Cashless Catering Advice

[Huxy]

We are currently with Cevica (was NRS) for our Cashless Catering linked to ParentPay. We have been informed that our cashless catering system comes to end of life in September. So I have 3 options:

 

Option 1 – Update to the latest version (version 9) of the software. This will bring us up-to-date with a system that can be covered by a service contract. Basically the backend of the system will be operated through a web browser. We have asked for a quote on this one. Extra if we wanted it all to go cloud based. However, we would be using our existing ageing hardware – 7+ year old now!

 

Option 2 – Purchase a complete new system through Civica and replace our existing hardware / software – full refresh. Awaiting quote.

 

Option 3 – Look for an alternative system.

 

We have been looking at alternative systems CRB Cunninghams or Cypad (BlueRunner).

 

Any advice? Are any schools using BlueRunner? What are your thoughts on CRB Cunninghams? We are currently having issued with Cevica's support (up to an hour waiting time on the phone / 3 moths to reolve support tickets).

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

[timbo343]

If you are happy with Civica and the quote you receive i'd probably stay as you are - though i don't know how good or bad the civica system is.

 

We have Cunninghams and it's long in the tooth. We are dipping our toes in the Cashless Catering market and looking at Iris FasTrak too - only because we have a BioStore database and Cunninghams want us to move over to IDSystem (alternative to ID Manager / BioStore) and Fusion (their CC System).

[6Foot2]

Other threads:

 

Link 1: Cashless Catering - BlueRunner [No replies, but does ask about BlueRunner]

 

Link 2: Cashless Catering Solution [Cunninghams, but what else is out there? 29 replies]

 

Edit: Found another.

 

Link 3: Cashless Catering - Who would everyone recommend? [54 replies]

Edited June 29, 2023 by 6Foot2

[mdrabble]

We just moved to version 9 - (May half term) and had no issues.

 

It uses the same back end as version 7 (apart from a slight update) - Does have a web based backed as well but I've not used it that much, apart from setting up Pre-Order stuff for Civica Eats. - No more having to install the ETrust for other users to get to reports etc!

 

Had the option for Tills or Tablets - we decided for Surface Go3 tablets (running Win11) - they quoted me over £700 for Surface Go 2 (pentium model), but I opted to supply my own and went for Surface Go3 (i3 model for a lot less) - I just purchased new Bio Readers and Till Licence.

 

Migration was painless (almost.... ) - also went for Civica Eats for Pre-Order as our old Kiosk machines wouldnt work with new system. - This was the only teething issue, as they release a new version Version 9 which has issues talking to Civica Eats - once they realised this, it was quickly solved.

 

Why did we go for Version 9......

 

We have Vending Machines which tied in with E-Truste

Training, was painless as till layouts the same.

Civia Eats - Pre-order, now an app, so no more queueing to pre-order lunch.

Tablets, to give flexibility to move tills around.

 

Just a few downsides.....

 

Tablet screens smaller, which canteen initially complained about but soon got use it them.

Needed USB C adapters for Bio Readers

Needed stand for tablets

 

 

All in all, one the few downsides were sorted - I hate to say this - but the new version 9 is a lot more responsive at the till end - which the canteen stuff instantly noticed and like.

 

Reserving judgement on the Civica eats as not rolled out yet, but app seems easy to use.

 

Send me a PM if you want more info such as pricings etc....

[MYK-IT]

@mdrabble - Thanks for the useful additional information.

 

We are migrating from version 6(!!!) to version 9 over Summer. We've also opted to be a pilot-school for their cloud-based version (Due October 2023?) but will be on-premise virtual server initially. As for EPOS Terminals, we are renewing our existing ones (they just work, made for purpose, and despite being exposed to grease, grime, liquids etc. they have lasted years!). Of course, in the future if we require additional or ad-hoc 'pop-up' locations we can use tablets etc.

 

In relation to their EPOS Terminals, they will be provided with W10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 21H2 (OS will be supported until January 2032) - just something to be reassured about, especially if anyone is signing up to 3-5 year contract to ensure compliancy (and the knowledge of no extra associated costs to upgrade their OS during that term).

Edited June 30, 2023 by MYK-IT

[Net_Man]

We moved from NRS to Cypad several years ago.

 

Cypad uses its own 4G connection but the reception is so bad that its non existent and they wont allow it to connect to the school wifi.

Cypad also does not have the ability to store pictures of the pupils which makes it a lot easier for the catering staff (especially in primary) when recording meal information.

[howartp]

We're upgrading from v7 to v9 of NRS/Civica this summer.

 

They've not told us v7 is out of support (or are you potentially on earlier?) - it was my proactive choice to upgrade on the back of Cyber Essentials where all software should be at latest supported versions blah blah blah.

 

I confess I didn't realise cloud-only was an option and it's something i'll consider for another year.

[howartp]

I hate to say this - but the new version 9 is a lot more responsive at the till end - which the canteen stuff instantly noticed and like.

I was talking to engineer about this when we were planning upgrade.

 

v7 pulls down all the account details and menu layouts, everything you can think of every time you pick a student, then back again when you quit the pupil.

v9 pulls down what it needs when you login, then only transactional data ("Freds balance is £3. He's just eaten an apple") is sent down/up the line during service.

[MYK-IT]

We're upgrading from v7 to v9 of NRS/Civica this summer.

 

They've not told us v7 is out of support (or are you potentially on earlier?) - it was my proactive choice to upgrade on the back of Cyber Essentials where all software should be at latest supported versions blah blah blah.

 

I confess I didn't realise cloud-only was an option and it's something i'll consider for another year.

 

Information sent out by CIVICA

 

It’s time to upgrade your Civica Cashless software

From October 2023 we will be ending support for Civica Cashless versions 4-7. This means that it’s time to upgrade your software. Please forward this email to the person in your organisation that has responsibility for your cashless catering system, or simply reply to this email to tell us who we should contact.

 

Why do I need to upgrade?

We’ll be ending support for older versions of Cashless at the end of October because we are moving away from onsite servers to our new cloud solution next year. We will continue to answer your support calls, but enhancements and fixes to the product are released to our latest version and to access these you will need to take an upgrade.

 

An easy affordable path to cloud

 

To enable you to take advantage of all the savings and benefits that being on the cloud has to offer, you will need to upgrade to our latest version of the software. We understand that money is tight right now so, until 31st August 2023, we’re offering:

 

• A 55 per cent discount on everything you need to future-proof your Cashless catering

• Offer includes our latest software, implementation, migration, maintenance, and support

• Cost spread into three affordable annual payments

• No up-front costs

• No nasty RPIx surprises

• At the end you will then switch to affordable payments

• Significant savings on new EPOS and dual readers to get your lunch queue moving faster.

 

[mthomas08]

The email we got indicates they will stop support for V8 next year October. And the part of this annoys me, we didn't long install our equipment... within say.. Covid.. just before or just after/during....

 

We are considering our options - and biostore from IRIS are another possibility.

 

When we last did an upgrade, it was pretty easy minus serious performance issues in the early days.

 

What has changed, is how we find it very difficult getting a response from anyone at Civica. Last time I had to chase.. chase.. chase.. to be constantly told "someone will get in touch".. so I chased and chased (kept getting cut off in the last few attempts...) and had to ask another person for a direct contact to our rep...

 

We will probably do a tender early next year / late this year.

Edited June 30, 2023 by mthomas08

[pete]

We're just moving our second school onto Live Register (liveregister.uk). Their website is fairly awful, but the product is decent*, speedy** and the support's good.

 

* 4 years at the other school without a single complaint from catering, IT or SLT.

** We're enrolling at the moment and we're averaging 90-odd (3 forms) students every 12 minutes.

Edited June 30, 2023 by pete

[Wubbalubbadub]

We’re moving 3/4 of our secondary schools over to VeriCool.

 

https://www.vericool.co.uk/

 

Fully server-less cashless catering.

[dapaulio]

Had Vericool at one of my schools for several years, product was great, ok it aged and the school didn’t want to invest in upgrading but it remained robust for up to 10 years until the school decided against my opinions they wanted a change (likely the cheaper option) and went to Cunningham’s face recognition which is good, I’ll give them that, but they have been dealt a blow as the school asked me to try fix a problem on an admins pc with their system which cunninghams want to charge the school for.

Relative straight forward but find this support model very scam like

[davidstallwood]

We have been with Civica for donkeys years & I hate them with a passion. Their support is absolutely woeful & they charge you for everything! Just looked at a cloud based solution from Biostore, VeriCool & Live Register. Biostore don't currently have a cloud based version they are saying it should be released this Sept or maybe later. Live Register are really expensive and the ongoing yearly cost is about £4k. The clear winner was VeriCool, their system looked really good and was half the annual price of Live Register.

[klssandman76]

This is something we are looking at currently. Thank you for the links and info from everyone