We’re happy to announce that we’ve partnered with Lease Corporation of America to offer two new leasing options for our point of sale solutions to add even more payment flexibility.

1. 90- Day Deferred Lease Program
   You can get Zonal point of sale now, without having to make any payments for 90 days. This leasing option is excellent for restaurants, bars, and other venues that need to conserve capital and let the POS system pay for itself through ROI.  The application and approval process through LCA is simple. The finance installation and training costs are bundled together in one lease.  You will have the option to own the system at the end of the lease. You may even be eligible for special tax savings under IRS Section 179.

1. 99$/Month for the First SIX Months
   You can pay off your Zonal point of sale over an affordable 60-month leasing term through Lease Corporation of America. The first six payments will be just $99, for extra affordability. The credit turnaround time is only 2 to 4 hours so that you can have your point of sale system up and running as soon as possible. If you want a shorter lease term, there are 36 and 48-month terms available as well.  It’s application-only up to $150,000.

For more information click here. 

You can catch up on any Z Reports that you’ve missed.  The Z Report is Zonal’s quarterly newsletter that focuses on relevant industry information and new Zonal products.  The Z Report is for customers, prospects, and friends.  You can sign up at any time!

Fall 2016- Who is Generation Z and Where are They Eating?

Winter 2016- What Your Servers Should Never Say to Customers

Winter 2017- Restaurant Coupon Fraud: Know the Game

Spring 2017- Why Restaurants Are Bracing for Impact

Zonal now accepts Discover® including EMV (chip card) and NFC (contactless using a NFC chipped card or smartphone) payment . By accepting Discover® you can also accept Diners Club International®, JCB (Japanese Credit Bureau), BC Card (the largest payment network in South Korea) and UnionPay (the national bankcard association in China).

Discover® helps attract traveling customers from all around the world.

In January, Woody’s implemented Zonal Loyalty into 13 locations.  Woody’s has a customized application for iOS and Android that their customers can download. They’ve created a corporate points based system. Customers earn point for every dollar spent, with fifty points for a five dollar off coupon.  Customers are engaged using push notifications and email.  They also offer birthday, check in, and sign up rewards.

Zonal Loyalty is fully integrated with their point of sale, for secure transactions.  Customers are automatically segmented and rewards are managed by the system.

Woody’s loves the ability to set up automated promotions and rewards and not have to worry about them later.

Sunshine Restaurant Partners LLC operating IHOP restaurants in the Southeast has upgraded to Zonal’s integrated EMV solution using TranCloud from Datacap Systems. IHOP has a mix of credit card processors (First Data and Heartland), and gift cards through SVS.  IHOP reports chargebacks have significantly decreased.

Zonal adopted EMV (chip card) early on, as it began trending, which made it possible for table service restaurants to process EMV cards while being able to add tips at a later time.  Another benefit is being able to take contactless cards as well as Apple Pay and Android Pay.

The Ambassador Theater Group (ATG) is UK based theater company, that is expanding their successful business model to the US.  ATG has a large range of theaters on the London’s famed West End.  In 2014 they expanded to the US starting with the Lyric Theater on New York’s famous Broadway.  They’ve installed both Zonal POS and iOS based iServe for concession combined with our “Ordertorium” app for in seat ordering.

Their latest acquisition is the Majestic Theater in San Antonio, Texas.

Zonal in their partnership with Datacap TranCloud are now a certified EMV solution provider with Vantiv Integrated Payments.  Vantiv is Zonal’s preferred credit and gift card partner.

We are currently certified with the Verifone Vx805, and are looking forward to Vantiv adding support for wireless pay at the table pin pads.

Welsh brewer, pub, hotel and coffee shop retailer SA Brain has completed the rollout of new Zonal technology in its 110 managed houses.

The installation of Zonal’s core Aztec EPoS software took just three months to complete and follows on from the rollout last year of 73 Coffee#1 shops. The technology is fully integrated and encompasses loyalty programmes, Feed It Back guest feedback and gift cards.  In addition, 57 sites have also gone live with Zonal’s handheld, digital order pad, iServe.

“If you had told me at the start of this journey that we would have achieved a total of 183 installations without a hitch or single failure, then I would have laughed, but all credit to Zonal, thanks to their knowledge, expertise and support that’s exactly what has been achieved, and we look forward to building on this partnership over the coming months and years.” – Steve Hicks, SA Brain’s IT & Hospitality Manager

SA Brain is also piloting Kitchen iQ, which is expected to be deployed into more sites later this year.

Zonal’s sales and marketing director Clive Consterdine said: “It has been a pleasure to work with the SA Brain team who have embraced the new technology and the training that we have provided, which has helped make this such a smooth and successful transition.”

Zonal’s award winning iServe provides front of house teams with access to Aztec EPoS functionality on an iPod or iPad from anywhere in a venue.  Team members can take orders, print and process payments immediately, enhancing the customer journey and minimising mistakes.

Kitchen iQ is a kitchen and service management solution that also integrates with Aztec, to complete Zonal’s unique service tool chain.  It provides visible information to kitchen and service staff through real-time reporting on order, prep and wait times at site and estate level.

“We are delighted to be showcasing our innovative technology solutions at this year’s ScotHot.  Proud of our Scottish roots, it seemed natural to have our first extended Zonal family outing at this respected show.” -Stuart McLean, Zonal’s chief executive

We will be bringing our family of businesses together for the first time at this year’s ScotHot 2017, showcasing our complete product suite of technology solutions that deliver a fully integrated service to any hospitality provider.

Established 37 years ago, Scottish technology founder Zonal has grown to become the UK’s leading provider of EPoS and integrated business modules specifically designed for the hospitality sector.

Joining the team on its stand 4250 will also be online booking specialist, liveRES, and hotel management software provider, High Level Software [HLS].

Taking centre stage will be Zonal’s iconic Aztec EPoS that is now installed in over 9,000 hospitality businesses in Scotland and the UK.

Aztec is a collection of business tools that provides operators, from single site to large chains, maximum efficiency, valuable savings and tighter control, all designed to fit the demanding and diverse requirements of the hospitality industry.

Joining Zonal is liveRES, which is fast becoming the UK’s leading online booking and table management specialist. With full integration with Aztec EPoS, liveRES offers clients both insight and total ownership of their valuable customer data.

And the latest addition to the family is HLS, a total hotel management system that takes care of everything from its sophisticated property management system and channel management platform.

“We are really proud of how we’ve grown over the past 37 years from a small family concern into a leading Scottish business that employs 500 people from our Edinburgh HQ and across the UK.  With liveRES and HLS joining our Zonal family over the last couple of years, we are confident that we will continue to go from strength to strength and look forward to welcoming existing and potential customers to our stand,” added Stuart.

Zonal Retail Data Systems is celebrating a double having picked up the Corporate Partner of the Year Award from Hope for Children for the second consecutive year.

Zonal became the founding partner of the charity’s corporate partnership initiative, Your Business, Their Livesinitiative, in November 2014 and has since raised more than £72,000 for the charity, which gives something back to local communities at home and abroad.

In Scotland, Zonal is supporting Hope for Children’s partner the Lothian Autistic Society, which provides services, information and practical support to individuals, families and carers affected by autism. Further from home, the company is funding a number of projects in India and Uganda, all aimed at bringing hope to children who have limited life opportunities.

Zonal was recognised for the way that staff have engaged with the partnership at every level, including a recent hike of the Great Wall of China.  11 employees raised more than £40,000 for the 100 mile trek, through fundraising initiatives such as a golf days, sweep stakes, cake sales and pub quizzes.

“I am so proud of our teams located throughout the UK who continue to put their heart and souls into the Hope For Children campaign.  Each year they surpass our fundraising expectations and this recognition is for every team member.”

Stuart McLean, Zonal’s chief executive

Ed Fletcher, business development manager at Hope for Children added: “The competition for this award was stronger than ever this year, so for Zonal to win for a second consecutive year is testament to the passion and enthusiasm of their team. They continue to amaze us with their commitment to the cause, and true champions of Your Business, Their Lives. To retain their title is an achievement everyone at the company should take huge pride in; we are certainly enormously proud to be partners with such a fantastic company!”

As part of our ongoing strategy to provide cutting edge technology solutions for the hospitality sector, we are proud to announce that we have acquired a majority stake in hotel software company, High Level Software Limited(HLS).

The move will take us deeper into the hotel sector, further enhancing our ability to service this ever growing and dynamic market.

Cardiff based HLS was established in 2013 by co-founding Managing Director Rhys Swinburn and employs a team of 12.  Since its launch, HLS has developed an impressive reputation for its cloud-based hotel management system, featuring a real time online booking engine, extensive property management capability, insightful reporting and innovative integrated rewards system. Its clients include Drakes of Brighton, British Country Inns  and Glenmorangie.

“HLS has had an exciting journey to date with our growth exceeding all expectations, establishing us as the UK’s fastest growing hotel software company.  The partnership with Zonal will enable us to deliver the next phase of our development as there are many direct synergies with EPoS, consumer engagement tools and property management systems”

Rhys Swinburn, Managing Director, HLS

HLS will continue to operate out of Cardiff and Zonal will work with the team to develop integrated platforms on which both the property management and EPoS systems can operate.

“This partnership with HLS adds a new dimension to Zonal and we are really excited about the benefits that we can collectively deliver to the hotel sector.”

Stuart McLean, Zonal’s Chief Executive

Zonal is always looking for opportunities to strengthen and enhance its customer proposition and in 2015 acquired online restaurant booking specialists, liveRES.  This latest strategic alliance cements Zonal’s position as the UK’s leading technology solutions provider of integrated hospitality management solutions to over 9,000 businesses across the UK.

We are proud to announce our new partnership with Pennies, the digital charity box, to offer our customers the opportunity to raise additional sums for their chosen charities.

“Being part of the hospitality industry we fully appreciate how charity fundraising sits at its very heart, so for Zonal it makes perfect sense to offer Pennies technology as part of our EPoS solutions.”

Zonal’s chief executive Stuart McLean

Already being used by high street hospitality brands such as Adnams, Ask Italian, Zizzi and Drake & Morgan, the partnership with Zonal will broaden Pennies reach.

“The hospitality sector is a key area for Pennies to reach thousands more customers, offering them a chance to give their small change a big purpose. Pennies is now proven with many hospitality brands and we are therefore thrilled to partner with Zonal, the number one technology provider to this industry, who will help us unlock enormous new giving potential for UK charities.”

Alison Hutchinson CBE, CEO of Pennies

To find out more about Pennies, watch their latest video here.

Brits are more impatient than their US counterparts when it comes to dining out.

For Americans their biggest frustration is the wrong order being taken [32% v 24%] and for the British it’s all about speed of delivery [44% v 31%].

The GO Technology report findings from Zonal Retail Data Systems and CGA Peach, show that UK diners are more focused on speed of service and in the US it’s more about quality of service.

Not being able to pay quickly is a bugbear in the UK with 14% citing it as their number one pet hate, whereas in the US only 9% express this as a major issue.

“From our experience of the US hospitality market they are definitely behind the times when it comes to adopting technology to support the customer journey.  In the UK technology is considered central to an operator’s infrastructure and this is supported in our research findings.  In the UK we experience fewer mistakes when it comes to orders being taken, so it’s less of an issue.  In the US where there is huge service culture, consumers are less forgiving when it comes to receiving incorrect orders.”

Stuart McLean, Zonal’s chief executive

However, the biggest opportunity for food operators is take-out.  In the US, 40% of consumers order food to go at least once a week, with 54% choosing to collect their order from the restaurant.  Only 29% opt to have their food delivered.

In the UK there are signs that we are adopting the take-out trend, but still fall short of the US with only 14% of consumers having food delivered at least once a week (6.7 million or 1 in 7 GB consumers).

As the demand for take-out is on the up, so is the use of smartphone delivery apps such as Just Eat, Hungry Horse and the fastest growing app, Deliveroo.  Around 5.6 million people are opting for these third party delivery services.

“High street restaurant brands have recognised the potential of take away as part of their overall service offer and we will see this grow in the coming months and years as the market matures with more delivery providers entering the market.  To support this, the demand for app technology is also on the up with consumers feeling increasingly comfortable to book a table, order food and pay for it from their personal devices.”

Jamie Campbell, director of CGA Peach

Working in partnership with Zonal, the CGA Peach GO Technology report tracks consumer attitudes and experiences with technology when eating and drinking out.  The research is conducted quarterly to gain an insight over a period of time to measure consumer behaviour and trends, helping operators to keep one step ahead.