Choosing the Right Hardware

One of the most common questions we get is “what computer do I need?” The good news is that Digital Florists runs in your web browser, so you don’t need anything specialist. But the right setup makes a real difference to how smoothly your day runs — and how long your equipment lasts before it needs replacing. This guide covers what to look for when buying computers, whether tablets are a good fit, and how to make sure your internet connection can keep up.

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The short version

If you’re in a hurry, here’s what we recommend:

• Computer: Any Mac with an M-series chip, or a Windows PC with 16GB of RAM and an Intel i5 (or AMD Ryzen 5) processor from the last three years
• Storage: An SSD is essential — avoid anything with a traditional hard drive
• Internet: A full fibre connection of at least 150 Mbps, ideally 1 Gbps
• Tablet: Fine as a second device, but not as your main workstation

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Choosing a computer

You have two main options: Mac or Windows. Both work perfectly with Digital Florists. The difference comes down to reliability, value, and how much hassle you want to deal with over the life of the machine.

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Our recommendation: Mac

We recommend Apple Macs for most florist shops. Since Apple switched to their own M-series chips, Macs have become incredibly reliable — they start up in seconds, don’t slow down over time the way Windows machines tend to, and rarely need any maintenance. The shops we work with that use Macs spend far less time dealing with computer problems. No waiting 30 minutes for updates to install when you’re trying to open the shop. No gradual slowdown over the years. They just work. The trade-off is a higher up-front cost, but Macs typically last 5-7 years before they feel outdated. A budget Windows PC might cost less today but could need replacing in 2-3 years. Which Mac to get: The MacBook Neo is Apple’s newest and most affordable laptop. It uses the A18 Pro chip (the same one in the iPhone 16 Pro), has a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, and weighs just 1.23 kg. It’s completely silent — no fan at all. For browsing, email, Digital Florists, and Office, it handles everything comfortably. It comes with 8GB of memory, which is plenty for everyday shop use. If you think you’ll regularly have dozens of browser tabs open alongside other apps, the MacBook Air (with 16GB) gives you more headroom — but for most florists, the Neo is all you need and saves you £500 compared to the Air. Saving money on a Mac:

• Apple Refurbished Store — Apple sells refurbished Macs with a full warranty at up to 15% off. They look and perform like new. A refurbished Mac Mini or MacBook is excellent value.
• Apple for Business — if you’re buying several machines, Apple’s business team may offer a small discount. It’s worth asking, especially for orders of 3 or more.

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Windows PCs

If you’d prefer to stick with Windows, or need a lower up-front cost, you can absolutely run Digital Florists on a Windows PC. Just make sure it meets these minimum specs:

• 16GB of RAM — this is the most important number. 8GB will feel sluggish when you have your browser, email, and a design tool open at the same time. 16GB gives you comfortable headroom.
• Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor — from the last three years. Avoid anything labelled “i3”, “Celeron”, or “Pentium” — these are too slow for comfortable daily use.
• SSD storage (at least 256GB, ideally 512GB) — an SSD is what makes your computer start up quickly and feel responsive. If a machine has a traditional spinning hard drive, don’t buy it.
• Windows 11 Pro — the Pro version gives you better control over updates and security features. It’s usually only £30-50 more than Home.

Reliable Windows brands for business use: A note on Windows maintenance: Windows PCs need a bit more care to keep running smoothly. Updates can interrupt your day, and machines tend to slow down over time. If you go down this route:

• Set Active Hours in Windows Update so the machine doesn’t restart during business hours
• Uninstall any pre-loaded software you don’t need (trials, games, manufacturer utilities)
• Don’t install third-party antivirus — Windows Defender (built in) is all you need
• Budget for replacement every 3-4 years for a machine in the £500-700 range

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Phones and the Companion App

Your team’s phones are part of your setup too. The Digital Florists Companion App lets your florists see the orders they need to make up, and your drivers can manage deliveries, capture proof-of-delivery photos, scan QR codes, and navigate to addresses — all from their phone. The app is available on both iPhone and Android. Both versions are fully maintained and offer the same features. You can’t go wrong with either.

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Our recommendation: iPhone

iPhones tend to offer the most seamless experience with the Companion App. iOS updates are consistent across devices, and new app features often land on iPhone first. iPhones also hold their value well and receive software updates for many years. Good options:

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Android

The Companion App works just as well on Android — it’s the exact same app with the same features. If your team already has Android phones, there’s no need to switch. Reliable options:

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Do your staff need new phones?

Not necessarily. If your florists and drivers already have smartphones, the Companion App will almost certainly run on them. It’s a lightweight app that doesn’t need a powerful phone. New phones are only worth buying if existing ones are very old or have cracked screens that make them hard to use.

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Tablets

Tablets are a great second device — useful for checking orders on the shop floor, taking to wedding consultations, or giving your florists something to reference while they work. But we wouldn’t recommend using a tablet as your only device. Why not a tablet as your main device?

• Smaller screens make it harder to work with detailed order information, quotation builders, and reports
• Typing is slower, even with a keyboard case
• Multitasking (browser tabs, email, design tools) is more limited
• Outside of POS, Digital Florists is designed for use with a mouse and keyboard — not touch

If you’re adding a tablet as an extra device, any recent iPad or Android tablet with at least 4GB of RAM will work. The standard iPad is excellent value.

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Touch screens and POS

If you’re using Point of Sale, a touch screen makes serving customers faster and more natural. We’ve designed POS with touch in mind — big buttons, swipe-friendly layouts. Your options:

• Windows PC + touch screen monitor — the simplest option. Any USB touch screen monitor from Amazon will work with a Windows PC. Brands like Elo Touch, iiyama, and Philips make reliable options from around £200-400.
• Mac Mini + touch screen monitor — this works, but macOS doesn’t officially support touch, so it’s a bit of a workaround. The touch input acts like a mouse click rather than giving you iPad-style gestures. It works, but it’s not as smooth as on Windows.
• iPad — if your POS needs are simple, an iPad can work well as a dedicated till device.

If you’re not using POS, a touch screen probably isn’t worth the extra cost. You’d be paying more for a worse-quality display. You can always add a touch screen monitor later if you decide to start using POS.

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Internet and broadband

Your internet connection is just as important as your computer. Digital Florists runs in the cloud, so every order, payment, and delivery update relies on your internet being fast and reliable.

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How much speed do you need?

A simple rule: aim for 10 Mbps per device that’s connected to your network. Count up everything that uses your internet:

• Every computer and tablet
• Card payment terminals
• Printers
• Your phone, and your staff’s phones

Example: 3 computers, 2 printers, a card reader, and 8 staff phones = roughly 14 devices. That’s 140 Mbps minimum, so a 150 Mbps connection would be the bare minimum.

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What type of connection to get

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Checking what’s available

To find out what broadband options are available at your shop:

1. Check your postcode on your current provider’s website, or try comparison sites like Broadband Genie or Uswitch
2. Ask about full fibre — availability is expanding rapidly across the UK. Even if it wasn’t available a year ago, it might be now
3. Check for government vouchers — the UK’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme offers up to £4,500 towards the cost of installing gigabit broadband for eligible homes and businesses. Check at gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk

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WiFi coverage

Having fast broadband doesn’t help if the WiFi signal doesn’t reach the back of your shop or your workroom.

• Small single-room shop: Your provider’s router is probably fine
• Shop with a back room or workshop: Consider a mesh WiFi system — a set of 2-3 units that work together to cover your whole premises. TP-Link Deco and Google Nest WiFi are popular options starting around £150-250.
• Larger premises: You may need professional-grade access points. Ubiquiti UniFi units are reliable and can be ceiling-mounted for clean coverage.

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Common questions

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