re:Kassa on creating its own fiscal data operator, and how this makes life easier for entrepreneurs

Marina Beketaeva, Managing Director of re:Kassa

How It All Began

The creators of re:Kassa are classic IT startup founders who have always developed solutions for businesses. Inspired by foreign examples, they noticed a trend toward remote payments and decided to create a free application for fiscalization.

In Kazakhstan, there were already paid and semi-online solutions, but our team wanted to create an accessible tool without the goal of monetization. They developed rekassa, released it to the public, and then partners from OFD (Fiscal Data Operators) approached us. This collaboration allowed entrepreneurs to easily fiscalize their sales, while enabling us to start generating revenue.

Within two years, re:Kassa became the #1 cash register among small and medium-sized businesses, reaching over 700,000 users. Its main advantage is simplicity. We did not just create a copy of existing solutions, but a reimagined product that even novice entrepreneurs could use: farmers, students, and owners of small shops.

Unlike complex cash registers, re:Kassa works like a calculator — you enter the amount, press “OK,” and the receipt is ready. That is why it is called the “people’s cash register,” as it is convenient for markets, home-based entrepreneurs, and even agricultural producers.

We continue to develop re:Kassa, simplifying business processes so that entrepreneurs can focus on their core activities while we handle the technical issues for them.

About Project Development

The first and most difficult stage of the journey was creating the cash register. This required not only technical skills but also interaction with government bodies, working with requirements and protocols. It is impossible to simply build a cash register — you need experience working with government structures and an understanding of these processes.

After the successful launch of the cash register, active growth began. It was important to ensure stability: throughout our history, there have been no cases where the cash register was out of order for an extended period. This is the achievement of the team, which has monitored its operation from the very beginning without external support. For the first two to three years, we did not invest in marketing — users came on their own.

When the number of users grew significantly, we began to think about development. A simple cash register was no longer enough — the market and technology do not stand still. We understood that there are many other tasks surrounding entrepreneurial activity, and we needed to move forward.

About Creating Our Own OFD

Any company, upon reaching peak maturity, faces a choice: stagnate or evolve. We chose the second path — we studied customer needs and closed the entire CJM (Customer Journey Map) of an entrepreneur: from the moment an idea is born to exiting the business. As a result, we developed five new products and named them “The Most Accessible Setup for an Entrepreneur: reKassa+.” It includes:

— cash register + OFD

— tax agent — submission of tax reports

— accounting system — inventory management

— loyalty system

— business analytics.

We created a comprehensive solution that makes business management simple and accessible. While the market focuses on medium and large businesses, our goal is to help small entrepreneurs. At the core of all this is our own Fiscal Data Operator (OFD).

OFD is an intermediary between the cash register and tax authorities. In simple terms: the cash register is like a mobile phone, and the OFD is its SIM card. Without it, receipts cannot be recognized as official, meaning the entrepreneur cannot conduct legal business.

The monetization process of reKassa was initially based on cooperation with external OFDs. This approach contributed to our growth, but it also has limitations, such as dependence on the formation of service prices, including discounts, as well as vulnerability to technical processes that depend on the OFD’s operation.

Therefore, we created our own OFD. This gave us independence, new pricing opportunities, and the ability to expand into other business segments, including large companies. Now we can offer clients a full package: cash register, OFD, accounting system, and analytics, making us a unique solution in the market.

Creating the cash register and our own OFD were two key steps that made us who we are today.

What Our Own OFD Provides

We have significantly simplified the technical process of connecting the OFD. Previously, users had to register the cash register and OFD separately in different services, but now everything is integrated within the system. We are adding biometric verification — registration can now take place without an electronic digital signature (EDS) or eGov. This lowers the entry barrier and makes working with fiscal data more accessible.

Our goal is to bring more entrepreneurs into the official sector so that they actively use cash registers and issue receipts.

We just launched the OFD, so we are testing a free period until March, and we may extend it.

Users of the Re:Kassa Plus package will get the most benefit: they will receive the OFD and cash register for free. An annual package with the full set of services will cost approximately 5,000 tenge per month — several times cheaper than similar solutions on the market.

In the future, the OFD will be paid, but it will remain at market price. At the same time, the cash register, as before, will remain free. Users will have the choice — to use our OFD or a third-party operator; all partner OFDs will remain available as before.

About OFD Technologies and Security

Obtaining OFD status is a long and meticulous process involving security protocols and technical requirements established by government bodies. Passing all these stages proves that we can be trusted with data at the level of banking systems.

Bauyrzhan Mazhikov, Lead Developer

In the development of our Fiscal Data Operator (OFD), we use modern and reliable technologies that meet high standards of security and efficiency. This allows us to ensure stable and secure transmission of fiscal data, fully complying with legislative requirements.

We use popular and proven solutions, which guarantees the reliability and security of our services. In addition, we pay special attention to data protection, applying multi-level security systems and backup, which ensures uninterrupted operation of our services and the preservation of our clients’ information.

Our approach to technology selection and data security allows us to provide high-quality services that meet our clients’ expectations and regulatory requirements.

The launch of the OFD became part of the re:Kassa Plus system — an accessible solution for business. For a symbolic fee, users receive a tool that simplifies work and helps develop the business based on data.

In the accounting system, we are integrated with NKT and other catalogs. It is enough to scan a product, and the data is automatically filled in. More than 15,000 users are already testing this system. Additionally, tax reporting is now available, including the 910 form.

About Plans

For us, launching the OFD is a step toward our mission of making entrepreneurship easier. We strive to simplify the lives of entrepreneurs, making tools accessible and understandable so they can focus on their ideas rather than business complexities. We understand how much stress this process causes and want to support entrepreneurs so they can realize their ideas without unnecessary difficulties. The greatest reward for us is hearing gratitude from our users.

In the future, we will expand our ecosystem by developing solutions for medium and B2B businesses. We plan to integrate with services for signing contracts, invoices, and other business processes. Improved loyalty tools are in development, and a tipping feature may appear.

We are also developing artificial intelligence: an AI assistant is already being tested, which performs operations in the cash register via voice commands — from issuing receipts to managing discounts and inventory.

We are also open to large businesses and are ready to adapt solutions to optimize financial processes.

Our global goal is to create a comprehensive tool for entrepreneurs that includes financial services. We see potential in developing digital banking for business, as there is no specialized bank for entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan.

Such a bank could combine finances, taxes, accounting, and business support in one service, ensuring convenience and automation. We are studying this market and see prospects for its development.

Recommendations

The main advice is not to be afraid and to try. If you have the desire, you can always find resources and opportunities to implement your idea. Despite difficulties and problems, it is important not to give up. Those who do not abandon their ideas, overcome obstacles, and achieve success. You must go all the way.