Filli is one of the largest and most recognisable cafeteria chains in the UAE, serving thousands of customers daily across outlets, kiosks, and temporary setups. Known for its speed, consistency, and ability to operate at scale, Filli regularly participates in large public events that require fast service in compact, high-footfall environments.

As part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, Filli set up a food truck at Zabeel Park, catering to a continuous stream of visitors throughout the day.

The Challenge

Running a food truck at a large outdoor event presents a very different operational reality compared to a fixed café outlet.

Space inside the truck was limited, leaving no room for traditional POS hardware, multiple screens, or bulky setups. At the same time, the activation demanded speed as long queues were not an option, especially during peak fitness hours.

Payment flexibility was another critical requirement. Event visitors often pay using a mix of card and cash, and Filli needed a way to capture all transactions in one system, without manual reconciliation or disconnected reporting at the end of the day.

Additionally, staff needed the ability to move beyond the truck window. With customers seated on benches and open areas around the park, taking orders closer to guests helped reduce congestion and improve service speed.

The Solution

To support the activation, Filli used Fortis SmartPOS as their point-of-sale system for the food truck.

All menu items were pre-configured within Fortis SmartPOS, allowing staff to quickly tap and select products during order taking. Since Fortis SmartPOS combines payment acceptance and POS functionality in a single handheld device, there was no need for additional hardware or screens inside the truck.

The compact, all-in-one setup helped Filli maximise limited space, while the portability of the device allowed staff to take orders near seating areas, not just at the truck counter. Most importantly, Fortis SmartPOS enabled Filli to record both cash and card payments on the same device, ensuring every sale was tracked accurately.

Operations During the Event

Throughout the day, the Filli team handled high volumes of orders without operational friction. Staff could take orders, process payments, and move quickly to the next customer without switching systems or managing separate workflows for different payment types.

Even during peak hours, transactions remained organised and consistent. Orders taken outside the truck, cash payments handled on the spot, and card payments processed instantly all flowed into one unified system.

At the end of the day, all transactions were automatically synced to the Fortis platform online, giving the Filli team a clear, consolidated view of sales performance without manual reporting or reconciliation.

The Impact

Fortis SmartPOS helped Filli run a smooth, efficient activation despite the challenges of a temporary outdoor setup.

The team benefited from:  

• Faster order taking during high-traffic periods
• A space-saving setup suited to a compact food truck
• Seamless handling of mixed payment types
• Greater staff mobility across the activation area
• Accurate end-of-day reporting with all sales synced online

What could have been a complex, high-pressure operation was transformed into a streamlined workflow that allowed the team to focus on serving customers efficiently.

Why Fortis SmartPOS

For pop-ups, kiosks, and event activations, flexibility is just as important as control. Fortis SmartPOS gave Filli the ability to operate anywhere, accept any payment type, and still maintain the reporting and visibility expected from a full POS system.

By turning a single handheld device into a complete point-of-sale, SmartPOS proved to be a practical solution for high-movement, space-constrained environments without compromising on speed or accuracy.

Conclusion

As brands continue to expand beyond traditional outlets into food trucks, kiosks, and event activations, having a POS system that adapts to the environment is essential.

For Filli, Fortis SmartPOS enabled a seamless transition from café operations to a large-scale outdoor activation, proving that powerful POS doesn’t require bulky infrastructure.