Koen (Founder, Winston POS):
Good afternoon, or good evening for some of you. I’ll wait a few more seconds for anyone joining a bit late, and then we’ll dive into our first Winston product update webinar.
Let me quickly check with David if everything is running smoothly. It’s my first time using this webinar platform.
David:
Yes, everything’s going great.
Koen:
Perfect. For most of you, I’m a familiar face, but I see some new names as well. So let me start with a short introduction.
My name is Koen, founder of Winston POS. I’ve worked in restaurants for almost a decade and I’m a bit of a tech guy too, so Winston is where those two passions meet.
This is the recording of our dealer webinar from August 2025. The webinar is aimed at current and future Winston POS dealers. I’ll be sharing the main product updates we’ve been working on over the past few months in 2025, plus a quick overview of Winston itself.
Winston POS is a restaurant point-of-sale system founded in Europe, with over ten years of experience in the market. We’re trusted by some of the best restaurants in the world, including many Michelin-starred venues.
But great software alone isn’t enough. It needs great service to match. That’s why we work closely with our reseller network (partners like you) to help restaurants get up and running smoothly, so they can focus on delivering an exceptional guest experience.
For us, collaboration and freedom are key. We offer modern technology, but we don’t lock you into specific hardware, payment processors, or integrations. You stay as free as you are today.
At the same time, we make sure Winston users feel that same freedom through intuitive design and ease of use. Of course, even with a user-friendly POS, there’s a lot going on in restaurants, so local support from experienced dealers like you remains essential.
Which product updates did Winston make in 2025?
Let’s dive into the product updates.
This year’s focus has been on a full redesign, especially the order and payment screens. We’ve also made major improvements to features like happy hours, split checks (my personal favorite), and modifiers-on-modifiers, which are especially important in the U.S. market.
David:
Before we start, a quick note: you can ask questions during the webinar. Use the “raise hand” button if you’d like to come on stage, or just drop your question in the chat and I’ll make sure Koen answers it.
Koen:
Thanks, David. Yes, please keep things interactive. If you have a question, raise your hand or type it in chat.
What changed in Winston's new design?
Let’s start with the new design.
Some of you might not be familiar with our old interface. It was fine, but a bit dated. So we gave it a complete refresh.
One of the key improvements is role-based access. You can now control which buttons and functions appear for each user. For example, editing the floor plan, adding or removing tables, or adjusting tabs. Those can all be disabled per role.
Next, the ordering screen. We’ve added a new category reel at the top of the product list, making it faster to navigate through menus. Tap “Beers” and it scrolls there immediately. Tap “Champagne,” and it jumps to that section.
We’ve also improved how you see modifiers. Products with modifiers now show a small “+” icon, so it’s immediately clear when an item can be customized. The modifier screen itself lets you easily adjust options, add extras, or use prepositions like “on the side.”
The check layout has also changed. Previously, the order and check were in separate tabs. Now they’re combined, so as soon as you send the order, you see it reflected on the check immediately, including any fees or service charges.
How do the floor plan and tabs work?
You can easily switch between floor plans (for table service) and tab lists (for bar environments). Tabs can now be filtered by user, and you can select multiple users when multiple bartenders share a terminal.
We’ve also added pre-authorizations (both one-time and incremental) for card payments, useful in bar setups.
How do order types reach the kitchen display?
Orders can now be tagged as dine-in, takeout, or delivery, and routed accordingly. You can assign separate kitchen displays or printers for different order types, for example, keeping takeout separate from dine-in tickets.
The kitchen display system (KDS) has been improved too. Staff can check off individual items or entire orders, and the expo screen only shows what’s ready to serve, keeping the workflow clear and focused.
What do the rear display and timed products do?
We’ve added a customer-facing display (rear display) that can now show promotional images in rotation. It also handles tip prompts for card payments, especially useful for counter-service environments.
Another new feature is timed products, perfect for things like pool tables or karaoke booths. You can charge per minute, and the POS tracks the duration automatically until you stop the timer.
How do modifiers-on-modifiers work?
Yes, you can now modify a modifier.
For example, when building a burger, you can select the type of patty, cooking style, add extras, choose a side, and even modify that side (like adding dressing to a salad). There’s no limit to how deep you can go.
How do fees, discounts and dual pricing work?
We’ve made the payment screen much more flexible. You can now:
- Split payments by amount or percentage
- Apply discounts or vouchers
- Configure cash discounts, service charges, or dual pricing (for example, showing adjusted prices for cash payments)
Taxes are now displayed more clearly, even when multiple taxes apply to a product (like separating sales tax and liquor tax). Reports have toggles so managers can simplify what’s displayed or printed.
What's new in reports and roles?
Managers can now view consolidated reports for all staff in one overview, making it easier to review daily performance.
We also introduced custom roles, allowing you to fine-tune permissions per user. Each module (POS, time tracking, gift cards, etc.) has its own permission set, so you can control exactly who can do what.
How does menu management work in the back office?
The back office now includes a visual menu editor.
You can edit menu layouts, link option groups, or change printer assignments directly in a drag-and-drop interface. It’s simple enough for restaurant owners to use, but also flexible for dealers who want to manage configurations professionally.
How do price levels and happy hours work?
You can now set multiple price levels and price times.
For instance, apply happy hour pricing automatically, or schedule different prices for special events like St. Patrick’s Day.
How do courses and kitchen coordination work?
Course firing is now easier to manage. Staff can manually trigger the next course when guests are ready. The system updates the kitchen display in real time. Automatic course firing (based on time) is coming soon.
How do split checks work in Winston?
Our redesigned split checks module lets you split by seat, share equally, or manually drag and drop items between checks.
You can:
- Automatically create sub-checks per seat
- Print individual checks or merge them back together
- Move items between checks or even to another table
An undo function for splits is on the roadmap.
Closing Remarks
That wraps up our 2025 product update.
We’re incredibly proud of what the team has achieved, and even more excited about what’s next.
We’re growing fast in the U.S. and beyond, and our partnership with dealers like you is at the heart of that success. Together, we’re shaping the future of restaurant POS.
If you’d like to start working with Winston or have questions, reach out to partners@winstonpos.com.
We’re also hosting our next dealer event in Columbia, South Carolina, October 27–29, and invitations will go out tomorrow.
Thanks everyone for joining, and I hope to see you there!
