TL;DR
GrabMerchant POS is convenient if Grab is your only channel, but it commits you to Grab's commission terms and gives Grab full visibility into your menu, pricing and customers. LOOP keeps the operator independent, Grab is just one of four queues.
LOOP vs GrabMerchant POS: Independence vs Aggregator Lock-In
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PEKO ecosystem
LOOP runs the venue. PEKO brings the customer back. Two products, one company.
PEKO, the AI customer-retention platform (heypeko.com) from the same company as LOOP. PEKO handles retention; LOOP handles operations.
| LOOP, operations | PEKO, retention |
|---|---|
| Inventory & recipes | Churn prediction |
| Shift & staff management | Automated win-back |
| Table layout | Member portal |
| Kitchen display (KDS) | Loyalty tiers |
| E-invoice (TT78) | Receipt OCR enrolment |
| Aggregator queue (GrabFood / ShopeeFood / Be) |
LOOP and PEKO each work on their own. Run both and the data syncs into one single AI brain, so nothing is entered twice. PEKO is not a POS and does not replace one; it also runs alongside any other POS.
PEKO loyalty: no app download for customers; they snap the receipt to earn points, and it works with the POS you already use. Free up to 300 members.
Choose LOOP if
- ✓You run 2+ outlets and want one operator who can speak commands instead of clicking.
- ✓You want AI demand forecasting per item per hour, not gut-feel.
- ✓You're on SEA payment rails (VietQR, PromptPay, QRIS, DuitNow, PayNow, QR Ph).
- ✓You're already on PEKO loyalty (or planning to). PEKO customers get 50% off LOOP POS paid plans.
Choose GrabMerchant POS if
You need GrabMerchant POS-specific capabilities and don't need AI operations.
| Feature | LOOP POS | GrabMerchant POS | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence from any one aggregator | Yes, 4 aggregators in queue | No, Grab-only | Not published |
| Per-channel net margin | Yes | Grab-only view | Not published |
| Customer ownership | Operator owns identity (PEKO) | Shared with Grab | Not published |
| AI in operator language | EN + VI native | Limited | Not published |
Not ready to switch POS? Keep GrabMerchant POS and add PEKO
- Receipt Scan loyalty: customers snap the receipt, so it works with GrabMerchant POS without any integration. No app download for customers.
- Group Check-In: every guest at the table joins, not just the payer.
- AI Agent: win-back, birthday and rebooking campaigns from one message.
PEKO is free up to 300 members and works with the POS you already use.
Why teams pick LOOP
- Avoid single-aggregator lock-in.
- Own your diner identity with PEKO.
- Negotiate commission with real cross-platform data.
When neither is right
- You run one outlet with a fixed menu and only need receipts, a free tier from either vendor is enough, and paying for a mid tier changes nothing.
- You need something neither LOOP POS nor GrabMerchant POS publishes support for (full payroll, table timers), buy that tool separately and keep the till simple.
- Your format is still changing, settle the business model first; switching POS twice costs more than waiting.
Frequently asked
- Can I use both GrabMerchant and LOOP?
- Yes during migration, but it's redundant. LOOP plugs into Grab's merchant API and replaces the GrabMerchant POS surface in your kitchen.
- Can I keep GrabMerchant POS and still run loyalty?
- Yes. PEKO works alongside GrabMerchant POS with no integration: customers scan the receipt to earn points. LOOP is only needed if you also want a free AI POS.
- Does LOOP include loyalty?
- LOOP handles operations. For loyalty and AI-driven customer retention, PEKO is the sibling product from the same company: no app download for customers, they snap the receipt to earn points, and it works with the POS you already use: LOOP or any other. PEKO is free up to 300 members.
- Can PEKO handle inventory and staff scheduling?
- No. PEKO is the retention layer. LOOP covers inventory, recipes, shifts, table management and kitchen display in the same ecosystem.
Sources
- GrabMerchant portal , checked
- LOOP POS pricing , checked
Disclosure: LOOP POS is our own product. Competitor details come from each vendor's published material on the dates listed; where a vendor publishes nothing the cell reads “not published” and we make no claim.
