Orderbird

Orderbird has established itself as one of Europe's leading iPad-based point-of-sale systems, specifically designed for the hospitality industry. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Berlin, Germany, Orderbird was built from the ground up to address the unique needs of restaurants, bars, cafes, clubs, and beer gardens across the European market. With its intuitive iPad interface, robust fiscal compliance features, and deep understanding of European gastronomy, Orderbird has become the POS system of choice for thousands of hospitality businesses looking for a modern, European-made alternative to American solutions like Toast and Square for Restaurants.

German Engineering Meets Hospitality

What sets Orderbird apart from many international POS competitors is its deep roots in the German and European hospitality landscape. The company was founded by Jakob Schreyer, Bastian Schmidtke, Patrick Brienen, and Artur Hasselbach, who recognized that European restaurants and bars needed a POS system that understood local workflows, tipping customs, table service traditions, and the complex fiscal regulations that vary from country to country across the continent. Rather than adapting an American system to European requirements, Orderbird was purpose-built for the European market.

This European-first approach is evident in every aspect of the product. Orderbird natively supports split billing, a feature essential in German-speaking countries where individual payment at restaurants is the norm rather than the exception. The system handles multiple VAT rates seamlessly, accommodating the different tax rates applied to dine-in versus takeaway orders, alcoholic versus non-alcoholic beverages, and food versus non-food items. These are not afterthought features bolted onto an American design but rather core functionalities built into the system from day one.

iPad POS: Intuitive and Modern

Orderbird's decision to build its POS system exclusively for the iPad was a deliberate choice that reflects the company's commitment to simplicity and modern design. The iPad provides a familiar, intuitive interface that requires minimal training for new staff members. Waiters and bartenders can learn the system in minutes rather than hours, which is a significant advantage in an industry with high staff turnover. The touchscreen interface makes order-taking fast and fluid, with customizable menus that can be adjusted on the fly to reflect daily specials, seasonal changes, or sold-out items.

The iPad-based approach also means that Orderbird runs on consumer hardware that is widely available and relatively affordable. Restaurants do not need to invest in proprietary POS terminals costing thousands of euros. An iPad, a receipt printer, and a cash drawer are all that is needed to get started. For establishments that want to go fully mobile, Orderbird supports handheld ordering where waiters take orders tableside on iPads or iPod Touch devices, sending them directly to the kitchen or bar printer without needing to return to a central terminal.

TSE Fiscal Compliance

One of Orderbird's most critical features for the German market is its full compliance with the TSE (Technische Sicherheitseinrichtung) regulation. Since January 2020, all electronic cash registers in Germany must be equipped with a certified technical security device that creates tamper-proof records of every transaction. Non-compliance can result in significant fines and tax penalties. Orderbird was one of the first iPad POS providers to offer a fully certified TSE solution, integrating a cloud-based TSE that meets all requirements of the German fiscal authority (Finanzamt).

Beyond Germany, Orderbird also supports fiscal compliance requirements in Austria, Switzerland, and France, making it a viable choice for hospitality businesses operating across multiple European countries. The system automatically generates all required fiscal reports, receipts, and audit trails, ensuring that restaurant owners can focus on their business rather than worrying about regulatory compliance. This comprehensive approach to fiscal regulation is something that American POS systems like Toast and Square simply cannot match in the European market, as they were not designed with these requirements in mind.

Table Management and Floor Plans

Orderbird includes a sophisticated table management system that allows restaurant owners to create digital floor plans matching their actual seating layout. Waiters can see at a glance which tables are occupied, which are available, and which are reserved. The system tracks the status of each table through the entire dining experience, from seating to ordering to payment, providing real-time visibility into table turnover and occupancy rates. For restaurants that rely on efficient table management to maximize revenue, this feature is invaluable.

The floor plan can be customized to reflect indoor and outdoor seating areas, private dining rooms, bar seating, and standing areas. Tables can be merged for larger groups and split again when needed. The system also supports course management, allowing kitchen staff to pace the preparation of courses for each table. This level of table and course management sophistication demonstrates Orderbird's deep understanding of European fine dining and casual restaurant service models, where table service and multi-course meals are the standard rather than the exception.

Payment Integration

Orderbird offers seamless payment integration, supporting all major payment methods used across Europe. The system integrates with leading European payment terminal providers, enabling card payments via Visa, Mastercard, girocard (Germany's domestic debit card), and various contactless payment methods including Apple Pay and Google Pay. The integration is tight and bidirectional, meaning that when a payment is processed on the card terminal, it is automatically recorded in the POS system, eliminating manual reconciliation and reducing errors at the end of the day.

For restaurants looking to offer modern payment experiences, Orderbird supports QR code-based payment at the table, allowing guests to view their bill and pay using their smartphone without waiting for a waiter. The system also handles cash payments with automatic change calculation, split payments where different guests pay for their own items, and tip management with separate recording for tax purposes. All payment data is processed in compliance with PSD2 and PCI DSS standards, ensuring the security of every transaction.

Reporting and Analytics

Orderbird provides comprehensive reporting and analytics through its cloud-based dashboard, accessible from any device with a web browser. Restaurant owners and managers can track sales in real time, analyze revenue by product category, time period, staff member, or payment method, and identify trends that inform business decisions. The system generates end-of-day reports automatically, including Z-reports required for fiscal compliance, staff performance summaries, and product mix analyses.

The analytics capabilities extend to inventory-related insights, helping restaurant owners understand which dishes and drinks are most popular, which items have the highest margins, and when peak service times occur. These insights enable data-driven menu optimization, staffing decisions, and pricing strategies. For multi-location operators, Orderbird provides consolidated reporting across all venues, making it easy to compare performance and identify best practices. All data is stored securely in the cloud with full GDPR compliance, ensuring that sensitive business and customer information is protected under European data protection law.

Integrations and Ecosystem

Orderbird integrates with a growing ecosystem of hospitality tools and services. The system connects with popular accounting software like DATEV, which is widely used by German tax advisors, as well as lexoffice and sevDesk for automated bookkeeping. For restaurants using delivery platforms, Orderbird integrates with services like Lieferando (Just Eat Takeaway) to receive online orders directly into the POS system. The platform also supports integration with reservation systems, employee scheduling tools, and inventory management solutions.

The open API allows custom integrations for businesses with specific needs, and Orderbird's marketplace provides access to vetted third-party solutions that extend the platform's capabilities. This ecosystem approach means that Orderbird can serve as the central hub for all restaurant technology needs, from taking orders and processing payments to managing inventory, scheduling staff, and filing tax returns. The breadth of European-focused integrations is a significant advantage over American POS systems that primarily integrate with US-centric services.

Pricing and Plans

Orderbird offers transparent pricing starting from 29 euros per month, making it accessible for small cafes and bars as well as larger restaurant operations. The base plan includes the core POS functionality, table management, and basic reporting. Higher-tier plans add features like advanced analytics, multi-location management, API access, and priority support. Hardware packages are available separately, with options to purchase or lease iPads, receipt printers, cash drawers, and card payment terminals.

Compared to American POS systems that often charge percentage-based transaction fees on top of monthly subscriptions, Orderbird's pricing model is straightforward and predictable. There are no hidden fees for software updates, and the cloud-based architecture means that new features and regulatory updates are rolled out automatically at no additional cost. For restaurants operating on tight margins, this transparent pricing is a welcome change from the opaque fee structures common in the POS industry.

Who Should Use Orderbird

Orderbird is ideal for restaurants, bars, cafes, clubs, ice cream parlors, food trucks, and beer gardens across Europe, particularly in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) where the system's fiscal compliance and local integrations are strongest. It is well-suited for single-location operators who want an affordable, easy-to-use iPad POS as well as multi-location chains that need consolidated reporting and centralized management. Any hospitality business looking for a European-made POS system that understands local regulations, payment methods, and service traditions should consider Orderbird as their primary point-of-sale solution.