Ember — modern POS for independent restaurants
Tablet-first POS system designed for independent restaurants — offline-capable, cash-and-card, with a kitchen-display sibling.
- Offline-first sync engine
- POS app (React Native)
- Kitchen display app
- Tip pooling + cash reconciliation
- Onboarding flow
What they needed to solve.
Independent operators were paying £200+/month for legacy POS systems with 2010-era UIs and tablet apps that fell over when the venue's wifi did. Training new staff took 3 shifts. Tip handling was a nightmare.
How we approached it.
An offline-first React Native POS with a kitchen-display companion, built-in tip pooling, cash reconciliation, and a setup flow new staff can complete in 20 minutes. £49/month flat, no card-fee tricks.
Design decisions.
- AaInter — UI
- AaJetBrains Mono — order numbers + prices
Single-handed thumb-zones for service staff. Cash drawer + card colour-coded. Sound design for new orders is unmistakable.
- Offline-first with conflict-free sync (CRDT)
- Tip pooling visualised live
- 20-minute new-staff onboarding
What changed.
Legacy POS, 2010-era UI, dies offline, 3-shift training, opaque tip handling, expensive monthly fees.
Offline-first POS, single-tablet operation, transparent tip pool, fast onboarding, flat pricing.