Kudos Sowtware UK
Kudos Software Ltd is a UK-based vertical SaaS vendor providing EPoS, Retail Gift Aid, business intelligence, and collection/delivery software to over 150 charity and hospice retailers, plus dealer management software to marine and caravan dealerships, on a subscription and Hardware-as-a-Service model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersSalcombe, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Kudos Sowtware UK does
Kudos Software Ltd is a UK-based vertical software vendor founded in 1995, headquartered in Buckfastleigh, Devon. The company develops and supports two integrated product lines: the Kudos Charity Retail System and a Dealer Management Software suite for marine and caravan dealerships. The charity retail product comprises a volunteer-friendly EPoS module, Retail Gift Aid processing approved by HMRC under Standard Method and Methods A/B, a real-time business intelligence dashboard, and a Furniture & Electricals collection/delivery module, supported by a suite of mobile apps (Gift Aid, POS, Drive, Stock, Charity Card, SignUp). The dealer management suite includes workshop management, sales order processing, and WebLinks e-commerce integration. The technology stack is built primarily on Embarcadero Delphi and Microsoft C# with Microsoft SQL Server, supplemented by Xamarin, Blazor, .NET Core, Web API, and JavaScript, running local EPoS installations at store level with cloud-based data storage hosted on Microsoft Azure.
The company's primary customer segment is UK charity retailers and hospice retail networks, where it claims over 150 charity and hospice retailer customers, including 31-shop networks such as Cornwall Hospice and St Oswald's Hospice. A secondary segment comprises marine and caravan dealerships served by the dealer management suite, with named customers including SAL Marine and Kildale Marine. Kudos monetises via annual subscription software licences (with free upgrades), a Hardware as a Service offering delivered with Partner Tech for cap-ex-free deployments, and integrated payment processing through Elavon and Opayo partnerships. The company also operates a Free EPOS initiative aimed at small charities.
Kudos goes to market exclusively through direct sales across the UK, supported by a "Book a Demo" call-to-action on its website, a multi-channel content programme (insights, case studies, webinars), industry event sponsorship (notably the Charity Retail Association conference where Managing Director Sarah Dodd sits on the Corporate Members Advisory Group), and strategic industry partnerships with CRA, Reuse Network, British Marine, and Hospice UK. The company has achieved ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials certifications, holds Crown Commercial Service supplier status, and is a Sage Developer Partner. It is privately held with no disclosed external funding and is led by Sarah Dodd (Managing Director) and Tom Hole (Product Development Director).
Kudos Sowtware UK firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kudos Sowtware UK
- Legal name
- Kudos Software Ltd
- Website
- https://kudos-software.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Kudos Software Ltd is a UK-based vertical SaaS vendor providing EPoS, Retail Gift Aid, business intelligence, and collection/delivery software to over 150 charity and hospice retailers, plus dealer management software to marine and caravan dealerships, on a subscription and Hardware-as-a-Service model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kudos Sowtware UK industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vertical Retail and Dealer Management Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Software/SaaS Subscriptions (Consumer & Prosumer) (CRAFAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Billing, Payments & Subscription Support (BPAAABAC)
Keywords
Where Kudos Sowtware UK is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salcombe
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Kudos Sowtware UK business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Software Subscription: The Kudos software is subscription-based. As stated in the FAQ: 'As the instore software is subscription based, if a store closed you would simply stop paying for the subscription for that licence.' Annual software licence fee includes free software upgrades.
- Hardware as a Service (HaaS): Kudos offers Hardware as a Service for a no cap-ex, budget-friendly solution which guarantees charities have the latest technology, on-site maintenance, and software upgrades via the Cloud Device Management platform.
- Payment Processing: Integrated payment processing through Elavon partnership for chip and pin, contactless, Apple and Android Pay. Payment processing revenue derived from transaction fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Subscription-based charity retail software |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Kudos Sowtware UK product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kudos Software UK builds and sells subscription-based vertical retail and dealer management software, principally a Charity Retail System (Charity EPoS, Business Intelligence, HMRC-compliant Retail Gift Aid, Furniture & Electricals collection/delivery, and supporting mobile apps) and a Dealer Management Software suite for marine and caravan dealerships. Revenue is generated through annual software subscriptions, optional Hardware as a Service bundles and payment-processing transaction fees.
Product overview
Kudos Software UK offers two core product lines: the Kudos Charity Retail System (a unified platform for charity and hospice retailers) and Dealer Management Software (for marine and caravan dealerships). The Charity Retail System comprises integrated modules including Charity EPoS, Business Intelligence, Retail Gift Aid, and Furniture & Electricals management, supported by mobile apps (Gift Aid App, POS App, Drive App, Stock App, Charity Card, SignUp). The Dealer Management Software includes EPoS, Workshop Management, Stock Control, and WebLinks/SOP modules for e-commerce integration. Both product lines share a common Web API architecture for third-party data integration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Kudos Charity Retail System Comprehensive charity retail software suite covering shop and online sales, collections and deliveries, business intelligence and Retail Gift Aid processing; designed for organisations of all sizes within the UK charity sector.
- Dealer Management Software Complete dealer management software for marine and caravan sales and workshop management, covering new unit sales, part exchanges, workshop operations, parts and accessories sales, and accounts integration.
- Charity EPoS Point of sale system for charity retailers enabling volunteers to manage donations, new goods, sales and Gift Aid through a user-friendly touchscreen interface designed for volunteer-friendly operation.
- Retail Gift Aid Automated Gift Aid processing and claims management module for charity retailers, supporting Standard Method and Methods A/B, with electronic donor sign-up and HMRC-compliant claim processing.
- Furniture & Electricals Collection and delivery management software for furniture reuse operations, including online bookings, multiple vehicle round management, tablet-based driver app and doorstep donor sign-up for Gift Aid.
- Business Intelligence Real-time reporting and analytics tools providing head office and store teams with instant access to sales data, stock levels and Gift Aid performance, with customisable dashboards and drill-down reporting.
- Hardware as a Service (HaaS) No capital expenditure solution providing latest technology hardware with on-site maintenance and cloud-based software upgrades, delivered through the Cloud Device Management platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10% increase in sales revenue and 400% increase in web traffic (Sal Marine)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Kudos Sowtware UK
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kudos Sowtware UK technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature8 records
Kudos Sowtware UK partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- ElavoncoreLong-standing partnership with Elavon for payment processing. Elavon provides card payment services integrated into Kudos EPoS for chip and pin, contactless, Apple and Android Pay. The partnership emphasizes simple onboarding and reliable payment solutions for charity retailers.
- SagecoreSage Developer Partner status. Kudos EPoS provides comprehensive integration with Sage accounting software for trial balance, Gift Aid claims, data accuracy, and Making Tax Digital compliance.
- XerocoreKudos integrates with Xero for accounting and financial management, providing ledger links for charity retailers.
- Access DimensionscoreKudos provides integration with Access Dimensions accounting software for real-time trial balance and financial data synchronization.
- Charity Retail Association (CRA)flagshipLong-standing partnership with CRA including bursary sponsorship at annual conferences. Kudos Managing Director Sarah Dodd serves on CRA Corporate Members Advisory Group. CRA represents over 8,900 charity shops.
- Hospice UKcoreIndustry body partnership for hospice retail sector. Kudos serves multiple hospice retailers including Cornwall Hospice and St Oswald's Hospice.
- Reuse NetworkcorePartnership with Reuse Network for furniture reuse sector. Kudos supports RN logo displayed on website credentials.
- British MarinecorePartnership with British Marine for marine industry sector. British Marine logo displayed on Kudos credentials.
- AzurecoreMicrosoft Azure cloud data storage services for Kudos cloud infrastructure and data hosting.
- Charity Shop Gift Card SchemecoreKudos developed integration for the Charity Shop Gift Card scheme, enabling CRA member charities to accept gift cards across the network. The scheme brings together leading retail charities for a single gift card redeemable in multiple charity stores.
- Partner TechcorePartner Tech provides Hardware as a Service (HaaS) for Kudos, enabling no cap-ex hardware solutions for charities with on-site maintenance and upgrades.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves1 record
Kudos Sowtware UK competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Epos Now: Broadline cloud-based EPoS platform serving thousands of UK retailers across hospitality, retail, and services. Comparable as a competing EPoS option that charity retailers might consider, though it lacks Kudos's deep Gift Aid specialization.
- Toast: Large US-headquartered restaurant and food-service POS platform with growing vertical expansion. Comparable as a major cloud-POS incumbent whose vertical-template strategy illustrates the competitive pressure broadline EPoS providers could apply to niche verticals like charity retail.
- Reynolds and Reynolds: Established North American DMS and retail management provider serving automotive and adjacent dealer verticals. Comparable in that it sells integrated dealer systems (sales, workshop, parts, accounting) to specialty retailers, though its primary focus is automotive rather than marine.
- Lightspeed: Global commerce platform providing POS, payments, and e-commerce for retail and hospitality. Comparable as a multi-vertical EPoS incumbent that smaller UK retailers and dealerships could choose over Kudos, though without Kudos's charity-specific modules.
- CDK Global: Large incumbent provider of dealer management systems primarily for automotive retailers, with adjacent specialty-vehicle capabilities. Comparable in that it competes for dealer-software spend, though its focus is automotive retail at a much larger scale than Kudos's marine/caravan niche.
- Microsoft Dynamics 365: Microsoft's enterprise ERP/CRM suite that includes retail and commerce modules with Power Platform extensibility. Comparable as a broadline option large charities or dealer groups could choose instead of Kudos, particularly given Microsoft's footprint and Azure hosting relationship.
Others
- Sage: Major UK accounting software vendor whose Sage Developer Partner integration is embedded in Kudos's product. Comparable as an ecosystem partner rather than a competitor; Sage represents a dependency for accounting workflows but could conceivably expand into vertical retail software.
Direct peers
- Pinewood Technologies: UK provider of dealer management software for automotive, marine, and motorcycle retailers. Directly comparable to Kudos's Dealer Management Software for marine and caravan dealers, with similar workshop, parts, and stock-control functionality.
- Cybertill: UK-based EPoS and retail management software specifically designed for charity retailers and non-profits. Closest direct competitor to Kudos's Charity Retail System, competing head-to-head on Retail Gift Aid processing, volunteer-friendly tills, and charity-specific reporting.
Emerging players
- Brightpearl: Cloud-native retail management platform for omnichannel retailers, often integrated with Shopify and other e-commerce stacks. Comparable as a competing retail back-office option for small UK retailers, though not specifically focused on the charity vertical.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Kudos Sowtware UK social profiles
Digital presenceKudos Sowtware UK compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Kudos Sowtware UK financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kudos Sowtware UK leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Kudos Sowtware UK funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kudos Sowtware UK M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kudos Sowtware UK
What does Kudos Sowtware UK do?
Kudos Software UK builds and sells subscription-based vertical retail and dealer management software, principally a Charity Retail System (Charity EPoS, Business Intelligence, HMRC-compliant Retail Gift Aid, Furniture & Electricals collection/delivery, and supporting mobile apps) and a Dealer Management Software suite for marine and caravan dealerships. Revenue is generated through annual software subscriptions, optional Hardware as a Service bundles and payment-processing transaction fees.
Is Kudos Sowtware UK a public or private company?
Kudos Sowtware UK is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Kudos Sowtware UK founded?
Kudos Sowtware UK was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kudos Sowtware UK based?
Kudos Sowtware UK is headquartered in Salcombe, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Kudos Sowtware UK make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Software Subscription is the primary driver. The others are hardware as a Service (HaaS) and payment Processing.
Who are Kudos Sowtware UK's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Epos Now, Toast, Reynolds and Reynolds, Lightspeed, CDK Global and Microsoft Dynamics 365. Sage is listed as an others. Direct peers are Pinewood Technologies and Cybertill. Brightpearl is listed as an emerging player.
Does Kudos Sowtware UK have an API?
Yes. Kudos provides a secure Web API that is an integral part of the system architecture, accessible on demand in real time. It enables charities to export data from retail, finance and fundraising to produce a useful overview of analytics. A data feed into third-party business information systems gives the charity sector the ability to analyse data across their organisation, with tools such as PowerBI.
What industry is Kudos Sowtware UK in?
Kudos Sowtware UK's product category is Vertical Retail and Dealer Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAIAB, Software/SaaS Subscriptions (Consumer & Prosumer), with a secondary code of BPAAABAC, Billing, Payments & Subscription Support. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.