Kobas is a UK-based technology company providing integrated hospitality management software designed to streamline operations, enhance guest experience, and improve profitability for hospitality venues. Headquartered in London, Kobas has built a strong reputation for offering an all-in-one platform that caters to pubs, restaurants, and multi-site operators across the United Kingdom.
Company Overview
Founded in 2012, Kobas began as a point-of-sale system provider and has since evolved into a full-suite hospitality management solution. Under the leadership of CEO James O'Sullivan, the company has grown rapidly, serving hundreds of venues across the UK. With a focus on flexibility, scalability, and real-time insights, Kobas offers both cloud-based and on-site solutions tailored to the unique challenges of hospitality businesses.
Core Business
Kobas delivers a modular software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that empowers hospitality businesses to manage every aspect of their operations through a single system. The company combines EPoS hardware and software with tools for inventory, HR, payroll, customer loyalty, analytics, and more, creating an end-to-end digital ecosystem for venue management.
Product and Service Offerings
In-Venue Tools
- EPoS / Mobile POS: Intuitive point-of-sale system optimized for speed and integration with other operational modules.
- Kitchen Display System: Digital screens for real-time kitchen order management, reducing ticket errors and improving kitchen efficiency.
Operations Management
- Stock Control: Live tracking of inventory levels, wastage, and supplier performance.
- Recipe Engineering: Cost analysis and allergen management for menu items.
- Compliance Tasks: Custom checklists and logging for food safety and audit trails.
Customer Engagement
- Loyalty Programs: Point-based rewards system integrated with customer profiles.
- Mobile Ordering & Click & Collect: Custom branded mobile apps for on-site or off-premise orders.
- Reservations & Bookings: Streamlined guest bookings integrated with CRM tools.
- CRM: Data-driven marketing campaigns and personalized guest interactions.
Team & HR Tools
- Applicant Tracking: Streamlined recruitment funnel and onboarding.
- Rotas & Payroll: Integrated scheduling and payroll system with time-off management.
- Holiday Management: Employee self-service portal for managing leave.
Insights & Analytics
- Operational Performance Dashboards
- Labour Cost Analysis
- Customer Engagement Metrics
- Sales Trends and Forecasting
Unique Selling Proposition
Kobas stands out by offering a truly integrated solution tailored for the hospitality industry. Unlike fragmented software ecosystems, Kobas connects front-of-house, back-of-house, and HQ operations through a unified cloud-based platform. Its EPoS system is seamlessly linked to HR, stock, and CRM, enabling real-time decision-making.
Another key differentiator is its rapid deployment and scalability across multi-site chains, making it suitable for growing brands and national operators alike.
Financial and Market Reach
Kobas has grown its customer base substantially over the past five years. As of 2024:
- Over 700 venues actively use Kobas solutions across the UK.
- Clients include multi-site operators such as London Cocktail Club, Red Mist Leisure, and Grind.
- Annual recurring revenue is estimated to exceed £3 million, based on SaaS metrics and client count.
- The company has seen a 30% YoY growth rate since 2020, fueled by increased demand for digital transformation in hospitality.
Export and International Expansion
While Kobas currently focuses on the UK market, their cloud-first approach has laid the groundwork for future expansion. The system supports multi-currency and tax-compliance modules, preparing it for entry into EU and Commonwealth markets. Strategic talks are reportedly underway with Irish and Australian hospitality groups.
Target Market
- Independent pubs and bars
- Restaurant chains
- Casual dining operators
- Coffee shops and QSRs
- Event venues and hotels
Their pricing and product modularity make the system accessible to both startups and enterprise clients.
Infrastructure and Technical Capabilities
- Fully cloud-based platform hosted on high-availability AWS architecture
- In-house development and UK-based customer support
- APIs available for integration with third-party platforms (e.g., accounting, delivery, CRM)
- GDPR and PCI-DSS compliant infrastructure
Certifications and Compliance
- GDPR Compliant with end-to-end data encryption
- PCI-DSS Certified for all payment processing
- HMRC-recognized digital payroll and reporting tools
Customer Testimonials
“Kobas has transformed our operation. The visibility we now have across venues is second to none.”
– Operations Director, Red Mist Leisure
“The ability to manage everything from stock to payroll in one place is invaluable. Their support team is excellent.”
– General Manager, Grind Coffee
“Thanks to Kobas, our average transaction time dropped by 20% and staff training became 50% faster.”
– Venue Manager, London Cocktail Club
Achievements and Recognition
- Named Top 10 Hospitality Software Providers in the UK by Hospitality Tech UK, 2023
- Exhibitor and panel speaker at Hospitality Tech Expo 2024
- Developed one of the UK’s first fully integrated mobile ordering + loyalty platforms during the COVID-19 recovery phase
- Recognized for its environmentally conscious digital tools, helping reduce paper use by 70% in client operations
Kobas continues to lead the hospitality technology space by delivering integrated, intelligent tools that drive operational efficiency, enhance guest experiences, and support long-term growth for modern hospitality businesses.
