TransAct Technologies

A Single Source for Back-of-House Automation

Food and Beverages Tech Review

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Bart Shuldman, CEO, TransAct TechnologiesBart Shuldman, CEO
The restaurant industry has forever been a quick adopter of the new wave of technologies that emerge at regular intervals. Within the last decade, more than a third of restaurants in the U.S. have transformed their front-of-house operations. This change is represented in the form of tabletop technologies such as Tablet POS systems, migration of payment processes to cloud-based software, KIOSK machines, mobile apps for reservations, payment apps such as Apple Pay and Cover, and food delivery apps such as UberEATS and Grubhub. Some restaurants have waiters using wearables such as an Apple Watch to receive real-time alerts from the kitchen, and others give customers the option of tableside ordering via tablets. While these innovations create a superior dining experience for the customers, the back-of-house operations of a restaurant are yet to benefit from emerging technologies. That was until recently.

In March, TransAct Technologies—a Connecticut-based food safety technology provider—launched a groundbreaking platform called BOHA!™ with the objective to help restaurants digitize and automate back-of-house operations. BOHA! is an ecosystem of apps and hardware that work together to help restaurants tackle pain points such as rising labor costs, employee turnover, food safety, and quality of food.

“With minimum wages on the verge of spiking to $15 per hour, restaurants must prepare to deal with massive labor costs and labor turnover. Through our platform, they can automate tasks such as inventory management, temperature monitoring of food and equipment, food safety labeling, and equipment servicing. This frees up valuable labor hours to focus on what’s most important—the guest experience,” says Bart Shuldman, CEO, TransAct Technologies.

Similar to a smartphone that lets users pick-and-choose from a billion apps, BOHA! offers restaurants a pool of apps designed to serve varying purposes. For example, while the Food Prep app helps chefs with precise quantities so as to eliminate waste, the Timer app creates timers for items that require time-tracking. Meanwhile, the Sense app is designed to aid restaurants in avoiding the breakdown of refrigerators. By placing sensors in freezers connected to a gateway in the cloud, TransAct informs restaurant staff when storage area temperatures go out of range. The BOHA! apps can also integrate with one another. For example, to service ovens and fryers, a restaurant can use the Service app to connect to the service provider, before using the Checklist app to mark off preventive maintenance tasks. The Service app also allows restaurants to perform billing for serviced repairs.

  • Our solution is a unified platform that allows restaurants to purchase just one app, or all ten apps, depending on the pain point they wish to address


“Several competitors offer apps for food temperature monitoring or inventory management, but they are coming from different vendors. Our solution is a unified platform that allows restaurants to purchase just one app, or all ten apps, depending on the pain point they wish to address. The labeling app, for example, is useful when someone in the kitchen uses only half a bag of lettuce and wishes to stick a ‘use by date’ notification on the bag. Once you have our hardware, you can add apps as and when needed,” explains Shuldman. The BOHA! suite of hardware— which includes the BOHA! Terminal, BOHA! Handheld, BOHA! Sensor, and BOHA! Gateway—is purpose-built to handle the rigors of commercial kitchen environments.

Despite its recent foray into the industry, TransAct is already making an impact. Just ask the CEO of a large restaurant company who was shocked to learn that every outlet of his eatery was overcooking the chicken—courtesy the BOHA! Temp app. The apps provide critical insights into what’s actually going on in the restaurant. They take the guesswork out of the process. Since every restaurant has specific requirements, TransAct customizes apps accordingly. “With regard to temperature, some chefs prefer an eight-minute delay, and others want a lengthier delay. We work closely with the restaurant, understand their process, and customize accordingly,” says Shuldman.

As the only single-vendor solution automating back-of-house operations for restaurants, the road ahead for TransAct is filled with limitless potential. “This is a huge opportunity and we’re looking ahead to the future of this industry,” concludes Shuldman.

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Company
TransAct Technologies

Management
Bart Shuldman, CEO

Description
A food safety tech solution provider, TransAct Technologies has launched a new platform to help restaurants digitize and automate their back-of-house operations. The new platform titled BOHA!™ is an ecosystem of apps and hardware that work together to help restaurants tackle pain points such as rising labor costs, employee turnover, food safety, and quality of food. Besides offering apps such for Food Prep, Service, Food Recall, Temp, and Timer, the BOHA! suite of hardware includes the BOHA! Terminal, BOHA! Handheld, BOHA! Sensor, and BOHA! Gateway. All the hardware and software is purpose-built to handle the rigors of commercial kitchen environments

  • TransAct Technologies News

TransAct Technologies Appoints John Dillon Interim Chief Executive Officer

HAMDEN, Conn - TransAct Technologies Incorporated (Nasdaq: TACT) (“TransAct” or the “Company”), a global leader in software-driven technology and printing solutions for high growth markets, today announced that, on April 4, 2023, its Board of Directors (the “Board”) appointed John M. Dillon, a member of the Board, as interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Dillon succeeds Bart C. Shuldman, who resigned as CEO and as a director of the Company.
Mr. Shuldman served as TransAct’s CEO since 1996. His steadfast leadership helped the Company successfully emerge from the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and he has been integral in developing the Company’s strategic direction.
“On behalf of the Board, we want to thank Bart for his nearly three decades of dedication and service to TransAct and our valued customers. We are fortunate to have in John a highly experienced former chief executive who has been intimately involved in the development of our strategic plan as a director to step in as interim CEO and lead our implementation efforts. He is very familiar with our culture and our operations, having served on our Board for more than a decade,” said Board Chair Haydee Olinger.
“I am eager to take a more active leadership role in the business as we look to grow revenue and execute on our strategic plan,” added Mr. Dillon.
“After 27 years of serving as TransAct’s CEO, it feels like the right time to step away and spend more time with my family. The Company is in a position of strength, and I have no doubt that John will help lead TransAct into its next stage of growth,” said Bart Shuldman.
Mr. Dillon has been a Board member since 2011, is an experienced executive, and has previously served as the CEO of several companies. He is Chairman of Aerospike, Inc. and previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Aerospike, Chief Executive Officer Engine Yard, Inc., Chief Executive Officer of Navis, Inc., Chief Executive Officer of Salesforce.com, and President & Chief Executive Officer of Hyperion Solutions. He began his career as a Systems Engineer for EDS (Electronic Data Systems) and then moved into a variety of sales management positions for various high-tech companies, including Oracle Corporation. Mr. Dillon received an undergraduate degree from United States Naval Academy and an MBA from Golden Gate University.
Fiscal Year 2023 Outlook
Management is reiterating its fiscal year guidance of revenue between $70 million and $72 million and total adjusted EBITDA between $5.2 million and $5.4 million.
Outlook for non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA is presented only on a non-GAAP basis because not all of the information necessary for a quantitative reconciliation of this forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is available without unreasonable effort, primarily due to uncertainties relating to the occurrence or amount of these adjustments that may arise in the future. If one or more of the currently unavailable items is applicable, some items could be material, individually or in the aggregate, to GAAP reported results.

TransAct Technologies Reports Preliminary Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results

2023 Fourth Quarter Net Sales of $13.3 Million, down 26% on a Year-Over-Year Basis
Quarterly Food Service Technology (“FST”) Sales of $4.7 Million, up 54% on a Year-Over-Year Basis
Quarterly Casino and Gaming Sales of $4.2 Million, down 62% on a Year-Over-Year Basis
HAMDEN - TransAct Technologies Incorporated (Nasdaq: TACT) (“TransAct” or the “Company”), a global leader in software-driven technology and printing solutions for high-growth markets, today reported preliminary results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023.
“This was a year of change here at TransAct, and I believe that the organization has emerged from this transition stronger, more efficient, and operationally more effective,” said John Dillon, Chief Executive Officer of TransAct. “On the FST side, we believe that we now have the right team in the right places selling to enterprise-level organizations with our new BOHA! Terminal 2, which has seen a solid reception from customers and prospects so far. We added twelve new logos to our BOHA! platform in the fourth quarter and sold 1,235 terminals, and believe that we have the opportunity to build momentum throughout the course of 2024.”
Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights
Net Sales: Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 were $13.3 million, down 26% compared to $18.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2022.
FST Recurring Revenue: FST recurring revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $3.2 million, up 33% compared to $2.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2022.
Gross Profit: Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $6.4 million, resulting in gross margin of 48.0%, compared to gross profit of $8.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, which delivered a 45.8% gross margin.
Operating income (loss): Operating loss for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $(0.5) million, compared to operating income of $0.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2022.
Net income (loss): Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $(62) thousand, or $(0.01) per diluted share, based on 10.0 million weighted average common shares outstanding. Net income for the comparable 2022 period was $260 thousand, or $0.03 per diluted share, based on 9.9 million weighted average common shares outstanding.
EBITDA: EBITDA was $0.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $1.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2022.
Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA was $0.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $1.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2022.
Full Year 2023 Financial Highlights
Net Sales: Net sales for the full year 2023 were $72.6 million, up 25% compared to $58.1 million for the full year 2022.
FST Recurring Revenue: FST recurring revenue for the full year 2023 was $11.1 million, up 28% compared to $8.7 million for the full year 2022.
Gross Profit: Gross profit for the full year 2023 was $38.4 million, resulting in gross margin of 52.9%, compared to gross profit of $24.4 million for the full year 2022, which delivered a 42.0% gross margin.
Operating income (loss): Operating income for the full year 2023 was $5.7 million, compared to an operating loss of $(7.7) million for the full year 2022.
Net income (loss): Net income for the full year 2023 was $4.7 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, based on 10.0 million weighted average common shares outstanding. Net loss for the full year 2022 was $(5.9) million, or $(0.60) per diluted share, based on 9.9 million weighted average common shares outstanding.
Adjusted net income (loss): Adjusted net income for the full year 2023 was $5.9 million, or $0.59 per diluted share. Adjusted net loss for the full year 2022 was $(5.9) million, or $(0.60) net loss per diluted share.
EBITDA: EBITDA was $7.6 million for the full year 2023, compared to an EBITDA loss of $(6.4) million for the full year 2022.
Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA was $10.0 million for the full year 2023, compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $(5.2) million for the full year 2022.
Recent Development
The Company announced that it engaged a strategic advisor to assist in determining the best long-term strategy for its business.
2024 Financial Outlook
Total Net Sales: The Company currently expects full year 2024 total net sales of between $53 million and $58 million.
Total Adjusted EBITDA: The Company currently expects full year 2024 total adjusted EBITDA to be approximately breakeven.
Our outlook for non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA is presented only on a non-GAAP basis because not all of the information necessary for a quantitative reconciliation of this forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is available without unreasonable effort, primarily due to uncertainties relating to the occurrence or amount of these adjustments that may arise in the future. If one or more of the currently unavailable items is applicable, some items could be material, individually or in the aggregate, to GAAP reported results.
2023 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Conference Call and Webcast
TransAct is hosting a conference call and webcast today, March 12, 2024, beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss the Company’s preliminary fourth quarter and full year 2023 results and other matters. Both the call and the webcast are open to the general public. The conference call number is 877-704-4453 and the conference ID number is 13744766 (domestic or international). Please call ten minutes prior to the presentation to ensure that you are connected.
Interested parties may also access the conference call live on the Internet at www.transact-tech.com (select “Investor Relations” followed by “Events & Presentations”). Approximately two hours after the call has concluded, an archived version of the webcast will be available for replay at the same location.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
TransAct is providing certain non-GAAP financial measures because the Company believes that these measures are helpful to investors and others in assessing the ongoing nature of what the Company’s management views as TransAct’s core operations. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA provide the Company with an understanding of one aspect of earnings before the impact of investing and financing charges and income taxes. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide relevant and useful information to an investor evaluating the Company’s operating performance because these measures are: (i) widely used by investors to measure a company’s operating performance without regard to items that do not reflect the Company’s ongoing operations and are excluded from the calculation of such measure; (ii) used as financial measurements by lenders and other parties to evaluate creditworthiness; and (iii) used by the Company’s management for various purposes including strategic planning and forecasting and assessing financial performance. Adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share provide the Company with an understanding of the results of the primary operations of the business by excluding the effects of special items (for example, the $1.5 million severance charge related to the resignation of the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer) that do not reflect the ordinary earnings of the Company’s operations. The Company uses these measures to evaluate period-over-period operating performance because the Company believes this provides a more comparable measure of the Company’s continuing business, as these measures adjust for the special items that are not reflective of the normal results of the business. The presentation of this non-GAAP information is not considered superior to or a substitute for, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.
EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization. A reconciliation of EBITDA to net income (loss), the most comparable GAAP financial measure, can be found attached to this release.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and is adjusted for (1) share-based compensation, (2) the $1.5 million severance charge related to the resignation of the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer and (3) any other items, when they occur, that we believe do not reflect the ordinary earnings of the Company’s ongoing business. The Company adjusts EBITDA for share-based compensation because the Company considers share-based compensation to be a non-cash expense similar to depreciation and amortization. The Company also adjusts for the severance charge related to the resignation of the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer because the Company believes this charge does not reflect the ordinary earnings of the Company’s operations. A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), the most comparable GAAP financial measure, can be found attached to this release.
Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss) adjusted for (1) the $1.5 million severance charge related to the resignation of the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer and (2) any other items, when they occur, that we believe do not reflect the ordinary earnings of the Company’s ongoing business. A reconciliation of adjusted net income (loss) to net income (loss), the most comparable GAAP financial measure, can be found attached to this release.
Adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share is defined as adjusted net income (loss) divided by diluted shares outstanding. A reconciliation of adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share to net income (loss) per diluted share, the most comparable GAAP financial measure, can be found attached to this release.

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