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Handhelds

Tableside service that runs on data, not memory.

Handhelds at every station. Train staff in minutes. Sync to POS, KDS and payments in sub-second time. Tableside ordering and payment — without leaving the guest's table.

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What are Nova Handhelds?

Nova Handhelds are the tableside ordering and payment surface inside the Nova restaurant operating system. They run on the same data layer as POS and KDS — orders sync sub-second, payments process inline, and AI-driven upsell surfaces personalized prompts per guest. Replaces TouchBistro handhelds and standalone tableside vendors.

Server using a handheld at a restaurant table
BENEFIT 01

Tableside ordering.
Tableside payment.

The server takes the order at the table. The order arrives at KDS in sub-second time. The payment processes at the table — no walk back to the POS, no card handoff. Turn times go down. Guest-server interactions go up.

  • Order at the table — no walk to POS
  • Pay at the table — no card handoff
  • Sub-second sync to KDS, payments, loyalty
  • EMV, contactless and tap-to-pay built in
Server using handheld tableside
BENEFIT 02

AI Server,
running inside the handheld.

The handheld surfaces the right upsell at the right moment — calibrated to this specific guest's last 50 visits. It catches order modifications before they hit KDS. It gives the server section-pacing signals so they're not running blind.

  • AI-driven upsell calibrated per guest
  • Order accuracy checks before tickets fire
  • Section pacing and turn-time signals
  • Guest history and preferences in one tap
Restaurant table service
+7.4%
Average ticket lift from AI upsell — equivalent uplift tableside
BENEFIT 03

Works alongside your POS.
Or replaces it.

Adopting Nova handhelds doesn't require ripping out POS first. Handhelds work alongside NCR Aloha, Toast, Square — and many enterprises start there before moving the rest of the platform.

  • Works alongside NCR Aloha, Toast, Square
  • Or fully replaces with Nova Modern POS
  • Land with digital handhelds; expand later
  • Rugged hardware built for restaurant abuse
Cafe staff with handheld
Land & expand — what enterprises do

Enterprise customers frequently start with handhelds — low-friction entry, no rip-and-replace required. The handheld becomes the wedge that proves Nova's value, then the customer consolidates POS, KDS and the rest of the platform over the following 12-18 months.

More from Nova

Pairs with

Modern POS

Full POS replacement when ready

Learn more →

Kitchen Display

Handheld order direct to KDS

Learn more →

AI-driven upsell

Calibrated prompts per guest

Learn more →
Book a demo

Put the order, the payment, and the AI in one device.

20-minute walkthrough of Nova handhelds. Bring your existing POS; we'll show you how handhelds drop in alongside — and what the AI upsell does on top.

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Restaurant server with tableside handheld