Today, more than 70 iconic food trucks, easily recognized by the large chicken on the roof, deliver freshly grilled specialties to over 200 locations across northern Bavaria, Thuringia, and Saxony.
Business case
Until recently, Hertel processed all their sales manually, but realized that this approach came with limitations and risks that slowed down their operations:
- Cash handling at each site created security and administrative challenges.
- At the end of the day, employees would have to manually record transactions on paper and re-enter them into the ERP system.
- Customers were increasingly asking to pay by card, an option Hertel could not offer.
- Stricter fiscal regulations across Europe required secure electronic cash registers.
To overcome these challenges and create a more future-ready business, the company made the decision to move away from manual cash boxes and implement a modern POS system designed to grow with their operations.
Solution
Hertel selected LS Central, the cloud-based business management software solution by LS Retail, as the foundation for its digital upgrade. The company partnered with local LS Retail partner DRS AG, to implement the full solution.
“Hertel Grillgenuss runs a restaurant, but on wheels. Our food trucks change location every day,” says Anke Hertel, Managing Director at Hertel Grillgenuss. “That creates many challenges - extreme hardware stress, unstable network coverage, data and power management, and linking a digital POS to inventory and accounting.”
Despite these complexities, the implementation was carried out quickly and efficiently. In February 2025, the first pilot truck was equipped with LS Central and began selling immediately. The pilot project went smoothly. The POS system was up and running quickly, and employees were able to start processing payments right away thanks to its intuitive cash register interface.
Benefits
LS Central software is tailored to the fast-paced, mobile nature of Hertel’s operations and has already delivered measurable benefits, including:
- Digital, streamlined workflows – The interface is intuitive and helps staff find information quickly, which makes the sales process much faster and more efficient.
- Realtime inventory – Real-time stock levels are displayed per item at the POS, supporting accurate customer pre-orders (e.g., by phone) and rapid replenishment.
- Full fiscal compliance – All transactions comply with the German KassenSichV regulations.
- Seamless ERP integration - Sales data is instantly communicated to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central ERP, eliminating duplicate tasks and freeing staff to focus on customer service and core operations.
- Digital receipts – Developed by DRS using LS Retail’s dual display, this solution provides environmentally friendly e-receipts that meet Germany’s legal requirements while reducing paper waste.
Now that Hertel also operates on the cloud, they can handle their day-to-day processes much easier – even on the go. Each transaction is stored in real-time through a centralized system, while LTE routers provide stable, reliable connectivity. Network coverage has consistently met expectations, easing initial concerns. Performance has also been impressive: processing three transactions per minute is not uncommon, and speed remains a key factor. Starting up a food truck has never been simpler.
On top of that, LS Central is hardware agnostic, so Hertel can run their POS on lightweight, cost-effective hardware, perfectly suited for the mobile nature of their operations.
Thanks to LS Central, Hertel’s management, staff, and customers benefit from faster, more transparent, and more reliable processes. A full rollout to the entire fleet is planned for later in 2025, marking a major milestone in the company’s journey toward digital transformation. “Transitioning from a manual cash box to a fully digital POS is the most significant change in our company’s nearly 60-year history - and we’re confident we’ll succeed together,” says Hertel.
