
Hey GoTabbers,
One of the hardest parts of closing out the year is deciding what to highlight — especially when so many of our conversations, articles, and guides come directly from real operator challenges we see every day.
Instead of picking favorites, we let the data do the work.
We went back through a year’s worth of analytics and pulled together the content that resonated most with the GoTab community. The pieces below aren’t just the most popular; they’re the ones that sparked questions, clarified confusion, and helped teams think differently about how they run their businesses.
If any of these feel familiar, it’s because they reflect the realities operators are navigating right now.
Thank you for spending part of your year learning with us.
Cheers,
Patricia Mejia, CMO

The opsi acquisition marked a meaningful milestone as the first GoTab acquisition after almost 10 years in operation. Bringing opsi into the GoTab ecosystem meant welcoming a team that has spent years obsessing over the hardest parts of restaurant operations: inventory accuracy, recipe costing, prep workflows, and the behind-the-scenes details that quietly determine profitability.
We think that what our readers responded to most in this announcement wasn’t just new functionality, but the philosophy behind it. We know success doesn’t necessarily flow from adding more tools. In fact, more tools can be a problem. It comes from building a connected, end-to-end platform where guest experience, staff workflows, inventory, and financial insights all inform one another.
The opsi team has become an integral part of GoTab’s vision to help operators run smarter, more efficient businesses without sacrificing hospitality.
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Few topics generate more guest confusion—or staff questions—than payment preauthorizations.
This article breaks down what’s really happening when guests see what looks like a double charge, how modern POS systems handle open tabs, and how to explain it clearly and confidently at checkout.

Hybrid service isn’t a trend—it’s the new operating reality.
From breweries and food halls to entertainment venues and multi-concept spaces, this guide became one of our most downloaded resources by walking operators through how to design service models that reflect real guest behavior, modern staffing realities, and scalable operations.
Running a profitable restaurant isn’t about luck—and it’s not about working nonstop, either. It’s about having a clear plan and the right systems in place to support your team every day.
This article was shaped by real conversations with people who’ve spent years helping operators succeed, including Doug Radkey of KRG Hospitality and James Passafaro. They shared what they’ve seen over and over again: the restaurants that last are the ones that are built with intention.
The most successful operators don’t rely on memory, hustle, or heroics. They create simple, repeatable processes. They define how things should work before the doors open—from ordering and prep to service and close-out. When everyone knows the plan, teams move faster, mistakes go down, and guests have a better experience.
This article connected with operators because it keeps things real. There are no shortcuts here. Just practical ideas for building structure, reducing chaos, and making decisions that support long-term profitability.
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Why a growing Minnesota brewpub reevaluated its POS to better support guests, staff, and daily operations.
We were genuinely proud of this story and even more pleased to see it become our most-read case study of the year.
At Bear Cave Brewing, the team took a hard look at how their POS was supporting day-to-day operations and decided it was time for a better fit. By moving from Toast to GoTab, they were able to simplify ordering across food and 52 self-pour taps, reduce guest confusion at checkout, and run a large, multi-space venue without overloading staff.
What makes this story resonate isn't technology. It’s a real look at how operators adapt when something isn’t working, and how small operational changes can have a big impact on guest experience, efficiency, and revenue.
These articles represent what mattered most to operators this year — clarity, control, and smarter ways to run hospitality businesses in a changing landscape.
We’re excited to bring you even more practical insights, real-world stories, and operational playbooks in the year ahead.
Thank you for growing with GoTab.
— The GoTab Team
