GS HONESTLY

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Did you honestly think all

EPOS systems were the same?

Taking the risk out of cash and stock management

5055 honestly_v6.qxd:Layout 1 6/4/10 09:30

EPOS is an all-embracing generic term for the software/hardware combinations used

to process and record sales transactions and stock data.


So you honestly thought all EPOS systems werethe same?

Well, not all EPOSsolutions are alike!

Like any industry, there is a widediscrepancy in the quality andstandards of the seeminglynumerous firms saying they supplyEPOS - although it is the bad applesthat too often create the lastingimpression with operators workingin the hospitality and retail sectors.

This brochure sets out to debunk the myth that all EPOS systems and their providers are the same.We recommend you read it beforemaking an EPOS investment.

Taking the risk out of cash and stock management 3


Consider these statistics (produced by Gunter and Amazon.com).

64% of people who buy a book NEVER even open it57% of people who buy software NEVER use it42% of people who buy music only listen to it ONCE79% of people who start to read a book NEVER finish it83% of people who start to use software NEVER use it again 94% of people NEVER read the software users manual

You can shake your head. Laugh at the

stupidity of the figures. They cannot be true.

Can they?

Unfortunately they are - but those statistics

won’t effect you because we understand there

is much more to EPOS than a terminal with

some software loaded on it. Which is why

our consultative approach ensures you

realise the full potential of your investment.

4 Not all EPOS systems are the same


Q1: Why is there a need for a brochure called “Did you honestlythink all EPOS systems were the same”?

NN:When we’re meeting prospective clients, or chatting topeople in the hospitality and retail industries, many of themend up relating EPOS horror stories to us. A common themeto almost every tale of woe is the general misconceptionthat all EPOS systems are the same. They are not.

Q2: Why has this happened?

NN: I think one of the chief problems is the relative ease of entryto the EPOS industry. People think they can provideoff-the-shelf software and buy unbranded hardware fromthe Far East and hey presto - they have a system they canflog to unsuspecting customers. It might not be very goodbut the client is only going to find out retrospectively - whenit’s up and running and not doing its job!

These businesses are invariably very poor when it comes toproviding service support and the future development ofthe system, which are probably the most important elementsof an EPOS solution.

From our perspective at GS, our consultative approachstarts with us listening to what a client wants to achieve,specifying a solution to meet and exceed those expectations,implementing and maintaining the solution, ensuringeveryone who needs to use it can through training and aftersales support - and building in the capability to future-proofand improve a solution as the business grows and itsmarket environment changes.

Niels Nielsen is one of the

EPOS industry’s most

experienced and innovative

experts, working closely

with many leading hospitality

and retail independents

and multiples, including

the likes of Alma De Cuba,

Bar & Grill, Cheshire County

Council, Gusto, Felicini

restaurants, High Peak

Borough Council, Hydes

Brewery, Living Ventures,

Lowry Arts Centre,

Max Spielmann, Residence,

Salford City Council, San

Carlo, Stockport Metropolitan

Borough Council and Timpson.



I suspect some staff are handing out free beer and lager to their buddies when we get very busy. I cannot prove it but I know it’s costing me income and eating into my profits. A pre-dispense system ensures staff input food and drink into the system with orders printed at the relevant dispense station. An added safety guard is checking your sales timings from your system against CCTV footage. Are people dispensing what they’re inputting?

GS SAYS

I kee

p los

ing go

od st

aff b

ecau

se th

ey ar

e fed

up of

comp

laint

s abo

ut or

ders

and

lack

of ti

ps. I

kno

w th

e EP

OS is

diff

icult

to u

se a

nd it

bre

aks d

own

but t

hey

don’t

seem

to un

derst

and m

y pro

blem

s.

One

of th

e m

ost c

omm

on

com

plai

nts f

rom

staf

f is a

bout

poo

rly c

onfig

ured

syst

ems t

hat a

re to

o di

fficu

lt to

use

and

are

inca

pabl

e of

pro

cess

ing

tran

sact

ions

dur

ing

real

ly b

usy t

imes

.

GS SA

YS

Wastage is a real problem especially as we can only guess what it’s costing us. I thought an EPOS system could track that for us! It can. An EPOS reporting solution to identify and monitor wastage can be set up in a matter of minutes to enhance business performance.

GS SAYS

Our terminals are unbranded and fail when we get really busy and it’s getting very hot. Are all terminals the same? No. We only use proven built-for-purpose EPOS terminals from Sharp, Toshiba and IBM. These dedicated EPOS machines have sufficient ventilation and interior components to work flat out 24/7.

GS SAYS

I want to reward my customers every time they visit but cannot find a loyalty package that works with my EPOS system. Good EPOS solutions should be able to integrate with other programs to allow you to run added-value applications like loyalty campaigns. That’s why our solutions are developed from mix’n’match modular suites.

GS SAYS

““

Here, and on page 8, are some typical red flag scenarios from people NOT using

our solutions. They are in orange. Our recommendations are in white.


Q3: You could view this brochure as an early warning system?

NN:Exactly. We want people who read it to think carefully abouthow they approach their EPOS investment.

After all, it’s one of the most important business tools to help them control costs and increase margins.

That’s why the brochure has a series of red flag scenarios (on pages 6 and 8) that have actually taken place, although we’ve changed some of the details for obvious reasons.

Q4: What sort of red flags are you talking about?

NN:Take your pick - there are so many. Software not working,poorly configured systems, terminals overheating and failing, printers not printing, stock being sold without mechanisms in place to track it, systems that cannot be used because no one’s been trained. The list can go on forever.

Q5: So how do you avoid these EPOS mishaps?

NN:Well, they aren’t really mishaps. They can all be avoidedvery easily. From our point of view, as EPOS experienced experts, there’s no excuse whatsoever for software full of bugs, terminals getting too hot in busy nightclubs, printers misfiring, unable to printing orders.

None of these problems would happen with a properly specified solution using fit-for-purpose software and hardware backed by the appropriate expertise and experience.


PARTNERSHIP

Long-term partnerships are

essential to the success

of retail and hospitality

businesses. At GS, we see

ourselves as an extension

of your IT capability.

We proactively help you

use advanced EPOS and

associated technology

to give you a genuine

competitive advantage,

acting as a sounding board

for your ideas before finding

the most effective way

of implementing them.

We are best able to do this

by having an intimate

understanding of how you

think, how you operate

and where you want to take

your business. We not only

take pride in our

achievements but yours too.


I was sold a system where the software crashes and stops working. I have no confidence in it despite constant efforts to fix it. At what point do you stop trying to make software work when it’s costing you more than the original investment? Alarm bells should ring the minute there are software glitches - and they should be getting louder each time it fails.

GS SAYS

Ther

e’s b

een

an u

psur

ge in

cus

tome

r com

plai

nts a

bout

unf

ulfil

led

orde

rs b

ecau

se th

e ki

tche

n an

d dr

inks

di

spen

sing

prin

ters

don’

t alw

ays p

rint.

We h

ave

to p

hysic

ally

walk

to th

e ba

r or t

he k

itche

n to

see

if it

has

prin

ted

out p

rope

rly.

Ther

e is

no

excu

se fo

r a p

rinte

r not

prin

ting

othe

r tha

n po

or p

lann

ing

or c

ablin

g or

you’

ve b

een

sold

an

inco

mpl

ete

solu

tion.

GS

SAYS

We’re only using a fraction of the EPOS functionality because the person who oversaw the purchase has left our business. Organise a refresher training session for several members of staff so the situation cannot happen again. And why not plan it into your maintenance programme to make sure you optimise your return on your investment.

GS SAYS

I’ve saved a load of cash by buying elements of my EPOS from different providers. However, it’s not working and the two providers are blaming each other. Surprise. Surprise. Buy an entire proven solution (where they can show the component software/hardware working together) from one provider with only one point of contact and the problem does not exist.

GS SAYS

My EP

OS sy

stem

is te

mper

amen

tal a

nd co

nsta

ntly

lets m

e dow

n. Ho

weve

r, I’m

relu

ctan

t to c

hang

e tho

ugh I

know

I sho

uld.

A p

oor s

yste

m

will

dam

age y

our r

eput

atio

n. W

hat c

an ta

ke ye

ars t

o bui

ld ca

n be

bl

own

away

in a

mat

ter o

f hou

rs.

Imag

ine

a ba

dly b

ehav

ed c

hef

in th

e ki

tche

n bl

owin

g ho

t and

col

d, u

pset

ting

your

bus

ines

s?

How

soon

wou

ld yo

u re

act a

nd g

et ri

d?

GS SA

YS ““


Q6: So what makes GS different?

NN:Well, for a start, at GS we have over three decades of EPOSexperience working within the hospitality and retail sectorsand have extensive first hand knowledge of the issuesfaced by businesses. We understand what customers wantand, just as importantly, we know we can deliver what wepromise because we’ve done it many times before.

What’s more, we don’t deliver a system out of box, plug it inand then leave the customer to get on with it! We don’t simplyapply the same answer to every client because all their needsare different. We tailor each solution accordingly. A lot of otherEPOS companies have one size fits all.

Q7: And the evidence?

NN:We have a proven track record providing and implementingEPOS solutions that help businesses grow. Our clients arefamiliar high street names, recognised in cities and townsacross the UK. There are reference sites to go and see oursolutions in action, where we’re proving categorically that allEPOS systems are not the same.

Q8: So what’s your advice to anyone wanting to buy orupgrade an EPOS solution?

NN:Think hard before you commit to purchasing. We’vepublished two companion White Papers, which werecommend you read. Both give loads of great tips aboutEPOS and detail why a good EPOS solution is a fundamentaloperational and management tool for businesses wanting tooptimise margins and minimise costs. To order your copiessimply visit www.gs-systems.co.uk or give us a call on0800 018 0445.


GROWING

We’re ideally suited for working

with growing businesses.

Whether it is expansion

through increased outlets,

adding new revenue streams

or simply looking to sell more

to boost margins and profits,

our solutions will help you

achieve your objectives.

We have a proven track

record working closely with

forward-thinking progressive

businesses. Our current

client list includes the UK’s

highest grossing restaurant

outside of London and two

multiples that are regular

visitors to the Sunday Times

FAST TRACK 100 (which

ranks Britain's top

100 fastest-growing private

companies, based on sales

growth over 3 years).


“I have been working with GS Systems for over seven yearsand the support the teamprovides is second to none.’’ Dave Roche, general manager, Alma De Cuba, Liverpool.

“GS Systems has been fantastic in helping us develop our business.You need to have experts whoactually feed in information to us,information that we can use anddevelop upon and take as our own.”Tim Bacon, managing director, Living Ventures.

“GS Systems worked tirelessly to ensure that we were fullyoperational and their continuedongoing support has beenexceptional.”Mandy Fazelynia, owner, Fina Bar & Grill, Macclesfield.



INVESTMENT

Your investment in EPOS

will quickly pay for itself if

the solution has been properly

specified, implemented and

supported. The actual cost

of the system will be more

than balanced by benefits

like cost savings and

you and your staff having

more time to focus on other

activities within the business.

Used as an essential

business tool, it will soon

become indispensable to the

operation and management

of your business.

The opposite will be true of

a poor system, which will

end up costing a lot more

than the initial investment.

Here are six reasons why all EPOS companies and their systemsare not the same. These are commitments we make to all ourclients, irrespective of the size of your current business or yourproposed investment. Everyone is equally important.

We effectively implement EPOS solutions to help yourbusiness grow

We future-proof our solutions, NOT just sell you a systemfor today

We constantly add value through our consultative approach

We believe a long-term partnership realises the fullpotential of EPOS

We see EPOS opening up new revenues and markets

We want your EPOS investment to be recouped quickly


We trust this brochure has given youplenty of food for thought. You canvisit www.gs-systems.co.ukfor more information about us andwatch a video about our solutions.

You can request additional material to help give you all the factsnecessary to make the right EPOSinvestment decisions.

‘How to choose your EPOSprovider’ (White Paper)‘How to choose the right EPOSsolution for your business’ (White Paper)The GS Hospitality Suite brochureThe GS Retail Suite brochureThe GS Central Management Systems brochureThe GS Grapevine magazine

Call 0800 018 0445 or email [email protected] arrange an appointment, demonstration or a free needsanalysis.

GS Systems, 119/121 Buxton Road,

Stockport, Cheshire SK2 6LR

Tel: 0161 483 5595 Fax: 0161 419 6207

E-mail: [email protected] www.gs-systems.co.uk

Our clients include

Bar & GrillCheshire County CouncilGustoFelicini restaurantsHigh Peak Borough CouncilHydes BreweryLiving Ventures Lowry Arts CentreMax SpielmannSalford City CouncilStockport Metropolitan Borough CouncilTimpson.


GS HONESTLY

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