Grapevine Issue 14 Spring/Summer 2009

The Newsletter for GS Systems’ customers

This exciting, innovative modulepromises to be one of the most excitingand flexible solutions on the market withits rules-based functionality key to helpingusers target existing and potentialcustomers to encourage increased footfall,boost turnover and raise profits.

An easy-to-use and administer onlineweb solution, Proactivity is fast, secureand efficient and combines customerprofile databases with personalised,highly-targeted email, text, mobile andmail-merge communications.

InitiativeProactivity allows users to take the

initiative - and drive their business ororganisation forward, whether it is a bar,restaurant, nightclub, hotel, retail outlet,sports, social or leisure club, workplacefood facility or educational establishment.

With Proactivity customers can enter andupdate their own information online,wherever and whenever they want.

Likewise, Proactivity can be managedand controlled by an administrator,wherever there is an internet connection.

Proactivity’s control mechanisms allowaccounts and cards to be activated anddeactivated at the discretion of theadministrator.

Benefits‘The only rules are the rules our

customers want to use as part of theircustomer relationship managementprogrammes,’ said Niels Nielsen, GS Systems managing director. ‘Proactivityoffers the convenience, ease andaccessibility of a web-based solution. It minimises administrative time and costs- and encourages immediate uptake. And its benefits are clearly visible throughstandard weekly business reports createdby the EPOS system.’

The Proactivity loyalty solution has beendesigned as a natural extension of anEPOS system, which already collects andrecords sales data - and will have aninterface with Access Control Systems.

IncentivesAs well as offering turnover-boosting

incentives like two-for-one purchasesand product discounts, the module willalso have an online customer feedbackfacility to help feed marketing intelligence.This will provide far more extensive andfocused customer responses than thetraditional customer comment card.

‘Increasingly our clients are wanting to takeadvantage of their EPOS system as a viablealternative to traditional marketing activities.We can help them increase turnover withouthaving to invest in expensive advertising, PR,direct mail and leaflet drops - all of whichcost a lot of money to create and to distributewithout any guarantees of success. With oursolution the proof is in black and white onweekly business sheets,’ said Niels.

‘With everything managed online, usersfree up artwork, print and distributioncosts. For instance, an electronic vouchercan be programmed onto the customercard. Vouchers and other promotional andloyalty offers can be delivered by e-mailwith personalised letters to achieve greaterimpact and sales,’ he said.

Proactivity to boostturnover and profits GS Systems is launching Proactivity, an innovative, web-based loyaltysoftware solution to transform how hospitality, leisure and retail operatorsrun and manage relationships with existing and potential customers.

For further information on loyalty please contact Dawn Chapman on 0161 483 5595or e-mail dawn.chapman@gs-systems.co.uk. Visit www.gs-systems.co.uk for more about Proactivity.

GET 3 months FREE EPOSloyalty software

Simply go and register onlineProactivity is the web-based online GS loyalty software that runs in-conjunctionwith your EPOS system and gives younumerous promotions and incentives toboost sales and turnover. Everything iseasily managed online and tracked byyour EPOS system. Our free no-obligationtrial will let you see our easy-to-useonline loyalty software in action.Simply visit www.gs-systems.co.ukand as an existing GS client you canregister your details to access a freeevaluation trial version. If you purchase a solution from GS in either 2009 or 2010this offer applies to you too. After threemonths you can purchase an upgrade or a new license to exploit the full powerof GS Proactivity loyalty software.

How to choose your EPOS provider?A good EPOS solution is fundamental to businesses wanting to optimise margins andminimise costs. Yet many purchasers are driven by price rather than the effectivenessof a system and the provider supplying it. It’s not just the actual cost of the systemitself that’s been wasted. There’s also the time and effort of management and staffgetting to know the system. And the money and profit lost becauseit is unable to do its job properly. The hidden losses are a poorcustomer and front-of-house experience, lost sales and margins,the inefficiencies of stock management, the inability to makeinformed decisions, slow data and irrelevant out-of-date reports.Longer term, the failure of the system to have the capability tomature as the business grows has massiveimplications. It’s a scary picture but help is athand. We’ve produced an objectivemust-read White Paper giving you greattips when it comes to selecting yourEPOS provider. You can get your free copyonline by visiting www.gs-systems.co.uk.

GS launches EPOS solution for localauthorities GS Systems has launched an EPOSsolution to help local authorities deliverfaster, more efficient and cost-effectiveservices and give the best possibleexperience and value to their citizens.The solution helps councils automateand streamline numerous councilservices using EPOS, the generic termfor the software/hardware used tocollect, record and report onpurchases. This includes developingspecial interfaces and links tocommunicate and transfer data withwhatever financial systems are usedby specific councils. The benefits soonadd up with greater accountability,better financial controls and moreeffective use of labour and time. Uses include registry, licensing and tourist informationoffices as well as museums, art galleries, garden centres and public buildings.

“We can help themincrease turnoverwithout having toinvest in expensiveadvertising, PR, direct mail and leaflet drops

- all of which cost a lot of money to create and to distribute without anyguarantees of success.”

Proactivity will leave other loyalty solutions in the shade.

Niels Nielsen

Alma goes for GS experience

Alma De Cuba, a multi award-winning restaurant voted best bar,best restaurant and the UK’s best venue in 2008, has installed a GS hospitality suite EPOS solution. One of the UK’s most stunninghospitality venues, Alma De Cuba is housed in the former St Peter’sCatholic Church on the south side of Seel Street in Liverpool. The dramatic, high-profile celebrity restaurant and bar offers aneclectic mix of Cuban, Hispanic and Latin American influences.General Manager Dave Roche has previous experience with GS having worked for Living Rooms: ‘I have been working with GS Systems for over seven years now with Alma and Living Rooms. I find their EPOS solutions are not only fantastic products but thesupport the team provide is second to none.’’

GS helps Pavilion Gardens plant seedsfor improved business control GS Systems has installed acombined hospitality and retailEPOS solution at the PavilionGardens, one of the north’s mosthistoric venues situated at theheart of Buxton. Nestled in 23 acres of beautifully restoredgardens with the main buildingoffering a whole host of exciting attractions from food and drink togifts and conference facilities, the Gardens’ General Manager, TerryCrawford, asked GS Systems to help them improve efficiency in orderto deliver its business model. The solution installed by GS showcasesthe versatility of its EPOS portfolio as it embraces tourist information,retail and food and drink operations. The Pavilion Gardens has alsoincluded a half dozen handheld terminals as part of the solution toimprove efficiency and deliver improved customer service.

Joshua Bradley pulls in GS Double winners of the best pub company fortenants for two years running, Hydes isthriving as one of the UK’s leading regionalbreweries - and its latest opening shows whythey are setting such high standards. TheJoshua Bradley is a stunning pub lovingly crafted within a beautifullyrestored mansion in Gee Cross, Stockport. The bar’s spectacularOrangery restaurant area overlooks an attractive patio and garden.GS Systems has worked closely with Hydes for a number of yearsand has installed its hospitality EPOS suite at the stunning new pub.

Fina Bar & Grill places GS ontechnology menuFina Bar & Grill, a brand new barand restaurant opened in the heartof Macclesfield, has selected GS Systems to install its EPOSsystem. Fina prides itself onmodern, freshly prepared Italiancuisine and offers an excellent range of pasta, pizza, fish and meatdishes. Fina owner, Mandy Fazelynia, was delighted with GS. ‘We usedGS Systems to support us when we were setting up our new restaurantin Macclesfield. The service was fantastic and we were allocated ourown dedicated contact to deal with the initial set up and programmingof the tills. GS Systems worked tirelessly to ensure that we were fullyoperational and their continued ongoing support has been exceptional.’

The Swan rises to new heights with GSGS Systems has installed its hospitality suiteat the Swan Hotel in Tarporley, a formercoaching inn dating back to the 16th century.The beautifully refurbished hotel wasrelaunched earlier this year. The Swanmanagement team selected GS because theprices are always very competitive and theyhave found their knowledge of the hospitalitybusiness invaluable, especially when facedwith new problems. They have an innovativeapproach to customer requirements and atechnical support department that is fast and efficient at solving theissues. They have been great at supporting new openings.

GS Systems

119/121 Buxton Road,Stockport, Cheshire, SK2 6LR

Telephone: 0161 483 5595Fax: 0161 419 6207

E-mail: info@gs-systems.co.ukWeb: www.gs-systems.co.uk

Issue 14 Spring/Summer 2009The Newsletter for GS Systems’ customers

In Action

ReviewEPOS Messenger provides electronicnoticeboard A unique messenger service, run andmanaged through the EPOS system,has been designed, developed andlaunched by GS Systems. Availableexclusively as part of GS’s hospitalityand retail suites, the smart businesstool enables real-time communicationsto take place by email, paging andon-screen via the terminal. The electronicnotice-board is rules-based and can beprogrammed to suit the specific needs of individual businesses. ‘This is essentially a very, very smart and quick mobile notice-boardthat can seen by anyone and everyone working in the businesswhenever you want. And it can be updated in a matter of seconds bysimply pressing a couple of buttons,’ says Bjorn Nielsen, GS Systems’operations director. ‘It’s a great device and evidence of our desire to constantly add value to our EPOS proposition.’

Toshiba doubles up on colour Toshiba has launched a doublesided receipt printer, which canprint two colours to givereceipts a more dramatic andvisual impact. Recognised asthe highest speed printer of itsclass, the thermal POS printers aredesigned to operate in all hospitality and retail environments. Theydeliver high-speed printing at low noise levels, come at an extremelycompetitive price and are packed with innovative user-friendlyfeatures. For instance, double sided printing reduces paper costs by upto 25%, reduces paper consumption by 45% and halves paper rollchanges, saving both time and money, especially during busy periods.

Contactless payments have arrived!Contactless card payments are destined to be one of the technologydevelopments of 2009. Customers pay for an item of less than £10 bysimply tapping a credit/debit card against aContactless card reader. The benefits areclear with faster transaction times for smallpurchases as customers no longer needmoney or fumble around trying to find change.Contactless payments applications covereverything from fast food and bars to payingfor car parking.

High definition business sheetsand reporting essential viewing

A lot of EPOS systems are underemployed at the expense of collatingand understanding business intelligence - that’s the message from GS Systems operations director, Bjorn Nielsen.

However, help is at hand as GS Systems is offering a free one hourconsultation to audit current reporting processes and advise howto improve the level and range of business sheets necessary to drivethe decision making process.‘Recording sales and stock levels is only part of what an EPOSsystem is designed to achieve,’ says Bjorn, ‘yet a lot of businessesdon’t take advantage of the information they are collecting on aday-to-day basis to drive their decision making.’‘Businesses spend millions on both market research to find outcustomer habits and buying trends and to improve productivity,information that is readily on hand through an EPOS system thatrecords everything about a purchase. Properly collated andclearly defined reports based on this information really make adifference to understanding how to do things better with greaterprofit,’ says Bjorn. ‘This doesn’t mean having reams and reams of reports so you’redrowning in statistics. It’s more a matter of really defining whatyou want to know and when, together with how it should bepresented and distributed. Obviously the faster it can be deliveredand assimilated by key personnel the better.’ ‘Our business sheet audit is designed to show businesses how theycan access easily digested high definition reporting through theirEPOS solution. By using key performance indicators, they canhighlight any aspect of their business activities whenever they want.’

For further information about business sheet reportingplease contact Dawn Chapman on 0161 483 5595, E-MAIL dawn.chapman@gs-systems.co.uk

COMMENT

SMART THINKING PAYS OFF BIG TIME UK hospitality, leisure and retail sector businesses should look to theirEPOS systems as a quick, cost-effective and measurable response tothe most difficult economic circumstances in living memory. Thedeployment of a smart EPOS solution controls costs and increasesturnover. It’s a versatile and flexible business tool that offers usersmany more options than simply acting as a cash register and a box torecord sales transactions. A simple example encapsulates the benefits.A recently instigated full recipe cost audit revealed a lot of portioncontrol variances for a client. The result was a 3% saving on foodcosts, just the right ingredient to make for a tastier bottom line for anybusiness. Every business should be asking itself how can it getsmarter with EPOS? We all know the first step. Contact us!Niels Nielsen, managing director, GS SystemsRead Niels Nielsen’s EPOS blog at www.gs-systems.co.uk.

EPOS Messenger communicateswith staff - no matter wherethey are.