If you have been keeping an eye on the retail news recently, you will have noticed a fair amount of noise surrounding Epos Now and their decision to shift how they handle external payment partners. For many independent retailers in the UK, being told that a long-standing Dojo integration is essentially being switched off has caused a lot of confusion. It is frustrating to build your daily routine around a system only to have a core part of it changed with very little notice.
So in this guide, we’ll walk through what’s actually going on, what it means for your day-to-day operations, and what your options look like from here.
At its simplest, an integrated payment is when your till talks directly to your card machine. When you hit "pay" on the screen, the exact amount is sent to the terminal automatically. It is a seamless loop that keeps your queues moving and your data accurate.
When that integration is removed, that digital handshake disappears. Suddenly, your staff have to manually type the price into the card machine and then manually confirm the sale on the till. While it might only take a few extra seconds per customer, those seconds add up over a busy Saturday. More importantly, it opens the door for human error where the amount typed into the machine doesn't quite match what is on the till, leading to a massive headache when you try to cash up at the end of the day.
To help you decide which path is right for your shop, it helps to see the physical reality of how these two setups differ in a busy retail environment.
| Feature | Integrated Payments | Standalone Payments |
| Data Entry | Automatic sync from till to terminal | Manual entry on the card machine |
| Speed | Fast, one-tap processing | Slower, requires two-step entry |
| Accuracy | Eliminates manual typing errors | Higher risk of pricing mistakes |
| Cashing up | Totals match automatically | Requires manual reconciliation |
| Flexibility | Limited to compatible partners | Works with any card provider |
If you are currently using Epos Now and want to keep your Dojo setup, you generally have three ways forward. The first is to stay and adapt by moving to their own in-house payment system. This keeps things integrated but it obviously means leaving Dojo behind and potentially dealing with different rates or terms.
The second option is to continue using Dojo as a standalone app. This allows you to keep your current merchant rates and the hardware you like, but you lose that automatic link to your till. It is a viable short-term fix if you aren't ready to change your software just yet, but it does mean your staff will be doing a lot more manual work at the counter.
The third option is to switch POS system entirely to a more modern and fairer provider. This is where we can help.
Saledock gives you the freedom to choose the integrations you want rather than locking you into a single choice. Because we are an ePOS system that integrates with Dojo UK, you can keep the payment provider you trust while gaining a more intuitive interface and better reporting. We focus on giving you flexibility with your payment providers so you are never forced into a corner.
Explore: Take a look at which payment partner integrations are available in Saledock
If you have decided that a move is the right choice for your business, it is worth looking at Epos Now alternatives with a critical eye. You want to ensure your next partner provides the freedom to choose your own hardware and merchant services. If you love your Dojo setup, you should be able to keep it without facing hidden fees or "non-integration" penalties.
At Saledock, we make the process of switching as simple as possible. We know the biggest worry is the downtime, so we handle the heavy lifting of your data transfer for you. We are one of several options on the market, but we pride ourselves on being a partner that supports your growth rather than restricting your choices. Whether you want to stick with Dojo or explore other partners like Paymentsense, the control stays firmly in your hands.
If you have reached the point where you want a system that plays well with others, the move is more straightforward than you might think. We start by looking at your current data and ensuring a clean migration of your products and customer history. Because we are one of the POS systems offering Dojo integration, we can get your card machines talking to your new till almost immediately. You can see our full list of payment partners on our site to see just how much flexibility we offer.
If your current system is making life difficult, we’d love to show you a different way of doing things. Give us a call on 01904 405 989 to chat about how we can get your Dojo integration back up and running with a platform that actually supports your growth.
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