Supporting our Clients' Growth through Continuous Development
As we celebrate a significant milestone in our journey, our 30th Anniversary since formation, we are thrilled to showcase the advances we’ve made in software development throughout 2024.
Our PoS software and Websites are owned and developed by Uniware Systems, this gives us the unique ability to craft innovative solutions to meet our clients’ present and future needs.
We actively engage with our clients to gather insights on enhancements. Backed by a fantastic development team with a wealth of experience, we can deliver cutting-edge solutions to meet the evolving EPoS market demands. Below we have some of the development achievements from 2024.
Looking Forward to 2025
We remain committed to introducing innovative solutions that improve our clients’ operational management and customer experience. Exciting upcoming initiatives include a hospitality ordering solution and adapting payment systems for electric vehicle charging.
2024 Software Developments
1. Plastic Bottle and Can Deposit Return Scheme – Live in Ireland, coming to UK 2027
Uniware designed and implemented advanced Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) solutions for Dualtron customers, the Uniware reseller in Ireland.
The Uniware PoS systems can process the DRS sales automatically by a button or scanning the container. Our cloud-based portal includes a dedicated deposit report, helping businesses keep track of deposits efficiently. Even online orders can be included via the Uniware UPay Order Ahead solution, allowing deposits to be collected seamlessly during online transactions.
How has this helped our Irish clients succeed
Uniware’s EPoS system automatically distinguishes VAT-exempt deposits from taxable items, ensuring full compliance with tax regulations. This feature has been particularly beneficial for our clients, easing the transition through complex processes.
Customers returning eligible containers can have their deposits refunded directly via the EPoS system, reducing manual errors, speeding up the process, and enhancing the customer experience.
The Uniware DRS EPoS solution also provides real-time data on deposits collected and refunds issued, enabling our clients to track performance, check claims paid on returns to central collection centres, and reconcile accounts efficiently.
2. Events 2 – New Module with Key Enhancements Released in 2024
Building on our existing Events module, in use for more than 20 years, we achieved a number of enhancements based on user group and customer feedback. These include a calendar view for browsing available events, support for unlimited dishes, the ability to associate meal selections with named diners, improved allergen warnings, and detailed menu summaries tailored for kitchen teams.
How Has Events 2 Supported our Client Success
Events 2 offers unparalleled flexibility, with enhanced settings that enable you to tailor the booking process to specific user groups, such as Fellows or Students. Uniware’s clear and accessible reports empower front-of-house teams and chefs to plan event requirements efficiently, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
The Calendar view simplifies event browsing, allowing guests to quickly see which events are available. With the ability to include unlimited dishes and courses, you can craft menus perfectly tailored to each event. Guests can effortlessly register for events via the UPay app in just a few seconds—essential for high-demand events that sell out quickly.
A unique bonus feature of the app is the attendee list, which guests love as it adds a social dimension to their experience, making events more engaging.
For more complex events, you can create additional booking questions and multi-step processes. It also lets you pre-schedule events for the term, automating their launch and ensuring they go live as planned without requiring further intervention. This automation saves your team significant time and effort, streamlining the event management process from start to finish.
There is also a PoS event check-in facility, using a fixed or mobile POS unit you can check guests in and be alerted to guests’ allergen notifications and print tickets if required.
3.Two Way Data Flow: Pre-configure New Site’s Specifications from a Central Data Hub
IIntegration plays a vital role in managing multiple sites effectively, enabling smooth data transfer between tills, kitchens, accounts, and a central database for streamlined operations. With Uniware’s advanced API solution, we offer clients a fully integrated EPoS system designed for efficient management.
This year, we’ve achieved significant advancements in our development, enabling seamless two-way data flow for our clients. Purchase data is effortlessly uploaded to a central database and shared across various departmental stakeholders, facilitating comprehensive big data analysis. We’ve introduced the capability to download product information including pricing, allergen details, and carbon footprint notifications, directly to tills. This ensures consistency and compliance across all locations.
How has this helped our clients succeed
Faster Site Onboarding: A centralised data hub allows quick onboarding. Pre-configured to the new site’s specifications, from dynamic menu setup, till maps and stock ordering. Making new locations operational much faster, helping our clients focus on food delivery and customer satisfaction.
Time-Saving Automation: Boost overall operational efficiency by connecting your EPoS purchase data to stock control, finance and accounts. Enabling the analysis of large-scale data across the entire estate, throughout the group to support confident decision-making.
4. Carbon Footprint Label on Menus – Empowering Eco-Friendly Dining Choices
With growing consumer demand for sustainable options, implementing carbon footprint labels on menus is simpler than you think. EPoS system can display carbon data (Kg CO2e) for each dish, with calculations provided by experts like Klimato or Nutritics.
How has this helped our clients succeed
When integrated into systems like Uniware’s EPoS, the carbon footprint appears automatically on kiosks and apps, making it easy for customers to see. Clear symbols (High, Medium, Low) help diners understand emissions and make eco-friendly choices. Paired with loyalty programs, these labels demonstrate your commitment to sustainability and provide customers with the information they need to make environmentally conscious choices.
5. AI till integration – Incorporate AI tills into your Uniware system
AI tills are rapidly advancing to meet evolving customer expectations. They use a camera array to identify items and populate the basket on the PoS to be paid. Previously, challenges like missed identification of vertically stacked items hindered their performance. However, a new generation of technology with lower-set cameras has resolved these issues. Further innovations now enable these tills to recognise plated and packaged food, and with integrated scales, they can precisely handle weigh-in items.
How has this helped our clients succeed
This breakthrough represents a significant milestone in AI till technology, greatly enhancing service efficiency and capabilities. Uniware’s seamless integration of EPoS software with these advanced AI tills allows clients to effortlessly adopt this transformative solution. Fully integrated into their entire site, this technology elevates both operational performance and the customer experience.
6. Security and Integration Enhancements
Staying ahead of cybercrime is essential to protecting customer data and maintaining trust. As cyber threats evolve, Uniware continually updates their security measures to safeguard sensitive information. By proactively addressing vulnerabilities, Uniware reduces the risk of data breaches.
Prioritising robust cybersecurity not only ensures compliance with data protection regulations but also contributes to long-term success and a security.
