays, ensuring real-time synchronization across all aspects of restaurant operations. NOVA caters to single-location establishments as well as multi-site franchises, offering tools to maintain accuracy and efficiency on all scales.

The platform supports various hardware configurations, such as countertop terminals and portable tablets to accommodate diverse service styles, including tableside ordering. Its integrated ordering system consolidates dine-in, online, and third-party delivery orders directly into kitchen workflows and reporting dashboards. This reduces manual entry errors and ensures that updates and orders are synchronized in real time. AI-powered functionalities further streamline operations by enabling smart order customizations, predictive menu optimization based on demand trends, and automated loyalty promotions tailored to individual guests. Inventory management tools track consumption, issue alerts for items running low, and suggest reorder quantities, reducing waste and preventing stockouts.

NOVA’s reporting and analytics features provide actionable insights through user-friendly dashboards. Managers can access data such as sales trends, labor costs, average check values, and food margins, while customizable reporting options allow quick analysis by metrics like daypart or location. Financial data is delivered through cloud-based systems with offline functionality, ensuring that operations continue seamlessly during connectivity disruptions. For restaurant groups or franchises, NOVA allows centralized management of menus, pricing, promotions, and reporting, maintaining consistency across locations while accommodating local needs. Open APIs also enable integrations with third-party tools such as accounting software and marketing platforms to create a cohesive ecosystem.

The system prioritizes guest engagement, offering built-in CRM tools to capture customer profiles, order histories, and preferences. Loyalty programs and personalized promotions help foster repeat business, while features such as contactless payments, digital receipts, and self-order kiosks cater to modern customer expectations. On the back end, kitchen display systems (KDS) improve food prep workflows by prioritizing orders, tracking preparation times, and alerting staff to delays. In addition, tools for recipe and menu management help calculate ingredient costs, analyze profit margins, and fine-tune pricing strategies in response to seasonal or cost changes. Modules for waste tracking integrate sustainability into day-to-day practices, promoting long-term profitability.

NOVA offers a streamlined implementation process with guided onboarding, access to training resources, and 24/7 support, making adoption straightforward for restaurant owners and teams. Cloud-based updates ensure that new features are added without interruptions to operations. Designed for various formats, including full-service restaurants, cafés, bars, ghost kitchens, and franchises, NOVA provides a scalable solution to optimize shifts and improve revenue while reducing operational complexity. Its combination of real-time insights, AI-driven tools, and robust back-end systems makes it a comprehensive platform for managing restaurant businesses efficiently.