Speed of service is a measurement of the amount of time it takes for a restaurant to serve its customers. The ideal SOS and how it's measured may vary across industries — for example, a drive-thru may track it from the time the customer places their order and when it's delivered, while a full-service restaurant may begin measuring it from the moment customers are seated or when they're greeted. Understanding your SOS can provide insights into ways to improve the customer experience, potential opportunities to increase table turnover, and how to adjust scheduling to boost revenue.