X Report

Ever looked at that little button labeled “X Report” on your POS and thought, Should I be using this?

Short answer: yes.
Long answer: It’s one of the most underrated tools for daily decision-making in your restaurant.

What Is an X Report?

Think of it as a snapshot of your restaurant’s day, pulled straight from your POS system, anytime before closing.

It’s not the final tally (that’s what the Z Report is for).
Instead, the X Report gives you a real-time look at what’s happening:

• How sales are tracking

• What items are selling fast

• Which payment methods customers are using

• Any discounts, voids, or refunds processed

• And more – all while you’re still open

It’s like checking your vitals in the middle of a shift.

Why It’s Super Useful for Managers

Let’s say it’s 4 PM on a Friday:

• You’re halfway through a double shift

• You’ve sold out of the lunch special

• You’re wondering if the dinner promo will work

Pull up the X Report. Within seconds, you can:

• See how much revenue you’ve done so far

• Track how well a new item is performing

• Adjust staffing or prep if things are busier (or slower) than expected

• Spot red flags like too many voids or heavy discounts

In short: it lets you course-correct in real time.

Great for Multi-Shift Restaurants

If you run lunch and dinner shifts with different teams, the X Report becomes your handover hero.

Afternoon manager can brief the evening crew with:

• What’s selling

• What’s running low

• Any payment issues or guest concerns

• Sales benchmarks for the day

Everyone stays on the same page, and your service stays consistent.

A Goldmine for Operational Insights

Over time, reviewing daily X Reports helps you spot patterns:

• Maybe Tuesdays are slow – time to rethink your offers

• Maybe your new mocktail is outselling expectations – time to double stock

• Maybe lunch guests are mostly paying cash – optimize your cash drawers accordingly

These insights fuel menu planning, inventory decisions, and staffing strategy.

Easy to Access, Easy to Read

Most POS systems generate X Reports instantly. They’re neatly divided into:

• Gross sales vs. net sales

• Discounts and comps

• Payment breakdowns (cash, card, wallets, etc.)

• Sales by category or department

• Sometimes, even real-time labor vs. sales data

You don’t need an accountant to make sense of it.

It’s a Habit Worth Building

Restaurants that review X Reports daily gain sharper control over their business.
They’re not waiting until end-of-day or month-end reports to react. They’re adjusting as they go, and that’s a huge competitive advantage.

So next time you’re halfway through service, hit that X Report button.

You’ll know exactly how the day’s going — and what to do next.