Tech Expo 2024 was a huge success for HiStone and B-Spoke Systems.
The Tech Expo Show 2024 at ExCeL London was a resounding success for Stuart Packwood and his sales team at B-Spoke Systems Ltd and HiStone. Our stand experienced high traffic, with significant interest in our point-of-sale systems, particularly the HK568 mini self-checkout, HK578, and HK960 models. The HD220E KDS and mobile POS systems also gained considerable attention. Key visitors included ICRTouch resellers, EPOS software houses, and major hotel brands. Encouraged by this positive outcome, we have booked an even larger stand for the 2025 Tech Expo Show.
Tech Expo 2024 highlights
B-Spoke Systems is the UK’s largest independent distributor of HiStone EPOS hardware and also supplies Hisense commercial displays, with trade supply, UK-based support and showroom demonstrations for businesses across the UK and Ireland.
Looking for HiStone EPOS hardware? Browse our HiStone self-checkout kiosks, mobile tablet EPOS systems and all-in-one EPOS terminals, or contact B-Spoke Systems for trade supply across the UK and Ireland.
The Products That Drew the Crowds at Tech Expo 2024
Several products stood out at Tech Expo 2024, attracting a steady stream of visitors throughout the show. Here’s a closer look at what they’re and why they generated so much interest.
HK568 Mini Self-Checkout
The compact HK568 self-service terminal was one of the stars of Tech Expo 2024. Its small footprint makes self-checkout and self-ordering practical in convenience stores, cafés, hotel bars and other spaces where a full-size kiosk would not fit. Visitors were particularly interested in how a countertop or wall-mounted unit could take pressure off staffed tills during busy periods. Learn more about the HK568MSC self-service kiosk.
HK578 All-in-One POS
The HK578 all-in-one terminal combines a responsive touchscreen with a compact, fanless PC, making it a popular choice for bars, restaurants and retail counters. At Tech Expo 2024, resellers were keen to compare it with other models in the range and discuss how it performs with their software. See the HK578 all-in-one POS.
HK960 All-in-One POS
The HK960 offers a larger, high-performance terminal for busy counters and complex applications. Hotel and hospitality visitors to Tech Expo 2024 were interested in its suitability for front-of-house and multi-outlet environments. View the HK960U all-in-one POS.
HD220E Kitchen Display System
The HD220E kitchen display system attracted considerable attention from hospitality operators. Replacing paper tickets with clear, real-time screens helps kitchens reduce errors and control ticket times. See the HD220E kitchen display system.
Mobile POS
Handheld devices for order-at-table and line-busting were another highlight at Tech Expo 2024, especially for hotel restaurants, bars and event venues. Explore our mobile POS systems.
Who Visited the Stand at Tech Expo 2024?
The stand attracted a diverse audience, but three groups stood out.
ICRTouch Resellers
Many ICRTouch resellers visited to see HiStone hardware running alongside the software they sell and support. As HiStone hardware is accredited for ICRTouch software, these conversations often focused on specific customer projects and how quickly hardware could be prepared and delivered. Read more about our ICRTouch partnership.
EPOS Software Houses
Software developers came to discuss compatibility, evaluation units and approved hardware lists for their platforms. A broad, consistent range with long product life cycles is particularly valuable to software houses who want to standardise. Find out more on our trade EPOS hardware page.
Hotel Brands
Several major hotel brands visited Tech Expo 2024 to explore technology for restaurants, bars, room service and events. Hotels often need a consistent hardware estate across many outlets and sites, and they were interested in how terminals, handhelds, kitchen screens and kiosks could work together.
Hospitality Technology Trends at Tech Expo 2024
Conversations on the stand at Tech Expo 2024 reflected several important trends in hospitality technology. Understanding them helps operators plan investments that will pay off for years.
Self-Service Moves Into Hospitality
Self-order kiosks are no longer limited to large quick-service chains. Cafés, hotel bars, stadium concourses and food halls are adopting compact kiosks to manage peaks and reduce queues. The interest in the HK568 at Tech Expo 2024 showed how much demand there’s for smaller, flexible self-service hardware.
Kitchen Automation
Kitchen display systems are becoming standard in professional kitchens. They improve communication between front of house and kitchen, reduce paper waste and provide data on preparation times that helps managers improve performance.
Order-at-Table
Handheld devices let servers take orders and payments at the table, cutting walking time and helping venues turn tables faster. For hotels with large restaurants, terraces and event spaces, mobile ordering can transform service.
Consistency Across Outlets
Hotel groups and multi-site operators want one family of hardware across all their outlets. Consistent devices simplify training, support and spare parts, and make it easier to roll out new sites quickly.
Reliability and Support
Above all, operators want technology that works every day. Fanless, sealed hardware, tested configurations and fast UK support were recurring themes in conversations throughout Tech Expo 2024.
What Tech Expo 2024 Meant for Our Business
Tech Expo 2024 was an important milestone for B-Spoke Systems and HiStone in the UK. The volume of enquiries, the quality of conversations and the interest from resellers, software houses and hotel brands confirmed strong demand for reliable, well-designed hardware backed by UK stock and support. The show also strengthened relationships with ICRTouch resellers, many of whom have since become regular partners.
Encouraged by the response, we booked a larger stand for the following year’s event and continued to expand our stock, workshop capacity and showroom. Many of the improvements we made over the following months, from configuration services to our refurbished Leicester showroom, were shaped by feedback from visitors at Tech Expo 2024.
Following Up After the Show
After Tech Expo 2024, our team followed up with visitors to arrange demonstrations, evaluation units and quotations. For resellers, that often meant testing hardware with their software and agreeing a recommended list of models. For hotel brands and operators, it meant planning pilot installations to prove the benefits before wider rollout. If you visited the stand and would like to pick up the conversation, or if you missed the show and want to see the products, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Choosing Hospitality Hardware: Lessons From the Show
The questions visitors asked at Tech Expo 2024 offer useful guidance for any hospitality business choosing new hardware:
- Start with service style – table service, counter service and self-service each need a different mix of devices.
- Plan for the busiest hour – make sure there are enough terminals, handhelds and kiosks for peak periods.
- Put screens in the kitchen – kitchen displays reduce errors and improve ticket times.
- Standardise where possible – consistent hardware across outlets simplifies support.
- Confirm software compatibility – check that every device works with your chosen platform.
- Choose a supplier with UK stock and support – fast replacements keep you trading.
For a full overview, see our hospitality EPOS systems page.
Hotels: A Closer Look
Hotel brands were among the most engaged visitors at Tech Expo 2024, so it’s worth looking at their needs in more detail. A typical hotel may run a restaurant, one or more bars, room service, a café or lobby lounge, conference and banqueting facilities and sometimes a spa or leisure club. Each outlet has different service styles and peak times, yet guests expect a seamless experience and management needs a single view of performance.
Consistent point-of-sale hardware across every outlet helps achieve that. Staff can move between outlets without retraining, IT teams support fewer models and spare parts can be shared. Handhelds are particularly valuable for terraces, poolside service and events, while kitchen display systems keep busy hotel kitchens organised when they serve several outlets at once. Self-order kiosks can also help in lobby cafés and grab-and-go areas where guests want speed above all.
For hotel groups with many properties, pre-configured hardware delivered as site kits makes openings and refurbishments faster and more predictable. Our Leicester workshop prepares devices to an agreed standard, applies asset tags and records serial numbers, so each property receives equipment ready to install.
Retail Interest at the Show
Although hospitality dominated many conversations at Tech Expo 2024, retailers also visited the stand to explore all-in-one terminals, self-checkout and mobile devices. Compact self-checkout units like the HK568 are as relevant to convenience stores and pharmacies as they’re to cafés, and handhelds help retailers bust queues and manage stock. See our retail EPOS systems page for more.
About B-Spoke Systems
B-Spoke Systems has supplied point-of-sale technology since 2003 and is the UK distributor for HiStone. From our 8,000 square foot Leicester facility we hold UK stock, configure and test hardware before dispatch and support businesses, resellers and software houses across the UK and Ireland. We have been ISO9001 certified for over 20 years and are a long-standing partner of ICRTouch. Learn more about B-Spoke Systems or browse our full range of EPOS hardware products.
From Show Floor to Installation
One of the most satisfying parts of any show is seeing conversations turn into real projects. After Tech Expo 2024, several resellers and operators moved from initial interest to evaluation units, pilot installations and full rollouts. The process typically followed the same pattern.
First, we confirmed requirements: the type of venue, the number of service points, the software in use and any specific features needed. Next, we recommended a hardware mix and provided evaluation units where helpful, so the reseller could test the hardware with their own configuration. Once the specification was agreed, our workshop prepared each device, applying settings and software images, testing peripherals and recording serial numbers. Finally, the hardware was delivered as site kits, ready for the reseller’s engineers to install and train staff.
This structured approach keeps projects on schedule and reduces the risk of surprises on installation day. It’s the same process we follow for every order, whether it begins at a trade show, in our showroom or with a phone call.
Supporting Resellers After the Sale
For ICRTouch resellers and software houses, support after installation is just as important as the hardware itself. Our technical team helps diagnose faults, manages warranty repairs and holds spare parts in Leicester. Serial number records make it quick to identify devices and their configuration, and our engineers understand how the hardware is used with popular hospitality and retail software. That combination helps resellers resolve issues quickly and keep their customers trading, protecting the reputation they have built with each client.
Many of the resellers we met at Tech Expo 2024 have told us that this level of support is what sets a hardware partner apart, and it remains central to how we work with every partner today.
Tech Expo 2024 Frequently Asked Questions
Where was Tech Expo 2024 held?
The show took place at ExCeL London.
Which products were most popular at Tech Expo 2024?
The HK568 mini self-checkout, HK578 and HK960 all-in-one terminals, the HD220E kitchen display system and mobile POS devices attracted the most interest.
Who visited the stand?
Visitors included ICRTouch resellers, EPOS software houses, major hotel brands, retailers and other hospitality operators.
Can I still see the products from Tech Expo 2024?
Yes. The full HiStone range, including newer models, is on display in our Leicester showroom. Contact us to arrange a visit or a remote demonstration.