From MerchantPlay to Shopways – Two Decades of Reliable Systems

Shopways didn’t start as a startup idea — it grew from systems built for real businesses in Singapore. Today, Shopways is focused on one simple outcome: help small businesses take orders online and stay organised with an ordering link and a live order board.

The Origin Story

A Foundation Built for Stability

Before Shopways existed, we built a custom web-based inventory and invoicing system for a local distributor in Singapore — back when “cloud” wasn’t even a common term. That project, launched in 2010, proved something important: simple systems that don’t break are the ones businesses keep. Remarkably, the system is still running today — a reminder that reliability never goes out of date.

Ng Nam Thye inventory management system built in 2010

“The system has handled our inventory and billing for over 15 years. It’s simple, stable, and exactly what we need.”

— Owner, Ng Nam Thye
2010
System launched
15+ Years
Still in daily use
Stable
Built for ops
Core
Stock & billing

Over time, we learned something consistent across industries: businesses don’t just need “software” — they need a clear workflow that keeps orders and requests organised. Nowhere is that truer than a busy café.

Where It's Headed

The same reliability — now built for cafés

That same focus on simple, dependable workflows is exactly what a busy café needs. Wai Cafe, a Singapore café, has run its counter on Shopways for 7 years — and in the last 10 months alone put 21,000+ orders through it, almost every day it's open.

“We like that the workflow stays simple for staff. Orders are easy to manage, and day-to-day operations stay clear.”

— Owner, Wai Cafe • Singapore
21,167
Orders processed
7 Years
A Shopways café
203
Trading days (10 mo)
Daily
Still used every day
Wai Cafe Singapore running its counter on Shopways
Read the full Wai Cafe story →

From MerchantPlay to Shopways

Two decades of evolution — from early POS systems to modern web-based workflows. Today, Shopways is focused on online ordering: a simple ordering link and a live order board for small businesses.

2003 — Early Retail Systems

Building software for real operations — early POS and inventory workflows that taught us what businesses actually need: speed, records, and stability.

2008 — Web Workflow Experiments

Before “SaaS” became mainstream, we explored browser-based workflows — proving that operational tools could live on the web and still be reliable.

2013 — MerchantPlay Launch

MerchantPlay launched with a clear principle: keep things simple, fast, and stable — designed around real-life operations, not feature checklists.

2016 — Touch-First Operations

As devices evolved, we refined the same ideas into cleaner, touch-first experiences — making operational tools easier for staff to use during busy hours.

2025 — Shopways Re-focused

Shopways was re-focused around a simple modern need: take orders online and fulfil them from one screen — using an ordering link and a live order board that works on phones and tablets.

Built in Singapore 🇸🇬 • Refined through two decades • Designed for simplicity and longevity

See Shopways Online Ordering

Our Mission

Shopways is built with a simple belief — that small businesses deserve modern, affordable ordering tools without being locked into heavy systems. Our mission is to help owners stay organised with a clear workflow: an ordering link for customers, and a live order board for fulfilment.

Simple Ordering Link

Share a link or QR on Instagram, WhatsApp, Google Maps, or your website — customers can place orders fast.

One Live Order Board

New → In progress → Ready → Collected. A simple board that works on phones and tablets, with auto-refresh always on.

Designed for Reliability

Calm by default — auto-refresh on, sound optional, and simple statuses so you don’t miss orders during busy hours.

Shopways Mission

“Helping small businesses take orders online — with a workflow that stays simple and reliable.”