Digital accessibility in practice: How qnips and its customers are implementing the Accessibility Act  

By Lucie Homuth in Nicht kategorisiert

The deadline for digital accessibility is fast approaching. The Accessibility Strengthening Act will come into force in Germany on 28 June 2025. But what does this mean in concrete terms for qnips as a company and for you as our customers?  

In our last blog post, we highlighted the basics of the new directive. Today, we show how we at qnips and you as our customers can actively implement accessibility.   

Accessibility starts with us: How qnips works without barriers  

At qnips, we do not see accessibility as an additional feature, but as an integral part of our product development. We started integrating accessibility criteria into our platforms early on. Find out which guidelines of the new law are qnips’ responsibility here:  

The four principles of digital accessibility  

Perceptibility: Digital content must be perceptible to all senses – regardless of whether you can see, hear or use other senses.  

Operability: All functions of a website or app must be operable – even without a mouse or in the case of motor impairments.  

Understandability: The content and operation must be understandable for all user groups – even those with cognitive impairments or limited language skills.  

Robustness: In the context of accessibility, this refers to the ability of content to be reliably interpreted by different user agents (e.g. browsers or assistive technologies) – even as technologies evolve.  

Two smartphone screens can be seen highlighting text and prices in the qnips app view.

The following points are considered to be within the scope of qnips’ responsibility:  

  • Necessary instructions must not be operable solely by sensory means (1.3.3)  

Example: Instructions such as ‘Click on the red button’ are problematic because they refer only to colour. Accessible would be: ‘Click on the red button labelled “Continue”.’  

  • The meaning and requirement of each input field can be determined by assistive software using program code (1.3.5)  
  • Videos longer than 3 seconds must be pausable and the volume must be adjustable independently of the system’s own volume (1.4.2) 
  • The size of the text can be enlarged up to 200% if necessary without restricting functionality (1.4.4)  
  • Text fits into the display in such a way that scrolling is only necessary in one direction (1.4.10).  
  • Text or letters must not be restricted in terms of content or function if certain text parameters, such as line spacing, are changed by program code (1.4.12).  

Example: A user changes the line and paragraph spacing in their browser to make content easier to read. The qnips page adapts without any problems: texts remain fully visible, and functions such as ‘Order’ or ‘Remember dish’ continue to work. Content does not overlap and nothing is cut off – thus qnips meets the requirements for flexible, accessible text display.  

  • Mouse-over content remains visible as long as the mouse pointer hovers over it and can be closed manually (1.4.13)  

The following guidelines apply to operability:  

  • All functions of a website or app must be fully operable with the keyboard – even without a mouse or touch gestures (2.1.1)  
  • If the keyboard focus can be moved to a specific location using the keyboard, it must also be possible to move the focus back in the same way (2.1.2)  
  • Software-specific commands via keyboard shortcuts must be deactivatable or customisable (2.1.4)  
  • Time limits, such as countdowns, must be preceded by warnings and offer the option of extension, unless these time limits are linked to unchangeable or externally determined events (2.2.1)  
  • Automatically moving, flashing and scrolling elements must be pausable or switchable off (2.2.2) 
  • Repetitive content must be skippable (2.4.1) 
  • Websites have a title that describes the topic and/or content (2.4.2)  
  • Elements of the website should be accessible in the same order as they are arranged visually and in terms of content on the page (2.4.3)  
  • The text of a link must clearly describe the purpose of the link (2.4.4)  
  • Subpages of a website must be accessible independently of the home page (2.4.5)  

Example: In the qnips catering portal, you can access any subpage – for example, the menu, the order overview or the allergy information – directly without first going to the home page. This is particularly helpful for people who use reading aids or voice control, because they can jump directly to where they want to go.  

  • When navigating a website with the keyboard, it must always be clearly recognisable which element is currently active – for example, by means of a visible border. People using screen readers must also be able to hear the focus. Actions should also be possible via keyboard or voice – i.e. without a mouse (2.4.7)  
  • The user should receive information about the current status of the website (e.g. whether they are on the home page or a subpage) (2.4.8).  
  • All functions that normally require multiple fingers or a specific movement should also be usable with a single finger and without complicated gestures – unless this specific gesture is absolutely necessary (2.5.1).  
  • A ‘Delete’ button should not respond immediately when clicked, but only when released – this allows the user to cancel if they have made a mistake (2.5.2)  
  • The text content of a single text or even a text in images must also be stored in the programme code (2.5.3)  
  • If the operation requires moving the device (e.g. shaking or tilting), there should also be another way to operate it via buttons or menus – unless the movement is necessary or specifically intended for accessibility (2.5.4). 
Here you can see the catering portal, which shows your location in the menu bar and your location on subpages.

qnips handles the following points of comprehensibility:  

  • The programme code indicates the language in which the content is written – for example, whether it is German, English or another language (3.1.1).  
  • If the language changes within a text – for example, from German to English – the software should be able to recognise this so that screen readers, for example, can read it correctly. Exceptions are proper names, technical terms or special jargon (3.1.2)  
  • If you use the keyboard or mouse to focus on a drop–down menu, for example, it must be easy to exit using the ‘Escape’ key, for example, allowing the user to move the focus to the next element. This prevents the keyboard focus from getting stuck in such elements (3.2.1).  
  • If elements change as a result of user input, the user must be informed in advance about what is changing and to what extent (3.2.2).  
  • It is important that the menu navigation always looks the same on every page and is always in the same place. This makes it easier for all visitors to find their way around (3.2.3).  

Example: Imagine you are visually impaired and you visit a website and find the menu at the top right. You click through various pages – but suddenly the menu has disappeared or is in a different place. You have to search again and lose your bearings. To prevent this from happening, a consistent menu navigation is crucial: if the menu looks the same on every page and always stays in the same place, you can find your way around more easily and use the website without stress.  

  • If an element on a website has the same function (e.g. a submit button), it must always look the same and work the same way. This helps everyone to find their way around more easily (3.2.4).  
  • If someone fills out a form incorrectly, the website should specify exactly where the error is and what was wrong – in clearly legible text (3.3.1).  

Example: An employee wants to pre-order lunch via the qnips catering portal. She enters her name and the desired meal correctly in the form, but forgets to enter her email address – a mandatory field for the order confirmation. After submitting the form, she receives the following message directly below the corresponding field:  

Error: Please enter a valid email address. Example: marie.mustermann@example.com 

The email field is also clearly marked with a red border so that the error is immediately visible. The form automatically sets the keyboard focus on the incorrect input field. In addition, the error message is integrated in such a way that it can be read aloud by screen readers. 

  • If users are required to enter information, such as their name or email address, the fields must be clearly labelled or provide brief instructions on what is expected (3.3.2).  
  • If an error is detected and it is clear how it can be corrected, the website should assist the user in doing so, for example with a hint. Unless this would reveal sensitive data that could be seen by several people, e.g. on a display that can be used in public (3.3.3)  
  • For important data entries such as purchases or contracts, the user must be able to correct errors and/or review their entries collectively before submitting them and/or cancel data that has been sent (3.3.4)  

The following guidelines fall under robustness:  

  • In the programme code, elements have complete start and end tags, elements are nested according to their specifications, elements do not contain duplicate attributes, and all IDs are unique, unless the specifications allow these properties (4.1.1).  
  • Control elements must be understandable for assistive software. Therefore, the program code must identify the name, role, state and changes for each element (4.1.2)  

Example: To enable people with assistive programmes such as screen readers to use qnips effectively, the code specifies exactly what each button or selection field is, what it is called and whether it is currently activated. For example, when you click on the ‘Order now’ button, you hear that it is a button and whether the order has been received. This way, all users know exactly what is happening on the page.  

  • Status messages for elements must be recognisable by assistive software without being actively controlled by the user (4.1.3)  

The following is the responsibility of our customers:  

qnips provides the technical basis for barrier–free accessibility. Our customers are also independently responsible for barrier-free use. They must consider and integrate aspects of accessibility into their daily tasks/work routine.  

qnips-accessability-checklistHerunterladen

The following aspects are considered perceptible:  

  • Alt texts must be provided for images that the customer maintains themselves via the content description (1.1.1).  
  • Videos must contain either subtitles or a text alternative. This means either providing a video with embedded or switchable subtitles. If no video is necessary, offering the same content in text form that can be read aloud by screen readers (1.2.1 to 1.2.5).  
  • Videos with sound need subtitles, unless the audio is already an accessible alternative to text (1.2.2).  
  • Documents or audio descriptions are available as alternatives to audio and video media (1.2.3).  
  • Recorded videos offer audio descriptions (1.2.5).  
  • Information must not be conveyed solely through colour. At least one explanatory text is required (e.g. a traffic light system) (1.4.1).  
  • For text and images that contain text, the contrast ratio must be at least 4.5:1. A lower ratio of 3:1 is only permitted if the text is at least 18pt in size or 14pt in bold. Purely decorative images and text, as well as logos, are excluded from this rule (1.4.3).  

More readable, real text should be used instead of embedded text in images – unless there is no other option (1.4.5)  

  • Important visual elements such as status indicators or parts of graphics must be clearly recognisable and have a colour contrast ratio of at least 3:1 to their surroundings. Unless they are inactive, coloured by the user afterwards or must be used in this colour scheme (1.4.11).  
Two screens are shown. The left screen shows a screen that does not comply with accessibility contrast requirements. The right screen shows a screen that complies with contrast colour requirements.

You should also consider the following aspects of usability:  

Visual effects that flash rapidly or contain intense colour changes must be designed so that they do not flash more than three times per second and do not contain strong contrasting flashes. Otherwise, adjustments or alternatives are necessary to avoid the risk of photosensitive seizures (2.3.1).  

Each heading must clearly state the topic of the following section. Each label on buttons or input fields must clearly state what happens or what is entered. This allows all users to find what they are looking for more quickly and use interactive elements correctly (2.4.6). 

Helpful tools that support an accessible platform 

Companies that want to implement an accessible website can use various helpful tools: Screen readers such as NVDA, VoiceOver or TalkBack can be used to test whether content is easily accessible for visually impaired users. Browser extensions such as axe DevTools, Lighthouse or Accessibility Insights automatically check WCAG compliance and highlight missing alt texts, incorrect ARIA attributes or poor focus guidance. Colour contrast checkers (e.g. Contrast Checker from WebAIM or the Colour Contrast Analyser tool) ensure that text and graphic elements are sufficiently legible. Developers can also integrate CI integration tools such as Pa11y or axe-core into their build processes to run continuous automatic tests. For design, plugins in Figma or Adobe XD (such as ‘Able’ or ‘Stark’) offer contrast and colour blindness simulation as early as the design phase. Accessible component libraries such as Material UI or Reach UI ensure that common widgets (buttons, forms, modals) are accessible by default.  

Our goal: digital participation for all 

Accessibility is more than a legal obligation – it is an expression of respect and sustainability. It demands – and promotes – innovation, user centricity and social responsibility. At qnips, we are ready to walk this path together with our customers – through consulting, technological solutions and partnership–based cooperation. 

qnips Website

How new accessibility guidelines facilitate access to the digital world for everyone  

By Lucie Homuth in Nicht kategorisiert
German Accessibility Improvement Act (BFSG)’ is shown in lettering on the left-hand side. The other side shows symbols that visually support the topic of accessibility.

In Germany, the Accessibility Improvement Act, which is based on the EN 301 549 directive ‘Accessibility requirements for information and communication technology products and services’ for product-related accessibility, will come into force on 28 June 2025. But to whom does this regulation explicitly apply and what does it cover? Find out here!  

What exactly is EN 301 549?  

EN 301 549 stands for ‘Accessibility requirements for information and communication technology products and services’, which will be a standard in Germany from 28 June 2025. The aim of this standard is to make digital products and services – such as websites, apps, software, hardware and digital documents – accessible to people with different disabilities. The aim is to ensure that all users, regardless of physical, sensory or cognitive limitations, can access digital content and technologies without any problems.  

What topics does the new directive cover?  

Accessibility is a key aspect of digital services. Websites and apps should have intuitive navigation, e.g. sufficient contrast, full keyboard operability and be compatible with speech output. Documents and PDFs must be designed to be accessible, for example by providing alternative text for images. Hardware should also be inclusive, with tactile controls or voice control. Audiovisual content benefits from subtitles and image descriptions, while compatibility with assistive technologies such as reading programmes or tactile text lines is essential. This is the only way to ensure digital participation for all people.  

A comparison of an accessible surface and a non-accessible surface is shown.

Who do these guidelines apply to?  

 The new guideline on accessibility in general applies to  

  • Public bodies  
  • Private companies   
  • Public contracting authorities  
  • Developers and designers  

Therefore the directive affects both public and private companies, especially those that offer digital content or services. The aim is to make the digital world accessible and usable for all people, regardless of their abilities.  

What are the consequences for breaches of the Directive?  

What happens if companies do not comply with them?  

Public bodies:  

  • In the event of violations, those affected can submit a complaint.  
  • In some countries, penalties or sanctions may be imposed.  

Private companies: 

  • National authorities can impose fines for violations.  

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the new requirement for companies?  

Advantages of accessibility for companies:  

In addition to the legal obligation, digital accessibility brings many advantages:  

It creates a larger target group, as people with disabilities will then also have the opportunity to use software or apps digitally. Better usability also plays an important role. It ensures clear structures and good readability for all users. Another advantage is search engine optimisation, as accessible websites are often better optimised for search engines. Compliance with the legally prescribed rules creates legal certainty, allowing companies to avoid warnings and fines.   

Challenges for companies when implementing accessibility:  

A common problem when implementing accessibility is that many developers are unaware of the requirements. In addition, they often lack the time or financial resources to make accessible adaptations. It is also common for companies to have older software or websites that are difficult to customise.   

How is qnips dealing with the new regulation?  

We are already working on the requirements of EN 301 549, including support for screen readers, also known as screen readers. This means that for components of the user interface that contain labels with text or images, the name contains the visually displayed text. For qnips, for example, this means that any interaction areas or buttons (and their respective status) are also labelled with text and can therefore be better interpreted by screen readers. Let’s take an example: You have a checkbox in the app that you have to tick in order to perform an action. Now imagine you can’t see anything and only rely on your mobile phone to read out what you should see on the screen. Then this checkbox must contain the information where it is located, what it is for and whether the tick is already set or not.

All previously active digital applications have a grace period of 4-5 years for their implementation of the Accessibility Directive. All current qnips applications already fulfil the new requirements to a large extent. Digital applications that will only appear in the future must already fulfil the requirements. At qnips, the requirements are already covered by the redesign of the apps. Adjustments are still being made to our catering portals until the deadline.   

Responsibility for an accessible digital future  

EN 301 549 is central to an accessible digital society. It gives people with disabilities equal access to digital services – and at the same time improves usability for older people and many others. Compliance is mandatory for organisations in the EU and promotes an inclusive, non–discriminatory online world. We at qnips are already implementing this directive.  

More information

Enjoy sustainably: The Vytal reusable system now seamlessly integrated into the qnips app!

By Lucie Homuth in Nicht kategorisiert

In this article, you can find out more about the new Vytal reusable system, which is now seamlessly integrated into the qnips app! This makes it even easier to avoid single-use waste – without a deposit. Order, pay and use reusable. Not only will you save a lot of disposable food in your canteen, you can also easily integrate reusable food into existing processes. Find out more about the benefits of this new integration here!

Sustainability meets digitalisation

The catering industry is facing major challenges: Legal requirements to reduce single–use packaging and the increasing demand from guests for sustainable solutions make it necessary to offer environmentally friendly alternatives. This is exactly where the integration of Vytal and qnips comes in! Together, you can offer your guests in company catering a digital and convenient deposit-free reusable solution.

Why reusable systems are the future

In Germany alone, over 280.000 tonnes of packaging waste from the take-away and delivery sector ends up in the bin every year. This is not only ecologically questionable, but also economically inefficient. Many companies are faced with the challenge of offering sustainable packaging solutions without complicating their operations. Digital reusable systems such as Vytal offer an efficient solution that has so far saved over 19 million items of disposable packaging:

  • No more disposable packaging – less waste, more sustainability
  • Easy handling without a deposit for customers and restaurateurs
  • Digital management of reusable containers via the qnips app
  • It goes without saying that reusable packaging guidelines and laws are taken into account
A person is holding a smartphone on which the shopping basket of the qnips app is open and the Vytal button is visible.

The Vytal x qnips integration – how it works

Thanks to the full integration of the Vytal reusable system into the qnips platform, canteens and guests benefit from a simplified and more positive dining experience. It’s very easy to use: place an order at

  1. Guests order as usual via the menu in the qnips app.
  2. Activate reusable: With one click in the shopping basket, the Vytal reusable option can be added directly.
  3. Scan QR code: The guest scans the reusable containers using the QR code and then the date on which the container was borrowed, the time and the name of the container are noted in the guest’s app.
  4. Reminders and overview: The qnips app includes a Vytal category that provides timely information about the return date so that no containers are forgotten to be returned.
  5. Enjoy and return: After use, the containers can be easily returned to the canteen. If the guest does not adhere to the return date, the caterer has the option of claiming a fine via the tracking system. The return rate is over 99%, which shows that guests are willing to take responsibility – if the process is simple. This system also ensures good planning for the caterer and makes it easier for guests to make a long return journey thanks to the integrated return system in the canteen.

Advantages for canteens & guests

The integration of qnips makes using the Vytal reusable system even more convenient.

For corporate caterers:

  • Sustainable packaging solution integrated directly into the ordering system
  • Reduced logistics costs thanks to transparent container flows
  • Increased customer loyalty thanks to a modern sustainability strategy
  • Reduced waste disposal costs for events

For guests:

  • Convenient, deposit–free reusable system
  • Sustainable choice at no additional cost
  • Hassle-free reuse thanks to the straightforward process
  • Convenient, fast, hygienic – and completely deposit-free
  • Thanks to the user–friendly qnips app, no additional app is required
One person takes a Vytal reusable bowl from the pick-up box and holds a smartphone with a QR code on it in the other hand.

The ideal reusable solution for working from home or eating outside of canteen hours

The reusable containers are also ideal for transport and eating at home. Guests can select a dish in the canteen and add the Vytal reusable box in the app so that the box can simply be borrowed and returned later.

The alternative is consumption outside canteen opening hours, where the reusable boxes can be integrated into intelligent collection boxes and are available for collection at any time and deposited in an environmentally friendly way.

Enjoy sustainably now – become part of the solution!

The future of catering is digital and sustainable – and now even easier with the qnips X Vytal integration! Take the opportunity to enjoy your favourite food in an environmentally friendly way and become part of the reusable revolution. The figures show: It works – and in real everyday life. Anyone who opts for reusable food today is not only acting sustainably, but smartly. It saves resources, reduces costs and leaves a positive footprint.

Every piece of packaging saved counts. Every return makes a difference. And together we can change the system.

More information

Reusable Dishes:  the ultimate solution to sustainable food packaging?

By Nathalie in Nicht kategorisiert
  1. Reusable dishes are sustainable, save money, increase loyalty and more…
  2. Reusable dishes are a result of increasing care for the environment.
  3. Europe advances sustainable changes in the catering industry through laws against single use plastics.
  4. Order, select reusable packaging, scan and enjoy.
  5. What are common criticisms for reusable dishes and how can you solve them?
  6. What to “take away”for the future.

Reusable dishes are sustainable, save money, increase loyalty…

The advantages of using systems for reusable dishes instead of single use plastic packaging are numerous:

  • positive impact on the environment by reducing single use plastics
  • reduced cost for packaging and replacing traditional dishes made of glass or ceramics
  • adherence to national laws for environmental responsibility
  • reusable dishes can be designed and branded to reflect your company
  • the necessity to return dishes leads to more touchpoints with your canteen, increasing loyalty over time
  • employees can take meals home, to act as home office supplies.
  • any reusable dish is compatible with the system, be it self-made, storebought or provided by specialized companies

Reusable dishes are a result of increasing care for the environment

Sensibility for the impact that we humans have on our environment increases. As a result, sustainable alternatives for previously harmful practices are increasing in popularity. A major concern to many, but especially to the gastro industry, is the amount of waste generated by food wrappers and containers. One solution to this problem could be the implementation of systems, that allow for the easy distribution and management of reusable packaging.

Europe bans single use plastics

An EU wide ban of single use plastics starting in 2030, was decided on in 2019. Additionally, in 2023 the German government made it mandatory for most caterers to offer reusable dishes and food containers, should they regularly offer their customers single use plastic containers. This happened in accordance with an EU ruling, which aims to reduce harmful impacts on the environment. Both decisions are supposed to accelerate the switch from single use containers to reusable alternatives. As a reaction, people had to adapt to the mandates, leading to an increased interest in services that provided them with both the reusable dishes as well as systems to manage the dishes and deposits.

Order, select reusable packaging, scan and enjoy!

How does a simple reusable system work?
Using the ordering channel of their choice, guests select the reusable dish option when ordering their meal. They pay the deposit (if they have chosen the deposit system) conveniently in the app and receive a QR code to scan at the collection point. After enjoying the meal, the dish is returned to the collection point and scanned to complete the return. The deposit will then be refunded in cash.


What happens in the kitchen?
The kitchen staff receive the diner’s order and information that reusable packaging is required. The food is prepared and a customised label is printed. To link the meal to the order in the system, the QR code on the packaging is scanned. The food can now be collected by the guests.

What are common criticisms for reusable dishes and how can you solve them?

Can the need to return dishes inconvenience users?

A recurring criticism of systems for reusable dishes is, that many customers don’t want to take a detour to return their dish to wherever they got it from. The added effort discourages many, to not use the service at all. This nullifies any possibility of getting used to the concept and thus having a lasting impact on the environment.

With the integration of reusable dishes into the qnips infrastructure, the reusable dishes will always be bound to a company’s canteen. This offers a central point, that employees are likely to visit during their daily doings, thus avoiding unpleasant detours.

What if containers get stolen or lost?

Another point of concern for many who consider using a system for reusable dishes is how to ensure the return of the dishes after being given out to guests. To prevent a loss of the dishes, qnips offers the option to implement a deposit system, asking guests to pay a given sum which will be returned to them once they return the dish. This is, however, simply an option, and can be turned off, should you prefer an honor-based system instead.

Alternatively, an in-between option can be selected, where using the dish is free, but users must pay a late fee should they not return it within a certain timeframe.

What to “take away” for the future

Reusable dishes are valuable tools in both securing customer satisfaction and increasing sustainability  in your canteen. Our reusable dish solutions (Honor-based, late fees and deposit) fulfill our customers’ needs and offer high comfort and efficiency, while lasting long. Easy to implement, they save money and material, while requiring only a minimum of additional management.

Join us as we redefine the future of contract catering, one meal at a time. Let’s get in touch!

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Omnichannel ordering: a new approach to customer engagement in company catering

By Nathalie in Nicht kategorisiert

Pioneering a sustainable omnichannel approach – the qnips kitchen concept:

At qnips, we have created a unique catering solution for our team. The ‘qnips Kitchen‘ is an example of an innovative omnichannel food ordering system designed to improve both efficiency and user experience. Employees at qnips can preorder their meals a week in advance, using our app, a dedicated catering portal or a physical ordering Kiosk, present in the canteen itself. This approach not only helps with accurate sourcing and quantity planning, but also meets our sustainability goals by reducing food waste and offering only vegetarian options.

But what does omnichannel mean?

Omnichannel ordering means to utilize several channels of communication in sync. This, in turn, means customers can expect a high level of quality and consistency between each of our many ordering channels, be it our menu-apps, the kiosks, or our catering portals.

Extending the model to larger canteens

This seamless integration of digital and physical touchpoints in ‘qnips Kitchen’ can be scaled to larger company canteens, transforming them into sophisticated omnichannel ecosystems. By providing multiple ordering touchpoints, companies can significantly enhance the dining experience and ensure convenience and flexibility for employees.

Benefits of omnichannel food ordering systems

  1. ✅ Improved user experience: omnichannel systems provide a consistent user experience. This allows employees to interact with the service across multiple platforms – from apps to kiosks to email – making ordering intuitive and accessible.
  2. ✅ Upsell and crosssell opportunities: with user profiles, caterers can personalise their offerings and recommend additional items based on past preferences, increasing both satisfaction and sales.
  3. ✅ Reduce labour costs: automated ordering processes streamline operations, reducing the manpower required to take orders and freeing up staff for more important tasks.
  4. ✅ Food waste reduction: advanced planning enabled by omnichannel systems allows for precise order quantities, reducing overproduction of food and associated waste.
  5. ✅ Time and cost savings for guests: the efficiency of omnichannel systems saves time for your guests, reducing the stress of mealtimes and potentially lowering overall food costs.
  6. ✅ Flexibility and pre-planning: despite the need to order in advance, these systems offer flexibility through easy change options to accommodate the unpredictable schedules of today’s workforce.
  7. ✅ Inform and educate: ongoing communication through digital channels educates and informs employees about the benefits of the system, including how it helps reduce food waste.


    A dream come true, right? Realistically though, every chance comes with a risk and every opportunity has its challenges. So too, does the omnichannel approach. We at qnips, however, are very much aware of these circumstances and actively work on minimizing risks and turning uncertainties into even more opportunities.

What are the risks, and how does qnips handle them?

While the implementation of omnichannel food ordering might seem difficult at first, we guarantee you that things are much easier than they might appear.

1. Initial investment in technology:

The initial cost and resource intensity of setting up an omnichannel system can be substantial. Companies must factor in the expense of software development, purchasing hardware like kiosks, and integrating various digital platforms.

To mitigate these problems, for example, the qnips infrastructure allows for a piece-by-piece modular integration. This allows customers maximum control over how much money they want to spend at a given time and how much time and capacity they want to direct towards the implementation. The customers can also controll how fast they want to exchange old systems and workflows for newer ones. Financially, the ROI from increased effectiveness, multiple order and payment channels, as well as an improved customer experience, justifies the initial expenditure over time.

2. Loss of personal touch:

Many first-time users of omnichannel systems worry about losing the personal aspect of customer service once they decide to go digital. In our experience, quite the opposite is the case. Time that would have been spent writing and communicating orders to the kitchen can suddenly be used to talk to customers, decorate food a bit more thoroughly, or plan the next weeks schedules ahead of time. Additionally, most modern ordering channels allow for the broadcast of custom content, photos, and news, allowing for a personal touch.

3. Integration with existing processes:

A major source of worry for many people who seek to advance their businesses into the omnichannel is how they will be able to transition from their existing software, hardware, and workflows to newer ones. We use our experience in working with all sorts of partners and interfaces, to work out plans on how to easily and painlessly migrate any systems we encounter.

4. Staff having a hard time adapting to the omnichannel approach:

Old habits die hard, and adapting to new routines and workflows can be challenging to even the most open-minded of us. You can offer your staff comprehensible and personal training, as well as all-around customer-support by trained software experts to ease the adaptation to new processes. Since the implementation of the omnichannel ordering system happens in a modular manner, staff training can be tailored to the exact level of implementation customers wish for.

5. Maintaining data security and privacy:

The challenge of providing adequate cybersecurity and data privacy is often cited among the biggest obstacles caterers fear when deciding to switch to digital systems.To provide the necessary safety and peace of mind one needs to operate in a digital world, qnips adheres to all recent cybersecurity standards and continuously works on improving our data security structures.

6. Adaptability to user preferences and improvement of the product:

The decision to move to a digitized omnichannel system usually comes with the question of whether the system will stay current during its lifetime. Our software is continuously improved upon in accordance to the ever-changing needs of our customers while also adapting to new and useful technologies.

7. Emergencies and reliability:

Finally, the big worry: What if the system fails?

As part of our services, we offer a competent technical and customer support that will help you with any arising technical issues. Additionally, due to the multiple channels in operation, users always have an ordering channel to fall back on, should the need arise.

The bottom line

The omnichannel approach is more than just a technological upgrade; it is a strategic enhancement of the corporate dining experience that meets the needs of the modern employee while delivering critical operational efficiencies. There certainly are obstacles to overcome, yet none of this should discourage you from switching over yourself. qnips not only supports you through every step of the way but also dampens or even negates most of the occurring risks for you, leaving an easy path for you to follow.

By adopting such systems, companies not only streamline their operations, but also contribute to a more sustainable and enjoyable dining culture. Join us as we redefine the future of contract catering, one meal at a time. Let’s get in touch!

Mehr zu qnips

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The road to a smart company canteen: qnips and partners demonstrate the future of catering technology at Internorga 2024 

By Nathalie in Nicht kategorisiert
An image that invites you to visit qnips at Internorga 2024 and introduces the partners and the event date (08.03.2024 - 12.03.24)

qnips, the leading platform for digital solutions in the contract catering industry, is pleased to announce that it will once again be present at Internorga 2024. The fair for the catering, hotel and food service industries will open its doors in Hamburg from 8th to 12th March. Together with three well-known partners – Zuply powered by Innovend, Dishtracker and Matilda Foodtech Germany – qnips will be presenting holistic digital solutions for modern catering. 

Book your slot!

What to look forward to at Internorga 2024:

a chart showing tiles, that each contain the name of one of qnips services or an image of a service being used

Imagine how effortless it can be to manage menus without tedious Excel spreadsheets. That’s exactly what the fascinating qnips X Cloudmenu interface offers. Purchasing, production planning and assortment management can all be done easily, while menus can not only be made visually appealing with just a few clicks, but can also be communicated across multiple channels such as the app, web or signage. And that is just the beginning. 

The qnips X Dishtracker interface takes you into the future of the cashless canteen. Here AI and visual food recognition speed up the checkout process, eliminate queues and give guests valuable time for their lunch break. Just hold a tablet under the camera and pay with digital credit or your payment service provider of choice.

New dimensions for canteen vending

qnips is also proud to present a brand new qnips product: the qnips Vending Unit! This innovative solution enables the simple and efficient digitisation of vending and coffee machines. Instead of having to insert coins, customers can now simply pay at the vending machine using an app. And the best part? The integration works with any type of vending machine, so no expensive new purchases are needed to make the move to digital. With the qnips Vending Unit, upgrading existing hardware is quick and cost-effective. Come and have a cup of coffee at the qnips booth at Internorga and see for yourself!

And if that wasn’t exciting enough, the qnips X Zuply interface is the first to offer a compact, autonomous store for contract catering. This cutting-edge innovation can be used to bridge canteen closing times and create additional catering options. Guests authenticate via app and their smart shopping experience begins. The store automatically recognises which products the guest has selected and when they leave the store, the shopping basket in the app is automatically closed and billed. 

Book your slot!

Another exciting project at Internorga 2024 is the filming of a new story about qnips catering manager George Thompson. George Thompson is already known from the qnips image film and will now be at the centre of a new story to be filmed at the fair. 

Statements about the Internorga

“We are delighted to once again present innovative solutions for modern contract catering at Internorga 2024 with three great partners,” says Christian Brützel, founder of qnips. “The digitization of company canteens continues to be an important topic, and we are proud to be at the forefront of shaping the future of the industry.” 

“With the cooperation of this year’s three exhibition partners, we have the opportunity to show our customers and visitors once again that digitization has something in store for all sizes of business. From simple management and display of menus and marketing content to extensions for a smart point-of-sale and a fully autonomous canteen, we have the right solution for every business,” emphasises Business Development Manager Kenji Koch. 

You are welcome to visit qnips and all its partners for a personal meeting at booth A2.306. If you are unable to come for a visit on site, you can also take a virtual tour of the booth.  

Book your slot!

About Matilda Foodtech: 

Matilda Foodtech develops innovative IT solutions for contract catering to make all processes healthy, safe, sustainable and economical. The aim is to enable people to eat well, regardless of age and health, and to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals. With 110 employees in seven locations, Matilda FoodTech is a strong partner in Northern Europe. More about Matilda Foodtech 

About Dishtracker: 

Founded in Vienna in 2019, Dishtracker is a leading provider of food recognition solutions for the catering industry. Its main goal is to make everyday life easier through innovative technologies. With a strong focus on innovation and customer centricity, they develop customised solutions and have already enabled over 12 million successful checkouts. Dishtracker shares the goal of revolutionising the catering industry and looks forward to helping shape the future of contract catering. More about Dishtracker 

About Innovend:

Innovend provides intelligent unmanned sales and pickups solutions for various markets. Its own software and hardware offers a wide range of modular solutions that can be combined in various ways and linked to third party applications. Under the Zuply brand, Innovend offers innovative solutions for healthy catering in the workplace. Its unmanned vending machines are available 24/7 and allow employees to order meals in advance and pick them up fresh. More about Zuply

About qnips: 

As a cloud-based catering platform, qnips helps companies streamline and digitise their catering management, for example by automating ordering and payment processes, creating digital menus and designing marketing content that can be delivered directly to app, web and digital signage. The platform simplifies allergen labelling, analysis of relevant data on ordering and consumption patterns, and canteen guest satisfaction. As a result, processes can be digitised and time and resources can be used more efficiently. More about qnips

Whitelabel catering apps from qnips modernise contract catering

By Nathalie in Nicht kategorisiert
Ansicht verschiedener Screens aus der qnips Gastro-App

Successful canteens use catering apps to make as many processes as possible as simple as possible. Contract catering is no exception.

Or at least it shouldn’t be.

Yet every day, thousands of catering managers around the world wonder how they are going to print all their menus on time and distribute them by hand around their facilities. They ponder whether to reprint all their menus at short notice or rewrite them in pencil. They struggle with whether to take food orders by email and painstakingly enter them into Excel spreadsheets, or to print the spreadsheets, distribute them and collect them throughout the day because they have to.

A digital solution could obviously save a lot of time and money, but questions like “Where do I get it? “How do I make sure it covers all my needs?” and “Is it right for my business?” get in the way of implementation.

Catering apps offer you a wide range of features!

This is where we at qnips come in and provide you with exactly the answers you are looking for. qnips offers catering apps that allow your customers to

  • View menus for multiple locations online,
  • Place and manage orders and track their collection status,
  • Leave reviews of dishes and the canteen
  • Receive information from the canteen directly as a notification in the app,
  • Make contactless payments directly in the app or automatically.

As a caterer, you can also send news, announcements and special offers to your customers quickly and easily via the app. You can automatically receive, organise and manage orders in the central dashboard.

Both the reporting functions (automatic collection of all relevant sales and interaction data for your products, available to you at any time) and the integrated stock management, which allows you to keep track of your stock, help you do this.

Choose between catering apps that you can access on Android or iOs devices such as mobile phones or tablets, and apps that you can access as websites on all Internet-enabled devices such as computers. All this speeds up and simplifies organisational processes in the catering business, which means also your customers will be happier.

Three examples of how you can customise qnips applications
One app – 3 different configurations of the individual modules

Build your own customised catering app!

The special thing about qnips products is that they can be tailored to your individual needs. This means that you are not tied to an off-the-shelf solution, but can decide for yourself, module by module, which features your catering app should have and which not. The building blocks are the above-mentioned functions of the catering app, such as the ordering system, feedback feature, content manager and mobile payment. You can also add or remove modules after your catering app is complete, just as your business needs them.

Importantly, you don’t have to take these steps alone. Part of the app development service is full project support from qnips project managers. They will advise and assist you in all matters relating to your catering app and then take over the building, support and customisation to your corporate identity.

What does “white label” mean?

qnips helps you to get a catering app that is functionally adapted to your needs. But is it YOUR app? Yes, absolutely!

An important part of qnip’s products is whitelabelling. Whitelabelling means that a product is designed in such a way that we seamlessly integrate elements relevant to branding and corporate identity (such as logos, colour accents or product labels) into your app without applying our own qnips labels.

This means that no one but you will know which technology partner is behind the app. That great app from the flagship canteen of a famous institution that you admired the other day? Who knows, maybe qnips is behind it.

qnips helps you to get a catering app that is functionally adapted to your needs.

We can help you create your own Catering app!

As you can see, the answers to the questions “Where can I get an app?”, “How do I make sure it covers all my needs?” and “Is it right for my business?” are answered quite quickly. We are there for you with our qnips apps, our customisation services and our white-labelling options!

If you would like to find out more about our apps or how to make your existing qnips app even better, why not arrange a consultation today by emailing info@qnips.io. Or by contacting your contact person directly.

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qnips presents innovations at Intergastra 2024 in Stuttgart

By Nathalie in Nicht kategorisiert
qnips at Intergastra

Hanover, 16.01.2024 – qnips GmbH is pleased to announce its participation at Intergastra 2024, one of the leading trade fairs for the catering and hotel industry. The exhibition will take place from 03 to 07 February in Stuttgart.

Following its successful appearance at Horecava in Amsterdam, qnips is continuing its trade fair presence in 2024 and will also be presenting its catering platform at Intergastra. The platform, which specialises in the digitization of contract catering and the optimisation of processes in the cateen, was already very well received at Horecava.

“We are delighted to be able to present our platform live at Intergastra for the first time this year and to strengthen our role in the digitization of contract catering. Our participation at Horecava in Amsterdam was extremely positive, with the industry showing great interest in our self-checkout and Smart ePaper integrations. We are confident that Intergastra will also provide an excellent platform to present our innovative solutions to a wider audience,” says Kenji Koch, Team Lead Business Development at qnips.

Smart partnerships for catering innovation: qnips, KOST and Delicious Data live at Intergastra 2024

qnips will be present together with two partner companies. In cooperation with KOST, visitors will be able to experience the latest developments in enterprise resource planning and POS systems live. Together with Delicious Data, an innovative solution for sustainability will be presented. The platform enables canteens to use artificial intelligence to lower the cost of goods and reduce food waste. In addition, qnips will show how this data from enterprise resource planning and sustainability can be combined to create attractive menus for the app, web and digital signage.

Visit qnips, KOST & Delicious Data at Intergastra 2024 at booth 4D52. Kenji Koch will also be happy to talk to you in person, just send him an email (kenji.koch@qnips.io). For further information and press enquiries please contact:

Nathalie Schneider
Marketing Manager
nathalie.schneider@qnips.io

About qnips:

As a cloud-based catering platform, qnips helps companies optimise and digitize their catering management, for example by automating ordering and payment processes, creating digital menus and designing marketing content that can be delivered directly to the app, web and digital signage. The platform simplifies allergen labelling, analysis of relevant data on ordering and consumption patterns, and canteen guest satisfaction. As a result, processes can be digitised and time and resources can be used more efficiently. More about qnips

About KOST:

KOST Warenwirtschaft & Mehr offers efficient and seamless handling of all relevant processes and provides all information from procurement to quality management and from production to administration. Through a constant exchange of information and experience, the software is continuously developed and adapted to the needs of the company and the requirements of the market. Overview of KOST software solutions: ERP, cashless payment systems, web portal, cash registers, pre-order system & sustainability. More about KOST

About Delicious Data:

About Delicious Data:

Founded by Valentin Belser and Jakob Breuninger, Delicious Data is a pioneer in intelligent planning optimisation for food companies. Using Delicious Data’s AI, customers can reduce avoidable food losses and increase operational efficiency. By December 2022, approximately 600 tonnes will have been saved, equivalent to a reduction of more than 787 tonnes of CO2e equivalent. More about Delicious Data

Conference Catering | Discover the qnips ordering system for meetings!

By Nathalie in Nicht kategorisiert

Ordering and providing snacks and drinks for meetings and conferences can be a stressful task. But with the right tool, it can be a quick and easy process that ensures meetings and conferences are a complete success. Find out how qnips conference ordering can help you organise your conference catering and make all the preparations via the intuitive qnips dashboard. How does it work? See for yourself:

Conference catering with a wide selection of food and drinks!

What your employees see:

Your sales manager wants to have an all-day meeting with colleagues next week to review the last quarter. The coworking space in the building has already been reserved. Now the team leader wants to take care of the snacks for his team and navigates in the catering portal to the menu that has been set up especially for meetings and con-ferences. He orders some snacks and a selection of drinks for everyone.

What your kitchen staff sees:

As the kitchen manager, you have created a special menu for meetings and conferences with just a few clicks. Here you have provided a selection of snacks, main courses, desserts and drinks that can be pre-ordered for meetings. You also have full control of the stock management.

Central dashboard for efficient attendee management & seamless room allocation:

What your employees see:

When ordering, the team lead can designate the coworking space as a meeting room and specify how many people will attend and how long the event is expected to last.

What your kitchen staff sees:

The qnips dashboard gives you an overview of all attendees and allows you to add notes about any incompatibilities. You can also manage all available rooms and store additional information such as capacity.

Smooth running of the event thanks to streamlined event tracking:

What your employees see:

The team lead can also specify that food is not delivered until around 11am, when the first short break takes place. This way, the daily schedule of the event is not interrupted.

What your kitchen staff sees:

The qnips dashboard provides you with a calen-dar to keep track of all current and planned events.

Transparent cost overview, including ancillary and delivery costs, as well as cost centre billing:

What your employees see:

The shopping basket gives the team lead a detailed overview of all costs, including delivery and ancillary costs, allowing them to adhere to the internally approved budget per person.

Finally, the sales manager selects the option to receive a hospitality voucher and specifies the cost centre to facilitate later accounting by the accounting department.

What your kitchen staff sees:

With qnip conference ordering, you can easily include the cost of delivery and any ancillary costs such as crockery or cleaning services in the order. This allows you to provide your employees with a transparent cost overview.

The order reporting in the qnips dashboard provides a detailed listing of all accounting-relevant data, including details of the cost centres used, information about the event and the products ordered, and much more.

qnips Conference Catering is a brand new feature that will help you make your events a success and impress your guests with first class conference catering. For more information, visit our website or email us with your questions!

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Internorga 2023 | qnips: passion for innovation live on display

By Nathalie in Nicht kategorisiert

Internorga 2023 is behind us and we are grateful for the many great impressions, visions and concepts that we were able to experience and take home with us.

Inspired by the strong performance of our partners, we have once again created a booth concept that fills us with pride and clearly reflects our identity. The concrete idea behind our booth is quite simple: visitors enter a state-of-the-art, fully digitised company canteen. Accompanied by our great staff, they will be able to discover and experience live different scenarios called “Journeys”.

The “Aitme” Journey

It’s simple: open the qnips app and navigate to the Aitme Robotic Kitchen menu. You select one of the available dishes, customise the ingredients if you wish, and place your desired dish in the shopping basket.

Robotic kitchen in a canteen

Once you have placed your order, something extraordinary happens! It is not the kitchen staff that prepares the food, but an autonomous robot. This robot can produce more than 80 different dishes, and more than 60 of them per hour! Due to lack of space on our booth, this robot was not live, but a video screen from booth partner Aitme gave an overview of the rest of the preparation process.

The „Innovend“ Journey

The halls at Internorga 2023 also allowed us to present larger showcases, one of which is the Innovend Journey. Again, you open the qnips app and select the Lock-Blox menu. The kitchen team then takes the order, prepares the food and – this is where it gets exciting – delivers it to a locker called a ‘Lock-Blox’.

A Lock-Blox can be roughly explained as follows: A large locker with individual compartments and cooling elements. The compartments can be opened individually via an app and filled. The aim of the system is to streamline the preparation and collection of food. Employees order their meals and can reliably collect them at a later time of their choosing. This optimises production planning, as only the food actually ordered is placed in the box. Less waste, more tasty food.

Less food waste thanks to accurate production planning

But what happens if a meal is cancelled? The Lock-Blox trays use coloured LEDs to indicate whether a meal is ready for collection, hot, cold or, in the case of a cancellation, ready for sale. It looks good, tastes good and helps the environment.

Smart Locker at the Internorga

The LinX iQ aka “Smart Fridge” is even more flexible than the Lock-Blox. A credit card stored in the qnips app is used to generate a QR code that opens the Smart Fridge. The fridge-like vending machine looks like the vending machines you see at train stations and swimming pools. But instead of waiting for a metal crane, conveyor belt or spiral to collect products for customers, they simply reach into the Smart Fridge and take what they need. Using internal sensors such as weight scales or NFC scanners, the fridge recognises which and how many products have been removed. It then adds them to your shopping basket in the app and triggers the automatic payment process as soon as you close the door. The fact that you feel like you’re stealing something, especially the first time you use it, is a testament to how simple the process is.

The „Order Kiosk“ Journey

Ordering and working with the qnips app is fun and very easy. However, sometimes we also need on-site ordering options, for example to ensure better legibility, faster order processing or the ability to order without a smartphone. At our booth at Internorga 2023, we demonstrated this with an ordering kiosk system using Pan Oston hardware. In combination with qnips, the hardware combines menu display, shopping cart, product scanning and self-service checkout in a compact, locally mounted interface.

On this interface, customers can touch select their meal, order it and send it to the kitchen. When the order is received by the kitchen, an order receipt is printed with the order details. As soon as they start preparing the food, it can be scanned into our Kitchen Monitor and given the status ‘in progress’. The monitor provides the kitchen with an easy-to-read list of which orders are at which stage of preparation.

Easy order processing in the kitchen

However, a simple screen can easily be overlooked in the heat of the kitchen battle. That’s why our Kitchen Monitor is connected to a signal lamp that lights up in three colours, flashes and buzzes when the order phase changes. The kitchen is now well informed, but what about the waiting customers?

Vestaboard showing the orders in preparation

Our booth this year featured the “Vestaboard”, an analogue-mechanical display board like the ones you see in airports and train stations. (The ones that sound a bit like fluttering pigeons when you change the display. Or maybe there are real pigeons at the station that sound like that. Who knows?) This board displays orders in order of processing status, effectively changing the display with each update. In this way, guests can follow the status of their order in real time. For those who are not yet convinced by the clattering analogue charm of the Vestaboard, there is of course also a regular digital pick-up monitor – after all, eating should be fun for everyone.

The “qnips App Redesign” Journey

You’ve probably noticed that our mobile app is a recurring topic in this blog post. This is not only because our apps are the heart of our software, but also because we were proud to present the redesign of our qnips app at Internorga. You could see our new design for IOs and Android on several test devices. And it gets even better: in the future, this design will also characterise all other qnips-related mobile applications.

As part of the redesign, we are also introducing our 14 redesigned allergen icons in our app and on the Catering Portal. These are different in shape and colour from the current icons and help to make the allergens easier to identify.

What we have learned from Internorga 2023

The end of each Internorga always means preparing for the next one. That’s why we’re looking forward to presenting what we’re burning for next year: Innovative software, accessible, elegant hardware and a team that is passionate and knowledgeable about all of this. Many good and intensive discussions have shown that the digitalisation of company catering is not just a trendy topic.

qnips says thank you and is looking forward to the next Internorga together!

For more information visit www.qnips.io