When we first started Quick Regi, it was just an idea shared among friends to build something that could make restaurant operations easier, smarter, and more sustainable.
We didn’t have a big team or a big budget. What we did have was a shared belief that technology could make everyday work in restaurants a little simpler and a little better.
Looking back, here are a few things we learned while building Quick Regi from scratch — technically, emotionally, and everything in between.
1. Building a platform, not a project
It’s easy to fall into the trap of saying “yes” to every feature request.
But we learned early that scalability doesn’t come from pleasing everyone; it comes from architecting for adaptability.
Our goal was to build a generic, extensible platform, not a set of one-off systems for each client.
The Quick Regi core connects the mobile ordering website, POS operations system, and management dashboards through a unified backend built on Next.js, Firebase, Node.js, and GCP.
Instead of adding custom logic for each restaurant, we designed modular APIs and dynamic configurations, so any restaurant can adjust its setup without needing a new deployment.
This principle let us move fast while staying maintainable, and helped us scale from 1 client to 10+ clients with confidence.
2. Solving the hardware–software gap
One of the toughest challenges was bridging the gap between cloud-native software and on-premise hardware, particularly receipt printers and kitchen ticket systems.
Restaurants expect printed orders to appear instantly and reliably, even during peak hours with unstable Wi-Fi.
To achieve that, we built a hybrid communication layer that efficiently syncs the web system with local printers using lightweight background jobs and queue-based retries.
The result?
Tickets print within 2 seconds, even during busy hours — a small detail that built a lot of trust with restaurant staff.
3. Making data smarter with AI
This year, we introduced AI-powered analytics into Quick Regi.
Using generative AI, restaurant owners can now ask questions like:
“Which menu items performed best this month?”
“What kind of promotion should I run next weekend?”
“How much should I prepare for tomorrow’s dinner rush?”
Our system generates insights and suggestions based on sales, trends, and seasonal patterns, turning raw data into actionable strategy.
Some of our early users have already reported higher revenue and improved profit margins, simply because they’re making better decisions faster.
4. The art of balance: speed vs reliability
Startups move fast, but restaurants can’t afford downtime.
We learned to balance velocity and stability by automating our deployment pipelines, improving test coverage, and monitoring real-world metrics closely.
Every bug we fixed made the system stronger, and every late-night release taught us a bit more humility.
5. Scaling smart: balancing cost and performance
As a startup, every decision we make must balance speed, cost, and scalability.
In the early stages, we relied heavily on Firebase’s out-of-the-box services — Authentication, Firestore, and Cloud Functions — which allowed us to build a fully functional prototype quickly and at minimal cost.
This pay-as-you-grow model was critical: we could launch fast without upfront infrastructure investment, and as user traffic grew, our expenses scaled naturally with usage.
At the same time, deploying on GCP gave us confidence that the system would scale horizontally and automatically when demand increased.
GCP’s startup support program also provided technical resources, helping us focus on building a great product instead of worrying about server architecture or cost spikes.
That mindset — optimize for learning first, optimize for scale later — allowed us to stay lean while delivering real value from day one.
6. From product to partnership
The most rewarding part isn’t just seeing Quick Regi in action; it’s watching our clients grow.
When technology becomes invisible and operations just work, that’s when we know we’re doing it right.
Our mission remains simple:
To make restaurant operations easy, smart, and sustainable — powered by technology that learns and grows with you.
Quick Regi started as a small experiment among friends.
Today, it’s evolving into a platform shaping how restaurants in Japan think about digital transformation.
We’re still learning, still iterating — but every step reaffirms our belief that generic platforms can be deeply personal when designed with empathy and intent.