Tell us about the speed of light
Lightspeed is a unique trade platform that helps merchants simplify, climb and provide exceptional customer experiences. With teams in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, Lightspeed serves retail companies, hospitality and golf in more than 100 countries. In the United Kingdom, we are entrusted to the Big Mamma Group, Poke House and Mamma Dough.
How did you think of the idea of the company?
Lightspeed was launched in 2005 and turned 20 this year. What is like a team of four people in a narrow office in Montreal has become a global company with around 3,000 light springs.
The idea was simple: to give independent companies the same avant -garde payment technology as the big ones. He found himself when I got my first Mac at age 12 and began coding. Seeing how people live, buy and dinner, I saw the need for a cloud -based commercial platform that allowed the owners to focus on customers, not on the administrator.
We begin in retail trade and then expand to hospitality, bringing our philosophy to give the owners controls and manage the Back Office Seamlesly. Today, Lightspeed is more than a point of sale tool, it is also a platform with integrated payments, loyalty systems and ideas based on AI that unify commercial operations.
What is your advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Being an entrepreneur is a dichotomy of emotions: rewarding, stimulating, but sometimes overwhelming. For aspiring entrepreneurs, here is my advice:
You are just a person: many leaders feel that they must save the day, but share responsibility relieves the pressure. Being constantly in the fight or on the flight can hinder strategic decision making. Look at yourself as a player in a bigger drama: you can be the boss, but your role is to guide and support, not do everything.
Keep calm but realistic: Grant in the positive but learn from the negative. I maintain a list of my “thanks” and “minimum” throughout the year and of which I realize that some of the difficult moments cause growth. When bets are high, calm always overcomes panic.
Create a genuine culture: success is not just about products, finance and potential sales customers. A strong culture where people feel valued and have real opportunities is essential to build a team that creates in their vision.
What is the most exciting about the hospitality industry and how can the speed of light support it?
The hospitality of the United Kingdom remains an important economic taxpayer, and the British still have dinner despite high costs. As they compete for the most restaurants, we help operators spend less time in administrator and more with their customs.
With 88% of the dinners that probably resume restaurants that offer personalized experiences and 54% waiting for this to matter more in the next five years, customization is key. Take Big Mamma Group, a customer for 10 years, which has been reduced using light speed using data -based ideas to offer unique experiences. Technology allows restaurants to remain competitive and offer personalized experiences through characteristics such as birthday rewards, custom offers and previous views of the menu that make guests return.
What can we expect to see from Lightspeed in the future?
With strong competition between restaurants in the United Kingdom, operators need each advantage to highlight food, service and environment.
To support them, we have launched reference points and trends in the United Kingdom, a powerful tool that allows owners to track performance and compare it with local competitors. It is the son of innovation that our goal is to bring more Restaurants in the United Kingdom to help them make Emarterate decisions.
