When Anna Mari and her family took over the beloved Pateena Pancakes in Sabie, Mpumalanga, they knew they were stepping into big shoes. Locals had cherished the pancake house since 1988, and the new owners were determined not only to preserve its reputation but to modernise its operations.

“We didn’t want the hassle of outdated systems,” Anna Mari recalls. “We figured we’d try something that could give us everything in one go. So we decided to try Yoco.”

Saving hours each week on reporting

Before switching to Yoco Counter, the team relied on an old point of sale (POS) setup that was clunky, unreliable and devoured hours of time.

“It was slow, the reports were inconsistent, and it wouldn’t export to Excel,” Anna Mari explains. “I didn’t trust it, so I did all the sales and cash-ups manually in Sage, just to be safe.”

The difference after moving to Yoco Counter was immediate. Instead of spending days chasing figures, Anna Mari could pull reports in seconds.

“It took me a week and a half to capture 27 days of sales before Yoco. Now it’s just click and export. I’m saving 8 to 10 hours every week…literally an entire day of admin.”

The real-time reporting has also transformed how the business plans. Weekly product reports help the team forecast demand, manage stock and make faster decisions.

“You can just pull a sales report, see exactly what’s selling, and know what to order,” she explains. “It makes short, medium, and long-term planning so much easier.”

Streamlining orders from table to kitchen

The family also invested in Yoco Khumo handheld devices and a Yoco Printer. Each waiter has their own Khumo card machine, allowing them to take orders and payments right at the table.

“Before, they’d write the order on paper, then re-enter it at the counter,” Anna Mari says. “People think that only takes a minute, but two minutes per table adds up fast.”

With Yoco, orders are saved on the Khumo and then opened from the Counter to print a clear, legible slip for the kitchen. From the Counter, the slip prints instantly to the Yoco Printer via Bluetooth, removing extra steps and reducing errors.

“The kitchen doesn’t have to decipher handwriting anymore,” she says. “Every option is there in black and white, side salad or chips, cream or ice cream. The confusion is gone.”

This clarity has boosted customer satisfaction, sped up service, and even improved the atmosphere behind the scenes.

“There’s a lot less friction between front of house and kitchen,” she explains. “If the team is happy, the customers are happier.”

“I love the Khumo because it’s like having an entire business in the palm of your hand. You can take the order, process the payment, and make sure everything gets to the kitchen - without worrying about mistakes.”

A sleek, reliable system that just works

For Anna Mari, Yoco Counter is more than a tool. It’s peace of mind.

“It’s so easy to use. The setup was plug and play. Everything is labelled clearly, the search function is fantastic, and you can train yourself.”

The team also appreciates the small touches that make a big difference. “The font increase on the receipts is a lifesaver,” she laughs. “Our staff refuse to believe they need glasses.”

Not only does the system save time, but it also makes the business look professional. “It’s sleek and neat,” Anna Mari says. “People even comment on how pretty the system is. It’s a silly thing, but it matters.”

Perhaps the most telling change has been the impact on tips. Since introducing tableside payments and built-in tipping prompts, the team has seen gratuities jump by 20–25%.

“If someone in my industry asked whether to try Yoco, I’d say absolutely,” Anna Mari says without hesitation. “It saves you time, it looks good, and it gives you all the information you need right in the palm of your hand.”