Piano: A new group of technology companies helps hospitality businesses save time and increase their earnings
Michala Gregorová
(Press release) A new brand is entering the Czech gastronomy sector, bringing together a number of already established projects. The group, called Piano, includes technology companies such as the popular startup Qerko and the respected POS system Septim. All projects under the Piano brand are part of the investment portfolio of the Miton group.
They remain independent entities, with Piano representing the next step towards a compact all-in-one solution for gastronomy and hotels that simplifies and streamlines operations for business owners. The Piano group is led by Tomáš Mráz, the long-time commercial director of Pilsner Urquell.
“We want to modernize the gastronomy business. Our goal is a satisfied pub owner or hotelier who can focus on improving the guest experience, rather than on paperwork and spreadsheets. By combining top-quality products, a business mindset, and Miton’s expertise, we are creating a strong player poised to positively impact the entire market,” describes Tomáš Mráz, who joined Miton at the end of last year, the vision for Piano.
The starting position of the new group is relatively strong. The projects that make up the Piano brand already serve a significant portion of the market. Specifically, they handle one-sixth of the €10 billion euros spent annually in the Czech gastronomy sector. Although Piano as a brand is just emerging, its products are already used by many top establishments in the Czech Republic, including major groups such as Ambiente, Zátiší Group, AZ Catering Services, Together, and CPI Hotels. Altogether, Piano manages over 6,000 venues with an annual turnover exceeding €1.57 billion
“Piano brings together proven products such as Qerko, Pecosta, Septim, Grason, Savarin, Harsys, POS Expert, and Protel under one roof – with the ambition to become the market leader,” comments Milan Zemánek, Miton's partner who has been driving the group’s gastronomy investments for the past twenty years. “Most businesses still rely on numerous tools that do not communicate with each other in their daily operations. Thanks to Piano, this is now changing,” adds Piano’s director, Tomáš Mráz.
The Piano group’s first collaborative project will be a smart application designed to give operators continuous, real-time insight into their restaurant’s performance. The app will provide clear and convenient access to sales, expenses, inventory, and reservations via mobile devices or computers. The application is set to launch in the fall of this year.
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