Tiller (by SumUp)

Tiller, now part of the SumUp family, is a leading European point-of-sale solution built specifically for the restaurant and hospitality industry. Originally founded in 2015 as Tiller Systems and headquartered in Paris, France, the company was acquired by SumUp, strengthening its position as one of Europe's most trusted POS platforms. Tiller serves thousands of restaurants, cafes, bars, and food service businesses across the continent. Built around the iPad as its primary hardware platform, Tiller offers a modern, intuitive interface that simplifies daily operations for hospitality professionals. With the backing of SumUp's payment infrastructure and full GDPR compliance, Tiller represents a compelling alternative to US-based POS systems like Toast and Square for Restaurants.

iPad-Based POS System

At the core of Tiller's offering is its iPad-based POS system, which transforms Apple's tablet into a powerful restaurant management terminal. The decision to build on iPad hardware was deliberate: it provides a sleek, modern aesthetic that fits into any restaurant environment, from casual bistros to fine dining establishments. The touchscreen interface is highly intuitive, allowing servers to take orders quickly and accurately with minimal training. New staff members can typically learn the system within a single shift, which is a significant advantage in an industry with high employee turnover.

Tiller's iPad POS supports multiple order types including dine-in, takeaway, and delivery, all from the same interface. The system handles split bills, custom modifiers, course management, and special dietary requirements with ease. Orders can be sent directly to the kitchen or bar printer with a single tap, eliminating the need for handwritten tickets and reducing errors. The iPad setup also means lower hardware costs compared to traditional POS terminals, as restaurants can use standard Apple hardware rather than proprietary and expensive dedicated units.

Table Management

Tiller's table management feature provides a visual floor plan of the restaurant, allowing hosts and servers to see at a glance which tables are occupied, reserved, or available. The system displays real-time status information including how long guests have been seated, which course they are on, and the current bill total for each table. This visibility helps restaurants optimize table turnover and seat more guests during peak hours without compromising the dining experience.

The table management system supports multiple dining rooms or zones, making it suitable for restaurants with indoor and outdoor seating areas, private dining rooms, or multiple floors. Servers can easily transfer tables between staff members during shift changes, merge tables for larger parties, or split a table when guests want separate checks. The system also integrates with reservation platforms, so upcoming bookings are visible directly within the POS interface, helping staff prepare for service and manage walk-ins effectively.

Kitchen Display System

Tiller's kitchen display system (KDS) replaces traditional paper ticket printers with a digital screen that shows incoming orders in real time. The KDS organizes orders by priority and timing, helping kitchen staff manage their workflow efficiently during busy service periods. Different colors and indicators highlight order types (dine-in, takeaway, delivery), special requests, and allergen information, ensuring nothing is overlooked. When a dish is ready, kitchen staff can mark it as complete with a tap, automatically notifying the server that the order is ready for pickup.

The kitchen display system can be configured to show only relevant items for each kitchen station. For example, the grill station sees only grilled items, while the pastry station sees desserts. This filtering reduces visual clutter and helps each station focus on their responsibilities. The KDS also tracks preparation times, providing management with valuable data about kitchen performance and helping identify bottlenecks during service. Over time, this data can be used to optimize menu offerings and kitchen staffing levels.

Online Ordering Integration

Tiller includes built-in online ordering capabilities that allow restaurants to accept orders through their own branded website or app. This is a critical feature in the post-pandemic hospitality landscape, where takeaway and delivery have become essential revenue streams for many restaurants. Tiller's online ordering system integrates directly with the POS, so orders placed online appear alongside dine-in orders in the same workflow. This eliminates the need for staff to manually enter online orders into a separate system, reducing errors and saving time.

The online ordering platform is fully customizable, allowing restaurants to upload their menu, set availability times, configure delivery zones, and manage pricing. Restaurants can offer click-and-collect options as well as delivery, with the ability to set different pricing for each channel. The system also supports promotional codes and special offers, helping restaurants drive online sales. Unlike third-party delivery platforms that take significant commission fees, Tiller's built-in ordering system lets restaurants keep more of their revenue while maintaining direct relationships with their customers.

Multi-Location Support

For restaurant groups and chains, Tiller offers robust multi-location management capabilities. A centralized dashboard provides an overview of all locations, with real-time sales data, inventory levels, and staff performance metrics visible from a single interface. Managers and owners can monitor their entire operation remotely, making it easy to identify trends, compare performance between locations, and make data-driven decisions about their business.

The multi-location system allows for centralized menu management, so changes to pricing, descriptions, or availability can be pushed to all locations simultaneously or customized per site. Staff management features include centralized scheduling, role-based access controls, and the ability to transfer employees between locations. For franchise operations, Tiller supports a hierarchy of permissions that gives franchise owners control over their individual locations while allowing the parent company to maintain brand standards and access aggregate reporting across the network.

Payment Integration

Tiller integrates with major European payment processors and supports a wide range of payment methods including card payments, contactless payments via NFC, mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, and traditional cash transactions. The system supports split payments, allowing guests to divide their bill by amount, by item, or equally among the group. Tips can be added before or after payment, and the system tracks gratuities separately for accurate reporting and staff distribution.

The payment integration is designed with European regulations in mind, supporting country-specific requirements for fiscal compliance including the French NF525 certification for anti-fraud measures. All payment data is processed securely with end-to-end encryption, and Tiller does not store sensitive card information on local devices. The system also generates detailed payment reports that simplify end-of-day reconciliation, making it easier for managers to close out shifts and prepare financial summaries for accounting purposes.

Reporting and Analytics

Tiller provides comprehensive reporting and analytics tools that give restaurant owners deep insight into their business performance. The dashboard displays key metrics including total revenue, average ticket size, covers per service, popular menu items, and sales by category. Reports can be filtered by date range, time of day, staff member, or payment method, allowing managers to drill down into specific aspects of their operation. All data is accessible in real time from any device with an internet connection, so owners can stay informed even when they are not on-site.

The analytics suite also includes labor cost tracking, food cost analysis, and profitability reports at the menu item level. Managers can see which dishes generate the highest margins and which ones may need to be repriced or removed from the menu. Trend analysis helps identify seasonal patterns and forecast demand, enabling more accurate purchasing and staffing decisions. These insights are presented in clear, visual formats with charts and graphs that make it easy to understand business performance at a glance.

GDPR Compliance and Data Security

As a French company operating within the European Union, Tiller is fully GDPR compliant. All customer data, transaction records, and business information is stored on European servers and processed in accordance with EU data protection regulations. Tiller's privacy practices ensure that personal data collected through the POS system, online ordering, or loyalty programs is handled with the highest standards of care. The company provides clear data processing agreements and can supply documentation required by data protection officers.

Tiller employs robust security measures including encrypted data transmission, secure cloud storage with regular backups, and role-based access controls that limit data visibility based on staff positions. The system maintains detailed audit logs that track all actions taken within the POS, which is valuable for both security monitoring and compliance reporting. For restaurants that collect customer data through reservation systems or loyalty programs, Tiller provides tools to manage consent, handle data access requests, and process deletion requests in compliance with GDPR requirements.

Pricing and Plans

Tiller's pricing starts from 59 euros per month, which includes the core POS functionality, basic reporting, and standard support. Higher-tier plans add features like advanced analytics, multi-location management, online ordering, kitchen display system access, and priority support. Tiller operates on a subscription model with no long-term contracts required, giving restaurants the flexibility to scale their plan up or down as their needs change. Hardware costs are separate, with restaurants needing to provide their own iPad or purchase one through Tiller's hardware partners.

For larger restaurant groups and enterprise customers, Tiller offers custom pricing that reflects the scale and complexity of the operation. These plans typically include dedicated account management, custom integrations, on-site training, and service level agreements. While Tiller's pricing is competitive with other European POS solutions, the total cost of ownership is often lower than US alternatives like Toast, which may charge higher transaction fees or require proprietary hardware. Tiller's transparent pricing model means restaurants know exactly what they are paying for, with no hidden fees or surprise charges.

Who Should Use Tiller

Tiller is ideal for restaurants, cafes, bars, bakeries, and food service businesses of all sizes that want a modern, iPad-based POS system built by a European company. It is particularly well-suited for hospitality businesses that value GDPR compliance and want their data stored and processed within the EU. Multi-location restaurant groups benefit from the centralized management features, while independent restaurants appreciate the intuitive interface and affordable entry price. Any hospitality business looking to replace a US-based POS system like Toast or Square for Restaurants with a European alternative that offers comparable features and superior data protection should strongly consider Tiller as their point-of-sale solution.