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Dining out with friends or colleagues often involves splitting the bill – a common practice that can vary based on the group’s preferences. Some may opt to divide the total bill equally, while others prefer instead to pay only for the items they ordered. As more hospitality operators adopt loyalty programs, vouchers, and gift cards, the operational complexity of splitting a bill has increased significantly over the years.
To help you understand how technology can help streamline and simplify this process, as well as provide an enhanced customer experience, Zonal’s Customer Success team explore some of the ways our technology can facilitate the process of splitting the bill.
Splitting the bill
When processing a payment on the POS, there are 3 primary methods for splitting a bill on an open account:
Even Split: divide the total equally among all parties.
Itemised Split: splitting the account by individual items.
Visual Split: allocate items based on items consumed.
The table below outlines each method, provides example scenarios, and highlights key considerations to keep in mind.
| Even Split | Visual Split | Split Account | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Creates multiple bills by splitting the total amount due on the account evenly by a defined number.
The Aztec Account remains as one. |
Creates multiple bills by allocating products to individual bills as well as allowing 1 product to be split between multiple bills.
The Aztec Account remains as one. |
Splits an EPoS Account into individual accounts for each guest by moving products. This allows guests to pay for what they consumed.
A product can only be part of 1 account. The original table number remains on the first account, new account(s) use the table number followed by an alpha character. E.g. Table 1, 1A, 1B, etc. |
| Example Use Case | 3 guests order food and a bottle of wine. Each wants to pay the same amount and split the bill evenly. | 3 guests order food and 2 of the guests share a bottle of wine. Each wants to pay for the food they ordered, the bottle of wine is to be split between only 2 of the guests. | 3 guests order food and a drink each. Each wants to pay for their own food and own drink. Each guest will get their own copy of a bill. |
| Be Aware | Each guest pays the same. | This can be complex to reverse should a refund be needed, or reverting back to beginning state. Be sure to test and have your processes defined so that your teams are confident. | Doesn’t allow a product to be split between accounts. |
Now that we’ve covered the three primary ways for splitting a bill, its important to consider how additional systems like loyalty cards, rewards, vouchers, promotions, discounts and deposits can impact the process.
The table below outlines how the split bill functionality within Zonal’s POS operates when these systems have already been applied to the Aztec account, detailing how each scenario is managed during the split.
| Loyalty Rewards | Even Split | Visual Split | Split Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loyalty Card | The same loyalty card remains on all bills. You will be unable to remove loyalty cards or assign a new card whilst in split bill mode. Ultimately, whichever guest made the booking, or applied their loyalty card first gets the reward. | The same loyalty card remains on all bills. You have the ability to remove and add a new loyalty card. However, that one loyalty card is applied to all bills. There is no ability to add different loyalty cards to each bill. | The same loyalty card remains on all bills (accounts). In this instance however, you will have the ability to remove and add a different Loyalty card to each bill. |
| Loyalty Rewards | Loyalty rewards (promotions and/or discounts) will remain for each split and the price reduction is applied to all bills. | Loyalty rewards remain but cannot be moved from Bill 1. To apply promotions, you will need to ensure the promotional products remain on Bill 1. If the Loyalty reward is a discount, you will be unable to use visual split. | If the loyalty reward is a discount, you will be unable to split the account. Loyalty rewards remain but cannot be moved from first account (or Table). For promotions to apply, you will need to ensure the products that are part of the promotion remain on the first account (i.e., Table 1, NOT table 1A, or 1B etc). |
| Voucher Code | Voucher Codes (promotions and/or discounts) will remain and the price reduction is applied to all bills. | The item Voucher remains but cannot be moved from Bill 1. To apply promotions, you will need to ensure the promotional products remain on Bill 1. If a voucher code is a discount, you will be unable to use visual split. | The Voucher item remains but cannot be moved from the first account (or Table). For promotions to apply, you will need to ensure the products that are part of the promotion remain on the first account (i.e., Table 1, NOT table 1A, or 1B etc). If a voucher code is a discount, you will be unable to split accounts. |
| Promotion | The promotion remains and the price reduction is applied to all bills. | You will be able to use visual split. Promotions will still apply, providing all products in the promotion rule are within a single bill. | You will be able to split account. Promotions will still apply, providing all products in the promotion rule are within a single account. |
| Discount | The discount remains and the price reduction is applied to all bills. | Visual split cannot be used when a discount is applied. | An account cannot be split when a discount is applied. |
| Deposit | The deposit is applied and split between bills evenly. | The deposit remains on Bill 1 and cannot be split between bills. | An account cannot be split when a deposit is already on the Aztec account. Deposits can be partially or fully redeemed to the accounts after the account is split. |
Definitions
We know too well that terminology can often be confusing, so to help with the above tables, we’ve listed some definitions.
- Account: An account is a guest-specific record used to track purchases, payments, and outstanding balances for charge or credit transactions.
- Bill: A bill is a detailed statement of charges for products or services rendered. It includes: line items (products/services sold), quantity and unit price, tax and service charges (if applicable), and Total amount due.
- Deposit: A deposit refers to a partial prepayment made by a guest to reserve goods or services. It is often used in: Bookings or even Pre-orders. The deposit is typically deducted from the final bill when the transaction is completed (unless you have automated redemption).
- Loyalty Reward: A loyalty reward is a benefit or incentive given to returning customers as part of a loyalty program. These can include: Points earned per purchase, discounts on future purchases or even free items after a number of visits or purchases.
- Voucher Code: A voucher code is a unique identifier (usually alphanumeric) used to redeem a specific offer or promotion. These can include: Customer-Specific Promotions (e.g., birthday voucher), Monetary discounts (e.g., £5 off a bill).
- Promotion: A promotion is a temporary marketing offer intended to boost sales or attract customers. Examples include: Buy One Get One Free (BOGO), Flash sales, Limited-time bundle deals or Seasonal offers
- Discount: A discount is a reduction in price offered on a product or service. It can be: Percentage-based (e.g., 20% off), Fixed amount (e.g., £5 off) or Applied to specific items, categories, or the entire bill.
By Katie Turner
Customer Success Consultant at Zonal
Katie is part of the Customer Success Team working closely with multiple departments within Zonal to ensure customers are using our technology to drive retention and revenue into their business. Katie’s background is working within the hospitality industry, with a keen focus on Marketing.
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Pub Accommodation Review 2025
Exclusive research into consumer and operator sentiment towards the UK pub accommodation sector, produced in partnership with CGA by NIQ, Stay In a Pub, and VisitEngland.
Amidst high demand for UK accommodation, there’s huge growth potential for UK pubs to boost revenue by making rooms a core part of their offering.
Whether it’s a friendly welcome, high quality food and drink, or a more relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, a stay in a pub holds broad appeal for many consumers. But what are the key factors that influence guests in choosing to book a stay in a pub? How can pubs with rooms reach more guests? And what are the potential barriers causing guests to choose to stay elsewhere?
This report, produced in partnership with CGA by NIQ, Stay In a Pub, and VisitEngland, provides an in-depth exploration of current guest sentiment towards the UK pub accommodation sector from both guests and businesses; identifying where the opportunity lies for pubs that invest in accommodation, as well as the view from pub accommodation operators.
What's in the report?
- What guests want from their stay in a pub
- How are guests choosing where to stay?
- How operators can capitalise on the pub accommodation opportunity
- The top challenges facing pub accommodation providers
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Unlock new revenue: How accommodation can boost your pub business
With rising costs, increasing regulatory changes and evolving customer expectations, pubs face mounting pressure to boost revenue and increase profitability in 2025. For Lisini Pub Company, a beloved family-run operator with four vibrant locations across Lanarkshire, innovation has been the key to success.
Lisini has a long history of delivering outstanding experiences for its guests, firmly establishing itself as one of the biggest and most successful names in Scottish hospitality. Having become a beacon for the finest food, service, entertainment, events and functions in Lanarkshire – the team have enhanced their offering by introducing guest rooms at their sites. Since launching this brilliant accommodation, the company has seen a marked increase in footfall, stronger brand loyalty, and a rise in revenue.
We spoke with Siobhan Edwards, Director of Lisini Pub Company, to discover how they have transformed their business through innovation, helping them to thrive in challenging times.
Tell us about Lisini Pub Company?
What started in 1969 as a single pub founded by my parents, Harry and Kathleen Hood, has evolved into one of Scotland’s most successful and respected family-run hospitality businesses. Today, we are proud to operate five locations, offering 30 hotel rooms across our estate, and generating a turnover of £15.5 million.
Based in Lanarkshire, just outside of Glasgow, our venues are located within a short drive of each other. Each venue offers its own unique menu and atmosphere, catering to a range of tastes, yet all share the same strong, community-focused, family-run ethos.
Our dedicated team, many of whom have been with us for over a decade, help create that welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere that our customers love. From food and drinks to memorable events, our venues are the perfect place to celebrate life’s important moments — whether it’s a wedding, birthday, christening, or funeral. These connections span generations, and we’re honoured to be a part of them.
How would you describe the profile of your guests?
We cater to a diverse range of guests, with each venue offering something for everyone. Take Angels, for instance – a mix of bar, nightclub, and dining destination. It’s a favourite for a younger demographic, influencers, and
travellers seeking great food, vibrant nights, and a memorable atmosphere.
However, the majority of our guests are local and community-oriented, with our venues offering tailored experiences that make everyone feel at home. From classic British pub fare like hearty pies and fish & chips to fresh, customer-inspired dishes, we’re always evolving to meet our guests’ tastes. With a strong family legacy and a reputation built on integrity, we’ve earned the loyalty of customers who return time and time again.
What new opportunities have arisen since adding accommodation to your pub?
When it comes to driving revenue, offering rooms at your pub isn’t just about providing somewhere to sleep – it’s about enhancing your entire food and beverage experience too.
By adding rooms to our pubs, we’ve unlocked the opportunity to host a calendar full of exciting events, significantly boosting our bottom line. We’ve found that guests attending these events are more likely to extend their stay, ordering additional food, drinks, and treats to fully enjoy the experience.
In fact, 90% of our overnight guests tend to dine and drink on-site, creating more opportunities for additional sales and a higher spend per customer. Offering tailored packages that combine event tickets, food, drinks, and overnight stays has created multiple revenue touchpoints, ensuring our guests have a memorable experience while driving sales across the board.
Moreover, offering rooms can encourage repeat visits and foster loyalty. It may sound simple, but we’ve noticed that when guests have a positive experience at our venues, they’re more likely to return and recommend us to others. This word-of-mouth marketing, combined with the opportunity to attract bookings during peak seasons, helps not just fill rooms, but also bring in more customers to the restaurant and bar, leading to increased revenue for the business.
What else are you doing to enhance the guest experience?
We are always looking at evolution. For example, we had a very small beer garden of around 30sqm in Angels Hotel, and we have invested £250k to transform this into The Vault – a social events space which will offer private karaoke, interactive darts and its own bar. For us, it’s about looking at dead spaces and dead revenue, and doing something about it, using the space we have to enhance our offering and give customers another reason to visit – whether that’s for an experience in The Vault or an overnight stay in our growing number of rooms.
How has technology supported in enabling the growth of your business?
Running a busy group of pubs is no easy task, but Zonal’s technology has made things much easier for us. It’s not just about working smarter; it’s about working more efficiently.
Implementing a fully integrated Property Management System (PMS) has been a game changer. It has streamlined everything from reservations and guest check-ins to sales forecasting and business performance analysis. What truly sets it apart, however, is its seamless integration with our EPoS software, stock-take system, and booking platform. Everything works in harmony, eliminating the need to spend hours reconciling orders or collecting data from separate systems. This allows our team to focus on what matters most – providing an exceptional experience for our guests.
One of the things we really appreciate about Zonal is how everything is tailored to fit our unique needs. Rather than taking a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, Zonal allows us to select the most effective technology for our specific needs. We’ve been able to bring everything into one place, and that’s made a huge difference in streamlining our operations and boosting efficiency.
At Lisini, we’re all about putting the customer at the heart of everything we do. That shared commitment to enhancing the customer journey has made our partnership with Zonal a perfect fit.
“We live and breathe pubs, and our technology has been serving the UK pub industry for decades. A well-integrated PMS system in pubs not only streamlines operations but also opens new avenues for revenue, from personalised guest experiences to smarter resource management. By leveraging data, pubs can diversify their offerings and unlock untapped potential, ensuring consistent growth and a competitive edge – something which is more important than ever in a dynamic market.”
Tim Chapman
Sales Director at Zonal
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Hotels and consumers: Guest expectations and how to meet them in 2025
This exclusive research report explores consumers’ engagement with the UK hotel market, what they expect during their stay, and how hoteliers can make the most of the opportunity.
Both domestically and abroad, the demand for accommodation remains high, with 78% of consumers having stayed in a hotel in 2024.
But guests’ engagement with hotels is evolving. With more discovery tools at their disposal than ever, and plenty of choice when it comes to the type of accommodation they want to stay in, it’s vital for hoteliers and operators to understand guest behaviour to stay ahead of the game.
This report, produced in partnership with CGA by NIQ, surveyed over 3,000 British consumers to provide a deep dive into what it is guests are looking for when booking a stay in a hotel; including how often, and for what reasons, guests are staying in UK hotels, their engagement with F&B during their stay, and the factors that influence their choice of hotel when booking a stay.
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We understand that managing finances is a critical part of your business, and our finance module is designed to make it as seamless as possible. Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions from our customers. Whether you’re looking for guidance on correcting a float, refunding a guest or completing daily sign off, we’ve got you covered.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, our support team is always on hand to help, get in touch today!
Managing Finances in Aztec
How do I correct a float?
- Log on to Aztec
- Select ‘Finance’
- Select ‘Cash Management’
- Select ‘Floats’
- Select the Insert / Money Belt / ATM Cassette you wish to refloat and select ‘Set Float’
- Select the safe the adjusted float has come from and select ‘Next’
- Adjust the figures to reflect the correct float and select ‘Finish’
*If you have floated the wrong insert or money belt, you will need to complete this process for both the insert you floated, and the correct one, to make sure they are both correct. If in any doubt, manually re-count both to confirm what money is in them and check this against the floated amount.
How do I correct a misc income or expense after a daily sign off?
- Log in to Aztec
- Select ‘Finance’
- Select ‘Cash Management’
- Select ‘Misc Income / Expense’
*You will need to create a new entry for either a misc income or misc expense dependant on where the error has been identified.
- In the Reference box, state ‘corr, [original entry description], [original date of entry]’
- Enter the full amount previously entered incorrectly as a negative figure. This action will cancel out the original incorrect entry.
- Start a new entry using the correct amount as stated on the receipt
- A safe count will be required to balance any safe variance which was caused by the input error earlier in the week.
How do I edit or delete a cash management entry before daily sign off?
- Log onto Aztec
- Select ‘Finance’
- Select ‘Admin’
- Select ‘History’
*All entries made that day will be displayed, under the relevant heading.
- Expand the heading to show the entry you wish to edit or delete
- Select the entry you wish to edit or delete
- The entry will be highlighted in blue, and the View, Edit and Delete buttons will appear at the bottom of the screen. Select as appropriate.
*If you select ‘Edit’, you will be taken through all relevant screens for that entry. Work through the screens, making the required changes, until finished.
*If you select ‘Delete’, you will be asked to confirm. Once confirmed, the entry will be removed from the system.
How do I preform a safe transfer
- Log in to Aztec
- Select ‘Finance’
- Select ‘Cash Management’
- Select ‘Safe Transfer’
- Select ‘Transfer Money’ at the bottom of the screen
- Select the safe from which the money is being taken from, and select ‘Next’
- Select the safe into which the money is being transferred to and select ‘Next’
- Enter the value, by denomination, of the money being transferred in the relevant boxes
- Select ‘Finish’
How do I refund a guest after daily sign off?
- Log on to the till
- Select ‘Manager Functions’
- Select ‘Refund’
- Use the menu to select the product you wish to refund
- It will appear on the order in red text with a negative price.
- Repeat steps 2 – 4 for each item you wish to refund.
- Select ‘Pay’
- Select the payment method you wish to use to refund the guest
How do I refund a guest on the same day?
- Log on to the till
- Select ‘Options’
- Select ‘Closed Tabs/Tables’
* The right hand-side of the screen will show a list of tabs/tables that have been cashed off. The purple buttons in the centre of the screen can be used to filter this list to enable you to find the correct tab/table.
Select the tab/table requiring the refund from the list on the right-hand side, this will then be highlighted in yellow
*The tab/table details will be displayed on the left
- Select ‘Reopen Account’
- You will then be taken to the clears/voids/faults screen.
- Depending on the scenario, follow one of the below options:
A – If You Are Refunding the Entire Bill
B – If You Are Refunding Selected Items from the Bill
A – If You Are Refunding the Entire Bill
- Select ‘Void’
- Select the payment method line as displayed on the right-hand side of the screen
- If the guest has paid using a card, you will be asked to confirm the refund – this is irreversible. Select ‘Yes’ to confirm.
- Select ‘OK’
- The cash drawer will open.
*If the guest originally paid by cash, you can now remove this from the cash drawer and return to them. If they paid by card, their card payment will now have automatically been refunded, and a customer and merchant copy refund slip will be printed.
The tab/table will now still be open with the items, and will need to be closed in one of the following ways:
- Paying off the account to guest recovery (Pay > Discounts & Promos > Guest Recovery)
- Voiding / Faulting off the items
- Leaving open if payment is required from another guest
B – If You Are Refunding Selected Items from the Bill
- Select ‘Void’ if item(s) have not been prepared, Select ‘Fault’ if item(s) have been prepared, i.e. Wastage
- Select the item(s) that are being refunded from the list on the right-hand side
- These items will now be displayed on the left-hand side of the screen
- Select ‘OK’
- You will now be returned to the main order screen. The total amount for the items voided/faulted will be displayed as a negative account balance.
- Select ‘Pay’
- Select the payment method you wish to use to refund the guest
*If the guest requires a card refund, they will need to reinsert their card and follow the instructions on the EFT.
The tab/table will then be closed.
How do I reverse a walkout payment after daily sign off?
- Log on to the till
- Select ‘Manager Functions’
- Select ‘Refund’
- Use the menu to select the products from the original tab/table
- Repeat steps 2 – 4 until all products have been selected
- Check to ensure that the negative account balance shown, matches the total balance of the original tab/table
- Select ‘Manager Functions’
- Select ‘Walkout’
- Confirm the amount by selecting ‘Enter’
- This account will now be closed, and the amount credited to the Walkout line of your P&L.
- You now need to charge the guest for the tab/table.
- Ring through the items from the original tab/table in the usual way
- Pay off the account using the appropriate payment method
I cannot complete my daily sign off, what can I do?
Try the below options:
A – All Closed Sessions Declared
- Select ‘Finance’
- Select ‘Declarations’
- Check the ‘Awaiting Declaration’ column and ensure that no sessions are awaiting declaration.
- Complete any outstanding declarations and return to daily sign off
B – All Safes Counted
- Select ‘Finance’
- Select ‘Admin’
- Select ‘History’
- Ensure ‘Today’ is highlighted on the left-hand side
- Expand the ‘Repository Counts’ section by selecting the ‘+’
- Check that all safes have been counted at least once that day
- Complete any outstanding counts and return to daily sign off
C – No Open Sessions
- Select ‘Finance’
- Select ‘Cash Management’
- Select ‘Declarations
- Check the ‘Trading’ column and ensure that no sessions are still trading
- End any sessions that are still trading:
- If the floor till(s) are still trading, you will need to perform a session change on these
- If a bar till is still trading, you will need to perform a session change and this will need to be declared
- If a money belt is still trading, the team member will need to end their money belt session and this will need to be declared
- If the roaming EFT or iServes are still trading, you will need to select ‘Session Change all Mobile Devices’
- End any open sessions, complete any new declarations required as a result, and return to daily sign off.
Daily operations: Start of day
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The Impact of the Climate Crisis on Your Hospitality Business: Why Carbon Accounting & Climate Action Matters Today
Guest blog by Net Zero Now
The climate crisis is no longer a distant threat but is already having a very real impact on the hospitality industry. That impact is both direct, resulting in increased costs as supply chains are put under increasing pressure and the cost of energy increases, and indirect, driving new attitudes and expectations of customers, employees, and investors.
But with these challenges come opportunities – to improve your bottom line, to establish yourself as a leader in an increasingly eco-conscious market and to increase the value of your business.
Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Hospitality
The hospitality industry is uniquely vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and shifts in global ecosystems directly affect the supply chains that businesses rely on, resulting in higher costs and lower / less reliable availability.. Energy prices are also likely to soar as demand for cooling increases and fossil fuel resources become scarcer.
Indirectly, the climate crisis is changing the attitudes of the people who make your business thrive – your customers, your employees and your investors.
- Consumers are increasingly seeking out businesses that align with their values, particularly when it comes to sustainability – 69% of consumers worldwide have changed the products and services they use due to concern about climate change and 64% of British consumers willing to pay up to 10% more for sustainable foods and drinks (YouGov, 2024).
- Employees, especially younger generations, prefer to work for companies that take meaningful action on climate issues – 60% of Britons agree that climate change is the biggest threat to civilisation, with this sentiment being particularly strong among Gen Z (70%) and Millennials (63%) (YouGov, 2024).
- Investors are placing greater emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, meaning businesses that credibly address their environmental impact will have access to more funding and will receive a premium valuation of their business (IMD, 2023).
Businesses also face increased regulatory pressure. In the UK, larger businesses (£36m+ t’over) are already required to report Scope 1 and 2 emissions under the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations. These requirements are expected to expand in the near future, reducing the threshold to include more businesses and increasing the reporting requirements to include Scope 3 emissions (the emissions from your supply chain, including all the food and drink you buy throughout the year). This is particularly relevant to the hospitality sector which contributes up to 15% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions (Net Zero Now, 2024, and where Scope 3 emissions account for c.70-95% of emissions, the vast majority of which comes from the food served (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Emissions Sources from different types of hospitality business
Source: Net Zero Now Customer analysis; Cool Food 2022
The Challenge and Opportunity of Tackling Scope 3 Emissions
As Figure 1 also shows, as an industry, we have a long way to go to meet the 2030 targets for carbon emissions per meal. Getting anywhere near these targets will take more than removing plastic straws and adding a few LED lightbulbs, hospitality businesses need to understand their full carbon footprint, including Scope 3 emissions, and find ways to minimise their climate impact.
I know what you’re thinking – “it’s too expensive”, “it’s too complicated”, “we’re too busy” – and until recently, you might have been right. But…
- It’s cost effective: Quite apart from being the right thing to do for your planet, taking positive climate action is the right thing to do for your business. Access to the Net Zero Now Carbon Accounting and Climate Action platform is available from c.£100 per site per year, while the resulting reduction in energy and water use, food waste, staff attrition, etc can save the average site thousands (UK Hospitality estimate the average pub / restaurant could save up to 20% on energy bills through energy efficiency measures alone)
- It’s straightforward: The global guidelines on “carbon accounting” are undeniably complex, but thanks to Coca Cola, Pernod Ricard, Heineken UK, The Sustainable Restaurant Association and many others, business are now able to follow the Net Zero Hospitality Protocol – an industry standard methodology for measuring and reporting emissions that ensures consistency of measurement across the sector as well as clarity on what and how to measure your emissions
- It’s quick & easy: As a Zonal customer, this is where you have a huge advantage. Zonal’s new partnership with Net Zero Now allows you to measure the largest part of your carbon footprint – the food and drink you have bought throughout the year, without lifting a finger. By integrating Zonal technology with Net Zero Now’s carbon accounting platform, we can provide you with accurate, detailed and regular analysis of your carbon emissions through the Net Zero Now platform. Where the data is available, we can even provide this on a site by site basis with no additional work from you.
and , as if all of the above wasn’t enough
- It’s good for your business: The Net Zero Hospitality Protocol includes criteria for Certifying your business, first as “On The Road to Net Zero” and ultimately as a “Net Zero” business, giving you a clear and credible way to communicate to your customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders and access the commercial benefits of taking positive climate action.
Ready to turn the climate challenge into a business opportunity? Discover how Net Zero Now’s integration with Zonal can help you accurately measure, manage, and reduce your carbon footprint. Start your journey towards sustainability today—contact the Zonal team and see how we can support your business in leading the way to a net zero future.
Sources:
- British attitudes towards sustainability in 2024: Key insights from YouGov data
- Climate change: change to consumer behavior 2019 | Statista
- Sustainable carbon credits strategy for the hospitality industry | Deloitte UK
- From data to decarbonisation: A roadmap for hotels to reach net zero | SMS
- Urgent action needed for a Net Zero hospitality sector, says new report
- Top 5 Ways for Hospitality Businesses to Reduce Energy Usage – Unyfi
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Zonal is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with Net Zero Now, a leader in carbon accounting solutions. This integration aims to streamline carbon accounting, reduce wastage, and enhance operational efficiency for restaurants, pubs, and bars.
Empowering the hospitality industry in climate action
Net Zero Now has been at the forefront of helping hospitality businesses manage their carbon footprints, with over 3,000 sites currently using its platform to achieve sustainability goals. Developed in collaboration with Coca-Cola Euro Pacific Partners, the Net Zero Hospitality protocol, endorsed by The Sustainable Restaurant Association and Pernod-Ricard, uniquely provides comprehensive guidance for sustainability across the sector. The partnership with Zonal, which serves over 17,000 hospitality businesses, represents a transformative step in enhancing operational efficiency and environmental responsibility within the industry.
Key benefits of the integration:
- Boost Efficiency: Real-time stock management for accurate inventory tracking.
- Automate Procurement: Simplified ordering processes to reduce manual tasks.
- Reduce Wastage: Smart purchasing practices to minimise excess inventory.
- Ensure Financial Accuracy: Precise financial reporting and control.
- Enhance Sustainability: Seamless carbon accounting integration with Net Zero Now.
Transformative impact
Zonal’s technology offers end-to-end, real-time visibility over stock management, automates procurement, and reduces wastage. Integrated with Net Zero Now, it enables precise carbon accounting, helping businesses minimise their environmental impact. This collaboration streamlines operations and empowers hospitality businesses to achieve their sustainability targets seamlessly.
“We are thrilled to partner with Zonal,” said Neil Ross Russell, Managing Director of Net Zero Now. “This integration not only streamlines carbon accounting but also empowers hospitality businesses to achieve their sustainability targets seamlessly.”
Tim Chapman, Zonal’s Chief Commercial Officer, added “We value working with partners like Net Zero Now who share our commitment to empowering businesses, allowing our customers to become more cost-effective and resilient in the face of a changing climate. Their solutions will be instrumental in helping our customers not only achieve their environmental goals, but to also make informed decisions that reduce waste, streamline operations, and ultimately create a more sustainable hospitality industry for the future.”
- Net Zero Now: Over 3,000 sites use the platform with CO2 under management, exceeding 1 million tonnes.
- Zonal: Serving over 17,000 hospitality businesses, providing innovative solutions to optimise operations.
For more information on how this integration can benefit your business, visit Net Zero Now’s website. Schedule a demo today and take the first step towards a more sustainable future.
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Roseacre Pub Co joins up operations and lays the foundations for growth with Zonal’s EPoS
Introducing Roseacre Pub Company
Collection of 9 pubs across the midlands
Premium pubs and restaurants serving high quality food and drink
Founded in 2014
Celebrating 10th anniversary in 2024
“When we were looking for a new till provider, we were looking for a POS provider that had everything under one umbrella. We were looking for slick POS tills that could support with high volume, integrated card machines, a cash management system, e-commerce improvement and CRM data collection systems”Ash Gartshore, Owner, Roseacre Pub Company
The business challenge
With an aim of delivering an excellent food and drink offering, accompanied by friendly, caring service across their collection of 9 pubs, the Roseacre Pub Company team sought out a technology partner that could help them achieve this consistently across each of their pubs, and deliver the best value to their customers.
The business was also experiencing a period of growth, with more pubs coming into the fold and plans for additional sites across the next few years, meaning choosing a provider that could support them as they scaled, easily incorporating new sites into the estate was vital.
The Roseacre team were also looking for a provider that could offer multiple connected systems under one umbrella to help them better join up operations, streamline cash management, consolidate reporting and better understand their customers across their entire estate to reduce admin and drive revenue.
“Zonal is so easy to use on a day-to-day basis, and the back office platform is really intuitive to use. It actually allows sites to be more independent, and there’s other members of the head office team now who can support day-to-day. It’s really empowered them to progress their careers.”Andy Griffin, Head of Systems, Roseacre Pub Company
The solution
With these criteria in mind, the team at Roseacre Pub Company did their research and chose Zonal as their technology provider, working together to complete a phased implementation across their 9 pubs, managed carefully by our dedicated onboarding team.
Since making the switch day-to-day operations have been simplified across Roseacre’s estate of pubs – especially in relation to cashing up. Detailed, real-time reporting is available across the business to help resolve any queries that may arise, giving the team the tools to dig into the detail easily and make more effective decisions, quicker.
Utilising the data collected in their EPoS, the Roseacre team are also able to refine elements of their offering to drive additional revenue; analysing individual performance of products and ingredients, as well as products that are commonly purchased alongside these dishes, allowing them to tweak their menus and recommend upsells throughout the ordering journey.
Having intuitive, easy-to-use technology in place has allowed different sites within the business to operate more independently, as well as enabled more members of their head office team to progress their careers and upskill by supporting in more areas of the day-to-day operations of their pubs.
- Industry-leading EPoS for pubs, complete with a powerful stock management solution as standard
- Zonal’s online guest ordering solution Order & Pay, fully integrated with our EPoS, enabling customers to order and pay for food and drink from the comfort of their own table
“It’s important to me that Roseacre always grows, but growth doesn’t always mean more sites. It means growth in technology, growth in engagement and growth in our people. There will be more sites in 2024 and 2025, and I look forward to working closely with Zonal to support that growth.”Ash Gartshore, Owner, Roseacre Pub Company
Results
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Shorefield Holidays reduces inventory management costs and boosts guest experiences with connected tech from Zonal
Introducing Shorefield Holidays
Family-run business
Established 1958
Award-winning holiday park operator
Collection of 9 parks across Dorset & Hampshire
“While we were looking for a new technology solution, we were looking for something that would be more integrated across the board, a cost saving for us as a business, and be able to take us to the next step.”Ryan Swatridge, Group Entertainments Manager, Shorefield Holidays
The business challenge
With a drive to deliver unforgettable experiences for their guests, owners and residents; as well as to join up their technology across their parks to deliver better integration and facilitate cost savings, Shorefield Holidays began the search for a technology partner that could help take them to the next level.
They needed a technology partner that would help them grow and expand, as well as deliver live, day-to-day insight over areas such as stock levels to enable more effective decision-making, something they were lacking at the time. The Shorefield team also wanted to be able to better understand their guests, including spending patterns, so technology that provided easy-to-digest and detailed reporting on how guests were engaging with the business was vital.
The system needed to be hospitality-dedicated, and ultimately make life easier for their guests and staff.
“Technology is a huge part of our business, from the iServes to the app, the loyalty, we massively embraced what Zonal brought to us. We’re just looking at different ways we can bring technology to what we do, we even have robots in our restaurant that will serve you your dinner.”Ryan Swatridge, Group Entertainments Manager, Shorefield Holidays
The solution
With a set of requirements and criteria in mind, the Shorefield team began researching different technology suppliers, as well as what their competitors were doing, and as a result chose to work with Zonal to implement a suite of connected hospitality technology across their parks to meet their business’s objectives.
With Zonal’s industry-leading EPoS at the core of their restaurants, the Shorefield team have since benefitted from real-time, accurate stock monitoring via Zonal’s built-in stock management module, enabling them to reduce costs on external stock counts. Zonal’s handheld EPoS ordering solution for staff, iServe, was also implemented, enabling staff to take orders at the tableside and automatically sending these through for fulfilment helping to improve guest experiences through speedier service and eliminating any room for errors, whilst providing significant time savings for staff by removing the need for orders to be re-keyed.
Alongside Zonal’s EPoS, the Shorefield team also chose to implement our purchase-to-pay inventory management solution, Acquire. With an end-to-end purchasing platform in place, fully integrated with their EPoS, the team have transformed their inventory management, enabling them to manage all of their suppliers and purchasing in one central platform, as well as reducing staff overhead by eliminating the need for their team to spend hours logging delivery notes and invoices.
“The difference is night and day; the money it’s saving us in not running multiple different platforms, and time it’s saving the team, and the fact that it’s just modernised us as a business.”Chris Weymouth, Assistant Complex Manager – Oakdene Forest Park, Shorefield Holidays
To further enhance their guest experience, Shorefield implemented Zonal’s Order & Pay app across their estate of holiday parks. Zonal worked with both the Shorefield operations and marketing teams to develop their app into exactly what they wanted it to be, including delivery to location functionality to enable guests to place orders for delivery to their accommodation – providing guests with convenience and flexibility.
All the functionality is backed up by Zonal’s robust suite of reporting. With Zonal’s integrated tech in place, the Shorefield team are able to drill down into more detail than ever, including a granular view of GP margins for every recipe item, helping them to expose any inefficiencies or fluctuations, and react accordingly.
- Industry-leading EPoS for holiday parks, complete with a robust stock management solution and real-time data capture
- Handheld ordering devices for staff to speed up service times and reduce room for error
- A fully-integrated purchase-to-pay solution, enabling the Shorefield team to centralise purchasing and supplier management, reducing costs and saving staff time
- A branded, feature-rich customer app, fully-integrated with their EPoS, to give guests more control over their dining experience during their stay, complete with deliver to location functionality to enable delivery straight to their cabins
- Robust, detailed reporting across their entire technology ecosystem, providing the necessary insight to help the Shorefield team to make more effective decisions
“You can see on the sales and profitability reports the GP margins for every recipe item, which means you can really expose any small problems you’re having with the fluctuation of figures. It gives you the ability to push that GP as much as you can.”Chris Weymouth, Assistant Complex Manager – Oakdene Forest Park, Shorefield Holidays
Results
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Fixing people's hospitality bugbears
What are consumers' top frustrations in hospitality, and how can hospitality operators address them? Find out in this exclusive consumer research report in partnership with CGA by NIQ
Our previous GO Technology research revealed that hospitality still plays an important role in people’s social lives despite cost pressures, but with 49% of consumers saying they’d become less loyal to a brand after a few bad experiences, it’s incredibly important for hospitality businesses to deliver frictionless experiences that meet guests’ expectations, without any frustration during the journey.
This exclusive research of 5,000 hospitality consumers reveals the biggest frustrations guests encounter when engaging with venues, both in-venue and pre-visit, how these frustrations differ between demographics, and what actions they are likely to take following a frustrating experience.
What's in the report?
- Top 5 biggest bugbears
- Frustrations by stage in the customer journey
- How do these frustrations differ between demographics?
- Where and when consumers vent their frustrations about their hospitality experiences
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Hospitality Tech Assessment: Improving the guest experience & driving loyalty
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