A takeaway's busiest hour is chaos for a till that wasn't built for it. Walk-ins, phone orders, delivery apps and your own website all arrive at once, and every one needs to reach the kitchen quickly and correctly. Here's what to check before you choose.

1. Delivery apps straight into the till

If you take orders from Uber Eats, Deliveroo or Just Eat, you don't want a separate tablet for each app and someone re-typing orders. Look for a system where delivery app orders go straight into your till and kitchen, alongside everything else. We also work with Uber Direct and Otter. See all our integrations.

2. Your own online ordering website

Delivery apps bring new customers, but orders through your own website are yours. Check whether the system includes a branded ordering site with collection, delivery and online payments, and whether orders land in the same queue as the rest. With us, an online ordering website is included in the Essentials and Premium plans.

3. Phone orders that don't get lost

Plenty of regulars still ring through, and phone orders scribbled on a pad are easy to lose. Check how the system handles phone orders. Our Essentials plan includes a phone (VoIP) integration, and we'll show you how it works with your phone line during your demo.

4. Kitchen display screens

Paper tickets get lost, splashed and misread. A kitchen display screen shows every order the moment it's placed, sent to the right station. Ours start from £399 + VAT for the screen, plus £19 a month + VAT per screen.

5. A collection screen for a calmer counter

If customers wait in the shop, a collection display screen shows each order number as Preparing or Ready, so people stop queueing to ask "is mine ready?". It runs on a TV or monitor of your choice for £19 a month + VAT.

6. Reports across every channel

At the end of the night you want one set of numbers covering walk-in, phone, website and delivery app sales, rather than five separate logins. Check you can see live sales on your phone, too.

7. Hardware that suits your counter

Most takeaways need a sturdy countertop till, a receipt printer, a cash drawer and an integrated card machine. Our complete till kits start from £379 + VAT. The hardware shop lists every option.

8. Support when you're open

Takeaways trade late and at weekends, so check when support is actually available. Ours is 7 days a week.

Questions to ask any supplier

  • Which delivery apps connect directly to the till, and is there an extra charge?
  • Is an online ordering website included, or is it extra?
  • What does the hardware cost, and is it a one-off or monthly?
  • What happens to orders if the internet drops?
  • When is support available?

Want to see how it all fits together? Book a free demo and we'll walk you through the full journey from order to collection.