Switching POS systems: a 5-step guide
From your old system to a new till, without data loss and without a technician. The step-by-step guide to switching during ongoing operations.
Start your switch to Servire on your iPhone, iPad or Android device: test for free alongside your current POS, import your menu with AI, set up your floor plan and then switch over during live service. Solo is available for one active register per shift; Pro supports unlimited devices and adds §146a cash register registration through Servire. Check your previous provider’s notice period and data export options before switching.
Many restaurateurs stick with a POS system that frustrates them for years — out of fear that switching is complicated. It isn't. With the right preparation, the changeover is done in one quiet morning, with no data loss and no risk to your day-to-day operations.
This guide walks you through the switch in five steps — no matter which system you're coming from.
Step 1: Pick the right moment
You don't have to wait until your old contract ends. The best time is a slow business day or the hours before opening — that way you can set up and test the new system in peace while the old till keeps running.
Don't schedule the switch for a Friday evening or an event. A quiet Monday morning is all you need.
Step 2: Set up the new system in parallel
The biggest advantage of modern cloud POS systems: you can test them alongside your existing system. Download the app, register for free and set everything up without touching your old till.
The most important task here is the menu. Instead of typing everything in, use the AI menu import: upload a photo or PDF of your menu, and items, prices and categories are recognized automatically. After that, set up your floor plan, areas and staff.
Step 3: Give your team a quick introduction
Good POS apps feel like the apps your team already uses every day. Training usually takes minutes, not days.
Have your staff create a few test orders, split them and void them. Anyone who has opened a table once and settled it has understood the principle. You generally don't need a full-day training session from a technician.
Step 4: Activate tax-office compliance
Before you take real money, the TSE (the certified technical security device every German POS must have) needs to be running and the till must be registered with the tax office under §146a. With a system that has a built-in cloud TSE, this happens automatically as soon as you activate the paid plan — no technician, no extra hardware.
Make sure DSFinV-K and DATEV export are available too. That way you're prepared for a Kassennachschau (unannounced cash register inspection) and for your tax advisor from day one.
Step 5: Switch over and deregister the old till
Once everything checks out, you start taking payments on the new system from a fixed cutover date. Your old data stays with your previous provider — you don't need to migrate it, because it's the records that are subject to retention obligations, not the device.
Two things not to forget:
- Cancel the old system (watch the notice periods) and deregister the old till with the tax office under §146a.
- Check your payment provider: some old contracts continue to run separately.
Common worries — and why they're unfounded
| Worry | Reality |
|---|---|
| "I'll lose my data" | Old data stays with the provider, new data is stored safely in the cloud |
| "My team won't cope" | Onboarding takes minutes, app-style operation they already know |
| "You need a technician for this" | Self-service: register, import your menu, get going |
| "The TSE changeover is complicated" | A cloud TSE runs automatically |
| "I'll be locked into the new contract" | Systems with monthly cancellation exist — no risk |
Which system are you coming from?
The process is always similar; the details differ depending on your old system. You'll find specific comparisons and switching notes here:
- Switching from Vectron
- Switching from ready2order
- Switching from orderbird
- Switching from Gastronovi
- Switching from Lightspeed
Conclusion
Switching POS systems isn't a major project — it's a morning's work: pick the moment, set up in parallel, brief your team, activate compliance, switch over. Choose a system you can test for free and in parallel and that is cancellable monthly — then you're taking no risk.
To see how switching to Servire works in practice, check the switching page. You'll find the full feature and price comparison on the comparison page.
