Byte for trusts
Catering software for multi-academy trusts
Byte supports trusts that need catering to work consistently across schools, while still respecting local differences in service, menus, pricing and operations. Central teams get visibility, control and reporting without having to manage each site in isolation.
Features for trusts
A focused selection of Byte features that are especially relevant for trusts - not an exhaustive list of everything Byte can do.
Card printing & encoding
Print and encode catering ID cards alongside Byte, including CR-80 plastic and more eco-friendly stock, colour printing, MIFARE encoding, snap-off fobs, holders and lanyards.
Meal entitlements, subsidies & bursaries
Manage free school meals (FSM), universal infant free school meals (UIFSM), allowances, subsidy and bursary rules, including schemes such as DEIS, while keeping service fast and discreet.
Cash payments and reporting
Accept cash at the till, with cash drawer and receipt printer support built into the service workflow. Cash transaction reporting helps your team account for takings and manage end-of-service checks.
Multi-campus catering
Let students use catering facilities across your connected campuses. Byte supports cross-campus student recognition, so catering access can follow students wherever their day takes them.
Basic stock management
Keep track of stock within Byte, giving catering teams clearer visibility of what is available. Practical stock management tools support everyday oversight alongside your catering operation.
Live operational dashboard
See current catering activity in a live dashboard. Give your team an up-to-date view of the operation to support decisions during the day.
Menu & dietary information
Publish clear menu information with allergens, dietary flags and nutritional details where available, helping pupils, parents and staff make informed choices.
Multi-site administration
Manage menus, users, sites, policies and configuration in one place - with roles and permissions that support central control across multiple schools, contracts and locations.
Branding & theming
Tailor look and feel across apps and parent-facing surfaces to reflect your brand alongside Byte - including app-store delivery under your name. Your identity on top, with Byte as the platform underneath.
Reporting & insights
Dashboards, AI-assisted exploration and exports - giving leaders clear visibility of uptake, spend and performance across sites.
Integrations via Fusion
Connect core MIS data through Fusion, including pupils, staff, groups, photos, attendance, allergens and entitlements, alongside other trusted data sources that support ordering, EPOS and reporting. Where required, write-back can also be supported.
FAQ
Can Byte connect to our MIS/SIS?
Yes. Via Fusion, Byte can integrate with your MIS/SIS and bring in key data such as pupil details, FSM allocation, allergens, photos, attendance, consent, and other core fields. Where required, write-back can also be supported.
Can Byte connect to our payment provider?
Yes. Through our integration with Pebble, Byte connects to a wide range of school payment and finance systems, including platforms like ParentPay, SchoolMoney, ParentMail, PS Financials, Xero, and Sage. This gives you flexible options to work with your existing setup without needing to change providers.
How does pricing work?
Pricing depends on scale (sites, terminals, options such as pre-ordering and MIS). The ballpark tool on this page gives an indicative figure; our team will confirm scope, licensing, and any setup work on a formal quote.
Where is our data hosted?
We take UK and EU data protection seriously. Talk to us about hosting and data processing for your trust or local authority requirements-we’ll align with what your governance needs.
How do we get help or training?
North27 provides support for Byte customers. You can also reach the wider help desk for product questions. For larger rollouts we can discuss training and go-live planning with your team.
Can we control how often Byte is updated?
Yes. Byte offers a flexible approach to updates, so you can choose what works best for your organisation. You can stay on a stable, termly release cycle with predictable updates, or opt into earlier releases to access new features sooner. This means you can balance stability with innovation depending on your needs.
Can you migrate our existing data?
Yes. Using our in-house platform Fusion, our integrations team will work with you to extract, transform, and import your existing data into Byte. We support migrations from a wide range of systems and tailor the process to your setup.
