Connecting your restaurant POS and online orders: security device, receipts and interfaces
Many restaurants take orders through the website, platforms and phone, then retype them into the till. That costs time, causes errors and muddles the accounts. When POS and online ordering are connected, orders land straight on the kitchen ticket and in the daily report. This article shows what applies technically and for tax in Germany.
What the till must do legally
Under Section 146a of the German Fiscal Code, anyone recording transactions with an electronic system must protect it with a certified technical security device (TSE) and issue every customer a receipt. Since 1 January 2025 electronic tills must also be registered with the tax office via ELSTER; newly acquired tills within a month, and decommissioned ones too.
Orders prepaid online go through the payment provider. If an online order is paid at the till on pickup, it's recorded through the till with TSE like any other sale, and the guest gets a receipt. Clarify the treatment with your tax firm.
What a good connection does
Check POS systems and ordering providers against these points:
- Orders from website and platforms appear automatically in the POS and on the kitchen ticket.
- Menu and prices are maintained in one place and distributed to all channels.
- Sold-out dishes are blocked online immediately.
- Day-end close and revenue per channel can be analysed separately.
- Revenue flows automatically to accounting, for example DATEV.
Check interfaces before switching
Many modern POS systems offer interfaces for online orders and delivery platforms, some only for selected partners. Before switching, ask for the list of integrations, costs per channel and whether there's an open API. If a direct connection is missing, a bridge via an automation platform is often possible.
Rollout and cost
Test the connection with sample orders from every channel, including cancellations, special requests and cash on pickup, before going live. We check your POS and ordering system, connect them and set up the handover to accounting; integration starts at €600.
Frequently asked questions
- Does my online shop need a TSE?
- The TSE duty covers electronic recording systems with a till function. Orders paid online go through the payment provider; cash payments on pickup go through the till. Clarify details with your tax firm.
- How do I register my till with the tax office?
- Via the ELSTER form for notifications under Section 146a(4) AO, by upload in Mein ELSTER or directly from suitable software.
- Can I keep my existing till?
- Often yes, if it offers an interface. We check that before you consider switching.
Sources
Tell us your POS and ordering channels. We check how they can be connected and estimate the effort.
Connect till and orders