From Checkout to Chat:
Monthly Newsletter – April ‘26
Hi,
There’s been a big shift in the EPOS space recently, and if you run a pub, café, or restaurant, it affects you more than you might think.
Some providers are now removing integrations with payment partners like Dojo, meaning you’re being pushed toward using a single, locked-in card machine which is usually an inhouse one.
On paper, it doesn’t sound like a big deal.
In reality, It is.
⚠️ What this actually means for your business
When you’re locked into one payment provider:
- You lose the ability to shop around for better transaction rates
- You’re stuck if service or support drops
- You end up paying more over time, even if the monthly fee looks “cheap”
And if you don’t use the EPOS company’s inhouse payment service your penalised
We’re already seeing businesses being made to switch away from Dojo or pay to use it in standalone mode with €90/month fees, with no real flexibility.
That’s not innovation. That’s control.
🍻 What we’re seeing on the ground
Over the last few months, a few patterns are becoming very clear:
- Busy venues care more about speed + integration than ever
- Owners are getting frustrated with hidden fees
- More businesses are asking: “Why can’t I just choose what works best for me?”
And honestly, it’s a fair question.
💡 Tip of the Month: Follow the transaction fee, not the monthly cost
A lot of providers win business by keeping the monthly fee low.
But that’s not where the real cost is.
If you’re processing high volume, even a small difference in transaction fees can mean:
- Hundreds per month
- Thousands per year
Always calculate total cost, not just the subscription.
🔍 Feature You Might Not Be Using (But Should Be)
If your EPOS and payment system aren’t properly integrated, you’re losing time on every single transaction.
Integrated systems:
- Reduce errors
- Speed up service
- Improve reporting
It’s one of the simplest ways to increase efficiency without hiring more staff.
🧠 Our Take
We don’t believe businesses should be forced into one setup.
That’s why we give our customers:
- The option to use Costa Pay
- Or integrate with providers like Dojo
- Or choose what works best for their business
Because at the end of the day, it should be your choice, not theirs.
🍺 Customer Spotlight (Quick One)
One of our long-term customers (5 pubs, 10+ years with us) recently reviewed their setup and realised:
They weren’t overpaying on software…
They were overpaying on transactions.
A small change made a big difference across all locations.
👋 Final Thought
The industry is moving fast — and not always in the customer’s favour.
If you’re not reviewing your setup regularly, there’s a good chance you’re leaving money on the table.
If you want a quick, no-pressure breakdown of your current costs vs what’s out there, just reply to this email.
Happy to take a look.
⚙️ What We Got Up To This Month at Costa
It’s been a busy one behind the scenes, here’s a quick look at what we’ve been working on in April:
- Dolly’s Terenure officially opened its doors, great to see it go live after months of work
- Continued expansion with existing partners, including a new setup for Smugglers Rest
- Emerald Park (Tayto Park) upgraded with 5 brand new tills ahead of peak season
- A full new install at The Townhouse Bar, Letterkenny (formerly The Wolfe Tone)
- One of our technicians has developed a new KDS (Kitchen Display System), now live in testing with a local venue
- We’ve also built and prepared 5 fully integrated Costa Pay terminals, ready to roll out to Sage & Stone.
Plenty more in the pipeline, but it’s good to see systems going live and making a real impact where it matters most.
WAnd a Customer Testimonal from one of our long standing Fashion Owners – Joanne Mallon
Joanne runs Ribbon Rouge Boutique in Dublin and Navan, she has been a customer with us for over 10 years!
She is an ideal customer with beautiful stores, as we improved our systems over the years Joanne was never hesitant to upgrade to the latest software and hardware because of trust built over the years!
– The Costa Team
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