Cashless Catering - What do you use and opinions?

[mrbios]

Only listing these 3 companies in the poll as these are the 3 we've actually had demo'd to us, if you use anything....i don't care

 

Please respond with your opinions, i'll be giving some feedback on other school opinions to our business manager. Personally of the 3 demos we had myself and her preferred the nationwide trust-e system by a long stretch, and found liveregister to be miles behind compared to the other two. Cunninghams kind of sit in the middle as an ok solution but not as intuitive/clean/refined as nationwide....that's our opinion anyway.

 

EDIT: just appending this: I'm not personally interested in other offerings because it's not my project and i've got my own work to do (as is evident from recent posting!), I'm simply getting opinions for those responsible for the project seeing as edugeek is the easiest method of gathering instant feedback from other schools, if they want to look into alternatives to these 3 then that's their job to do. By all means give me the names, i'll pass them on, but I imagine they'll ignore it.

Edited November 27, 2015 by mrbios

[Edu-IT]

NRS. Not the cheapest, but does what it's need to, and support is generally good.

[dgsmith]

if you use anything....i don't care

 

Wrong attitude in my opinion. We looked at 5 systems in total and one we progressed with wasn't one of the first 3 systems we had a demo of. Even though our original intention was only to have a demo of 3, we found it a lot more productive and insightful to see 5 although the decision was harder because of that!

 

Even if you don't want to list other systems, at least offer an "other" option, if anything just to give yourself an idea of how many don't use one of the specified systems. You might even find you will get more constructive views and opinions if you don't appear to alienate those who use alternate systems.

[mrbios]

Wrong attitude in my opinion. We looked at 5 systems in total and one we progressed with wasn't one of the first 3 systems we had a demo of. Even though our original intention was only to have a demo of 3, we found it a lot more productive and insightful to see 5 although the decision was harder because of that!

 

Even if you don't want to list other systems, at least offer an "other" option, if anything just to give yourself an idea of how many don't use one of the specified systems. You might even find you will get more constructive views and opinions if you don't appear to alienate those who use alternate systems.

I'll just point out that I agree, but its nothing to do with me unfortunately, this is all organised by others, along with the selection of systems to view. I can recommend others but it would fall on deaf ears I'm afraid...and I've got enough of my own job to do.

[synaesthesia]

Cunninghams - can't say we like it or hate it. It vaguely works, although not as quick as we were promised and actually getting online payments to go into people's accounts is hilariously bad although not sure if thats Cunninghams, Tucasi, the catering company or McDonalds' fault.

[rad]

NRS. Not the cheapest, but does what it's need to, and support is generally good.

 

This, had it 5 years, love it.

[mrbios]

Cunninghams - can't say we like it or hate it. It vaguely works, although not as quick as we were promised and actually getting online payments to go into people's accounts is hilariously bad although not sure if thats Cunninghams, Tucasi, the catering company or McDonalds' fault.

 

That's interesting and good information to know seeing as we use Tucasi as well. I'm sure there's much better options out there for online payments but that's just another thing that's out of my hands.

[Edu-IT]

Tucasi works fine with NRS.

[icemonkey]

We use Cunninghams, it's alright when it works. We don't support the system so they have to call Cunninghams every time it breaks (best decision ever).... sometimes two or three times a week.

The system was installed before I started but from what I understand there was very limited research done into other options and this was the cheapest at the time. I think they've made up the difference in call-out fees though considering they have to come from Birmingham to Manchester!

[rad]

To expand on my post, the last call I placed with NRS was to reinstall the software on an office computer, the call before that (mid Sept) to replace a faulty lock barrel on a reval machine and the one before that I cant even remember!

 

To put it simply, we use ParentPay and NRS together, they work seamlessly. We have a very quick turn around at break time and a split lunch, the tills have a tough time but touch wood it goes without a hitch

[FN-GM]

We use NRS in our schools

 

Something that is that is going to be an issue is the lack on IPv6 support. They will not support IPv6 on the revals. We have made it mandatory for new equipment to support IPv6 so its ready for the future. They said they do not support IPv6 and have no plans to support it what so ever.

 

If it isn't sorted by the time we come to renew it will be going.

[dgsmith]

I'll just point out that I agree, but its nothing to do with me unfortunately

 

Fair enough, although your initial post and the part that I highlighted could understandably be perceived as a lack of interest from your part personally when specifically asking that same community to post opinions and views, some of whom will no doubt feel frustrated that there is no clear opportunity for them to make an expression.

 

I am aware that there are a fair few cashless catering providers that read these forums; no doubt this topic, as well as many similar ones previously, will be an interesting read for some providers, particularly the ones you have limited the discussion to though I hope professional etiquette will be upheld and they refrain from making comment.

 

I still need to counter your point though about it being outside of your control and there being a disinterest in considering any other system. The way you have set this up and the polling process will only give you a very specific, and perhaps somewhat bias feedback. I still suggest an "other" option should have been provided, if only so you could feed back to the decision maker that whilst the feedback on the systems you have looked at is x,y and z, there is infact a particular percentage that for whatever reason opted for something different.

 

NRS seems to be a good system with a large customer base and you certainly pay the price for it, though a different approach could be taken by them in relation to aftersales.. and that is when they don't win the bid. If you have the funds and go with NRS it wouldn't be a bad decision by any stretch.

[mrbios]

Fair enough, although your initial post and the part that I highlighted could understandably be perceived as a lack of interest from your part personally when specifically asking that same community to post opinions and views, some of whom will no doubt feel frustrated that there is no clear opportunity for them to make an expression.

 

I am aware that there are a fair few cashless catering providers that read these forums; no doubt this topic, as well as many similar ones previously, will be an interesting read for some providers, particularly the ones you have limited the discussion to though I hope professional etiquette will be upheld and they refrain from making comment.

 

I still need to counter your point though about it being outside of your control and there being a disinterest in considering any other system. The way you have set this up and the polling process will only give you a very specific, and perhaps somewhat bias feedback. I still suggest an "other" option should have been provided, if only so you could feed back to the decision maker that whilst the feedback on the systems you have looked at is x,y and z, there is infact a particular percentage that for whatever reason opted for something different.

 

NRS seems to be a good system with a large customer base and you certainly pay the price for it, though a different approach could be taken by them in relation to aftersales.. and that is when they don't win the bid. If you have the funds and go with NRS it wouldn't be a bad decision by any stretch.

 

What system is it you would recommend us looking at?

 

I must admit the thread was created in the space of about 30 seconds, not a great deal of thought went into it...finish at 3:30 on a friday so i was dashing about just wanting a poll live.

[clockend25]

We've used Cunninghams for years with cash terminals, and set up Parent Pay about a year ago which now links with it. Can't say I have too much involvement with either beyond the initial setup as the day to day stuff is done by the canteen and finance. I would say that technical support from Cunninghams has been found wanting several times in the past though with regard to servicing/upgrading the canteen 'server' and till units.