grapevine 16

Grapevine Issue 16 Spring/Summer 2012

The newsletter for GS Systems’ customers

VIVA GS: EPOS PROCEDURES SAVETHOUSANDS EVERY MONTH ! GS Systems has installed an EPOS solution for the innovative ‘all you can eat’ Viva Brazil steakhouse brand,which has two restaurants in Glasgow and Liverpool with additional outlets in the pipeline.

Launched by a team led by Mancunian restauranteur andentrepreneur Andy Aldrich, Viva Brazil has installed a GSfront of house and back office system to give the businessthe necessary management control and businessintelligence to create a platform for growth. Andy, who was the mastermind behind the Beluga andChampagne Bars brands amongst several others,attributes the success of his businesses to a relationshipwith GS that stretches back for more than a decade.

“We are only a very small company – yet we will turnovernearly £5m this year. A lot of this is down to the controland ease of use of our systems,” he said. “The GS solution gives us multi-site usage with remotemanagement control, covering the entire package fromstock takes to the emailing of orders. Everything is moreaccountable and easier to run.” “For example, the procedures set in place for weeklyinternal stock takes have improved margins year on yearand have reduced losses by nearly £1000 per week atretail,” said Andy.“The system’s audit trail enables us to instantly spot andimmediately rectify any bar or restaurant discrepancies,

an essential business tool in an industry notorious for theftand under-ringing. By following GS procedures, we’revirtually eliminating these loopholes.”

GS Systems has installed an EPOS solution tofully automate Salford City Council’s licensingdepartment. The council issues thousands oflicenses each year for dozens of differentactivities ranging from taxis and private hire tolandlord licensing and amusement arcades.Previously manually-run licensing offices are nowautomated to give the council a full audit trail ofevery single transaction. The EPOS solution streamlines and speeds uplicense applications, renewals and payments whilealso interfacing with the council’s financial systems.This new commission follows the automation of thecouncil’s register offices. GS also has EPOS solutions in other council outlets,including Ordsall Hall, Salford Museum & Art Gallery,with its intriguing mix of Victorian and 20th centuryarchitecture, the Humphrey Booth cafe and Buile HillPark garden centre.

Points of view

Continued on page 3

Baa Bar signs up with GSBaa Bar, a popular late night city centre barbrand, has selected GS Systems to provide anEPOS solution for the fast growing chain. Thereare currently nine outlets in Liverpool,Manchester and Nottingham with a 10th siteopening in Liverpool’s Victoria Street in April.

The GS team has extensive frontline operatingexperience adding value to the services we can

offer growing businesses> pages 4 & 5

Cocktail tales, surprise spotchecks & other top tips

Licensed to automate

Viva Brazil has 15 different types of meat available including capof rump, sirloin steak, garlic sirloin, top sirloin, flank steak, beefribs, pork tenderloin, pork loin with parmesan cheese,home-made pork sausage and traditional Brazilian sausages.

STOP PRESS

Improved margins

How to make your EPOS solution work harder foryou by subscribing to Get Smarter

> pages 6 & 7

Grapevine 16 MASTER 3_Layout 1 05/03/2012 11:20

2 News

Argyll Holidays teams up with GS Systems GS Systems has installed an EPOS solution for Argyll Holidays to give the business greater control, improve the guest experience and encourageup-selling at three of its Scottish holiday adventure parks.

EPOS solutions have been installed at three sites in theArgyll portfolio, including in two hotels, bars andrestaurants, two leisure centres and children’s playareas in west Scotland.“We are after better stock control and financialmanagement in what can be a complex business,” saidArgyll Holidays director Roy Campbell. “We need to haveeffective financial systems in place to make sure we’retracking our cash, stock, such as fish and meat whereprices vary weekly, and sales, while ensuring we’rehitting our margins.” “Just as important as the right control mechanisms, wehave to make sure we give value for money. The holidaymarket, especially in the current economic climate, isvery much about value and creating a superb guestexperience. For that reason, we’ve introduced handheldordering to speed up purchasing. This not only enablesstaff to up-sell and reduces queues but also ensuresstaff who are good at selling don’t spend half their timegoing back and forth to the kitchen.” “Throughout the process, GS has been very good,

addressing all our issues positively and focusing on avery consultative approach,” said Roy. “Our solution will maximise margins and profits by

implementing controls and procedures back of housewhile also providing the platform for slicker front ofhouse operations. We’ve worked closely with Roy andthe team to create a better guest experience and toencourage a higher per head spend at the parks.Additional tools also include loyalty and handheldterminals,” said GS Systems managing director, Niels Nielsen.

GS adds bite to Black Dog’s winning formula A multi award-winning bar in Manchester’sNorthern Quarter has selected an EPOSsolution from GS Systems to control its busyfront of house and back office operation.

The iconic Black Dog Ballroom bar, open daily from noonuntil 4am, offers gourmet burgers and pizzas, draughtbeers, cocktails and pool tables as well as hostingspecial events like an evening with Howard Marks.Winner of Manchester Confidential’s 2011 Bar of theYear, the success of the NYC speakeasy style bar conceptwill see the brand rolled out with the addition of two newsites this year. Black Dog’s expansion plans will be helped by thecontrols provided by the GS EPOS solution according togeneral manager Martin Taylor. “As an expanding business, with a site opening in Mayand another later in the year, the facilities that GS offersfor multi site operations in terms of reporting, stockcontrols and ordering will be invaluable,” he said. “The GS EPOS solution gives us great control of tillsystems from a back of house perspective. Offering aneasy to use system to control and report on stock isinvaluable. We can monitor sales both in a ‘live’ situationas well as accessing historical data.”“Operationally, we have been able to report closely onstock levels, perform weekly stock takes as well as dailyline checks. These procedures are vital for maintainingstock levels, good GPs and enable me to report to mydirectors clearly and concisely.”GS has worked closely with the Black Dog team to ensure

the EPOS solution is fully implemented and supported,help that is appreciated by Martin. “Whether it is a daily task of setting up and modifying ourback of house capabilities or giving us immediate out ofhours assistance, GS has been there for us,” he said. “Black Dog’s approach is the blueprint for growinghospitality businesses, successfully giving customers amemorable guest experience while also running a reallytight operation and enforcing procedures to ensure theyoptimise the impact of the EPOS solution,” said GS operations director, Richard Tarran.

The Black Dog Ballroom has collected two major pub of the yearawards from Manchester Confidential and City Life in the pasttwo years - and is rolling out the concept in 2012. The iconic baris open noon until 4am and serves food until 1am.

Argyll Holidays wants greater business control and a betterguest experience for three sites in west Scotland and asked GSto install the technology to achieve these goals.


3News

GS goes to collegewith AquinasGS Systems has supplied an EPOS solution for thecatering facilities at a sixth form educationalestablishment in Stockport, Aquinas College. The EPOS system enables the college’s catering team,headed by catering manager Simon Cheadle, to manageand control pricing, daily specials and discounted itemswhile also recording what is and is not selling. There isalso the option to add a cashless function in the futureas the catering operation develops.“The EPOS system will help us improve ourprocedures and establish set menus for the students.Equally, it will contribute greatly towards my mainaims of breaking even with the costs and to keep thecatering operation moving forward,” said Simon.

New York style inspires Brooklyn’sdesire for dining in New Brighton

Located at Marine Point with stunning waterside viewsof the Mersey and Liverpool Bay, Brooklyn’s simplephilosophy, according to general manager Mike Meyers,is to recreate the authentic New York dining experiencein the UK, appealing to the whole family with a menuthat reflects the range, quality and value of the bestdiners in the Big Apple. “It seems that on almost every street in New York thereis a great diner that is open long hours with a fantasticmenu choice offering high quality food and good value.To find places to eat like this in the UK is the exceptionrather than the rule so we’re looking to change thatperception, starting in New Brighton,” said Mike.

“Inspired by the best in New York, Brooklyn’s hasinvested in the best architecture, interior design and ITtechnology to ensure we more than satisfy our desire togive our customers the best possible experiencewhenever they visit us. The result is a launch that hasexceeded our original expectations and bodes well forthe future as we prove the concept and roll it outelsewhere.”

“A combined front-of-house and back office solutionprovides us with all the real time reports and intelligencewe need to assess how we are doing and ensure we hitour sales, margins and profit targets,” he said. “We’re very happy with the system and theprofessionalism offered by GS. They have been extremelyflexible and taken into account we’re a fledglingbusiness. A consultative approach based on showingus the benefits of EPOS is extremely enlightening.What’s more, GS has been fantastic right across theboard in terms of attention to detail and the way they

VIVA BRAZIL

Future plans for the solution include creating linksbetween the sites and head office for reporting andimporting data in to Viva Brazil’s accounting software. “This next step with the solution saves us several hoursadministration per week and allows us to grow thebusiness without increasing our head count.” Andy, who is planning to launch other Viva Brazil outletsas the brand grows, appreciates the input from GS. “I have worked with GS for over 11 years as a businessowner and can honestly say that the service the peopleprovide is excellent. Obviously in our business there arealways times when we make mistakes or are late doingthings but GS has never let me down when I have needed

continued from page 1

work doing in a time sensitive situation. I have a greatworking relationship with many of the team and love theirwork ethic,” said Andy.“Andy and the Viva Brazil team have been incrediblysuccessful since the launches of the two outlets inGlasgow and Liverpool. They are seeing the benefits ofinvesting in technology and software and implementingall the relevant procedures to ensure they optimise thesolution’s capabilities,” said GS Systems managingdirector, Niels Nielsen. "Just as important, this isdefinitive proof of the benefits of establishing long-termbusiness relationships built on genuine mutual respect."

GS Systems has supplied the San Carlo Group, oneof the UK’s busiest high turnover restaurant groups,with EPOS solutions for new restaurants in Leeds citycentre and Roundhay and Cicchetti (pronouncedchi-KET-tee), located on the House of Fraser’s groundfloor in Manchester.

Manchester’s original riverside pub, the Mark Addy,reopened in 2009 by executive head chef Robert OwenBrown (above), has installed a GS EPOS solution atthe award winning bar, which came second to theFeathers Inn, Northumbria, in the Great BritishGastropubs awards.

GS has also supplied EPOS solutions for the PointingDog, Cheadle Hulme, the latest concept launched by GedLynch’s Felicini chain, the Almond Family Pubs’ Puss inBoots, the Cheviot Hotel in Northumberland, theTroperio steak house with outlets in Chester, Glasgow,Aberdeen and Nottingham, jewellery and watch retailer,Boutique HoCo and Archer’s Bakery. EPOS andsupport services are also being provided to the TA HotelCollection, a five-chain hotel group located on theSuffolk coast. Properties include the Thorpeness Hoteland Golf Club and the Brudenell Hotel.

Living Ventures has opened four contrastingconcepts - The Alchemist (above), The Oast House,Australasia and Peppermint Bay - in Spinningfields,Manchester. All four have EPOS solutions providedby GS Systems, who supply ongoing support andconsultancy for the Knutsford-based hospitalityspecialists, who also own the Gusto, Blackhouse andRed Door brands.

GS snapshots.....

look after us. Niels, Richard, Ann and the rest of theteam have done a great job for us.”"Working with inspired new concepts like Brooklyn's isgreat because we can instil best practice proceduresfrom the start so Brooklyn's can optimise the benefits ofthe technology faster," said Richard Tarran, GS Systemsoperations director.

Brooklyn's is a new restaurant brand launched in New Brighton and inspired by the spirit of the New Yorkdining experience - although the operation is driven by technology from closer to home as GS Systems isproviding the EPOS solution.

Consultative approach

Real-time reports andintelligence

Brooklyn’s appeals to the whole family as well as the NewBrighton’s busy business community.

*****


4 O&A

Point Operations director Richard Tarran has a proven track record as a bar, restaurantand nightclub operator, trainer, area manager and IT specialist. Living Rooms,Mosquito, Deep Pan Pizza, Via Vita, Chiquito and Bass Taverns all feature on hisvery busy CV. He first worked with GS Systems at Living Ventures, where he wasresponsible for setting up systems for new openings, supporting managers withstock control, budgeting and forecasting and successfully implementing EPOS, CMS and chip’n’pin solutions in 40 restaurants.

Q1 What is your role at GS Systems? RT: I am the operations director responsible for

making sure we deliver quality customer serviceat every stage of the client relationship. Whetherit’s initial discussions with a prospect, ensuringthe correct procedures are in place for existingcustomers or offering managed service supportto growing businesses, it’s very much a handson role to make sure our EPOS solutions aretruly effective.

Q2: Obviously you have an impressive trackrecord running bars and restaurants,launching concepts, training staff. Howdoes that benefit GS Systems customers?

RT: I think former operators like myself and Stuartadd an extra dimension to the GS proposition.I’ve been involved with successful, profitableand growing businesses and can share myexperiences and knowledge.

For example, the launch of one concept sawus exceed our 12 month net profit target by£100,000 within six months and earn a 72%gross profit on liquor.

I helped another concept boost profits by 13%within two years of refurbishing a two-dozenoutlet chain. All this accumulated know-how isnow readily accessible to all our clients.

Q3: So clients can enjoy the best of both worlds?

RT: Exactly. In my time in the hospitality industry, Idon’t think I’ve ever come across anybody quiteas passionate about EPOS and his businessthan Niels. He is brilliant at explaining how thetechnology works and the numerous benefitsassociated with it. I think we complement eachother. His knowledge, experience and expertiseadded to mine as a successful and provenoperator is a great mix.

Q4: Sounds like a great balance of skills?

RT: It is. Without sounding too bashful, I’ve beenthere. Gone to failing outlets and turned themaround by concentrating on the basics.

Hopefully, we can ensure a smootherprogression for clients because of what I’veseen throughout my career. It gives them a lotmore added value to the relationship with GS.

Q5: What’s the secret to success as an operator?

RT: There is none. You need airtight controls. Withoutthem you’re vulnerable. You constantly want to becontrolling your stock, your sales, your cash andstaff costs if you want a business that candevelop and mature. That philosophy wasembedded in my psyche from the day I enteredthe industry. Coming from Yorkshire helps. I am100% into the concept of watching the pennies.Do that and the pounds look after themselves.

Q6: What do you see as your biggest challenges?

RT: First, help operators see the bottom line benefitsof the full EPOS capability. Do that and we cansave them a lot of money and increase theirmargins. Some owners are happy with theirearnings without realising they are leaking cash.From my experience, they don’t even know it’shappening. Putting procedures in place caneliminate loopholes and give them strongerbusinesses.

Second, show how the intelligence and reportsgenerated by an EPOS solution can impact on thebottom line. Why settle for a 61% margin when66% is attainable with tighter controls andprocedures? Imagine the impact of that 5% onyour bottom line?

Q7: And the third?

RT: And third, ensure EPOS is more accessible tosmaller two or three outlet multiples who want touse all the technology but don’t want to invest inin-house resources or a head office system. Wecan become an extension of their business with amanaged services offering. This covers backingup sales data centrally on our servers, producingand distributing reports, data and information,ensuring stock control policies are implemented,configuring new menus, running promotions....thelist is endless.

Q8: Finally, as an EPOS purchaser, what’s yourbiggest tip to operators looking to invest?

RT: Never make a decision to buy EPOS purely onprice. It is a false economy. You are buying thehardware AND making an investment in a longterm relationship. It’s a great journey andeducation but you need to be accompanied bylike-minded spirits.

“Why settle for a61% margin when66% is attainablewith tighter controlsand procedures?Imagine the impactof that 5% on yourbottom line?” Richard Tarran, GS operations director


5Added value

nts of view

Q1: What’s your role at GS Systems?

SC: I am a customer support technician. I have awide brief as my role embraces hardware,software, technical support, training andaccount management. Selling too. When I seean opportunity for customers to benefit fromadditional tools and services, I’ll let themknow. Like everyone else at GS, my mission isto help customers grow their businesses.

Q2: How does your previous hospitality careerbenefit you and GS customers?

SC: Externally, it helps if you’ve been thereyourself. Whether I am talking to a generalmanager or one of the bar staff, having anunderstanding of their situation enables meto take a very sympathetic approach when itcomes to explaining methodology and seeingtheir perspective. Internally, service callscome in and we’re able to assess them on atriage basis, which helps us prioritise ourworkload more effectively.

Q3: So knowledge is king?

SC: Definitely. I am a great believer in lookingbeyond hardware/software combinations -and interrogating the solution, questioningwhether it provides everything you need.I am also a great believer in feedback. As abar manager I’ve worked in environmentswhere you get absolutely nothing back fromthe operational team and it is very dispiriting.You feel you’re running the bar blind half thetime.

Q4: And customer interaction?

SC: Of course. I love feedback from customers. Ithink it is really important, especially when youhave first hand knowledge of what they aredescribing. Been there. Done that. Seen thathappen. Having experienced it before we’re ina much better place to advise them and helpmake their businesses more efficient.

Customer support technician Stuart Clarkejoined the hospitality industry whilestudying marine biology & zoology atBangor university. After graduating he worked in bar management on cruiseships, hotels, pubs and restaurants,including time as general manager of a Revolution bar in Preston. After thetransition into EPOS working with the likes of Staples, he joined GS Systemswhere his first hand knowledge of the hospitality sector is proving to be invaluable to clients.

“Having experienced it beforewe’re in a much better place toadvise them and help make theirbusinesses more efficient.” Stuart Clarke, GS customer service technician


6 Multiples

Unlocking the power of EPOS

Clients taking advantage of the managed servicesoffering, provisionally titled Get Smarter, will use GSSystems’ servers to host their EPOS data, which is thenused to populate selected pre-specified reports andbusiness intelligence.

The new annual subscription service is tailored to theunique needs of each business. Options include helpingto monitor the business centrally, setting up prices,menus and supplier lists and advice on promotions andmarketing.Richard Tarran, GS Systems’ operations director and avastly experienced bar, restaurant and nightclub operator,trainer, area manager and IT specialist, is responsible forrunning the bespoke service for existing and new clients. “My time working with the likes of Living Ventures, DeepPan Pizza and Bass proves beyond doubt the importanceof using all the available EPOS tools. EPOS can give youwatertight controls for your business if you haveembedded the correct procedures. One of our roles, inaddition to reporting and configuration, is to empowerclients to realise the potential of their investment,” said Richard.

“The other major benefit is the cost of the subscriptionwill be repaid several times over because of the savingswe’ll help clients make. By working together to implementprocedures that will be adopted across the business wecan plug all the leaks where cash and stock canmysteriously disappear.”“This is a great fun industry where creative staff areempowered to become an essential part of the guestexperience. Sadly, it also attracts one or two bad applesthat have a disproportionate effect on profitability. I’ve seennumerous examples and the most effective way to stoptheir activities is to make everyone 100% accountable,”said Richard. “There are definite economies of scale at work with EPOSsolutions. Small multiples with two, three or four outletsare in a ‘no man’s land’ situation. They can clearly see arequirement to have a central management capability.However, it is difficult to justify the cost of the systemand employing additional staff to run and manage it at aparticularly critical growth period in their development,”said GS Systems managing director, Niels Nielsen. “Oncethey have five outlets, the investment in a head officesolution and in-house support resources makes moreeconomic and administrative sense.”

GS Systems is launching a new managed services facility to give small multiple chains with under five sites allthe benefits of a central management solution without purchasing a head office system.

“Originally we had EPOS for individual restaurants, which was great for tracking sales but we needed more. With ourthird venue we needed a head office solution for greater business control. Since it’s been installed, it’s becomeintegral to us, tracks everything. Without it....don’t ask!”

Here’s what three multiple clients say about us

“The great thing with Niels and GS is they share our belief in big ideas. Our core system feeds information to us,information that we can use and develop upon and take as our own but it’s the new ideas that are important toensure we still maintain our edge.”

“What attracted us to this system was the capability to use it across multi-sites. Our managers are cross-trained sothey can do the kitchen, bar and cellar and we can move them between pubs as the operations are very similar.”

James Almond, Almond Family Pubs, worked with GS for half a dozen years.

Jeremy Roberts, Living Ventures, Sunday Times FAST TRACK 100 regular, worked with GS for over a dozen years.

Ged Lynch, Felicini, Sunday Times FAST TRACK 100 regular, worked with GS Systems for over ten years.

Want to know more about Get Smarter? Contactbusiness development manager Megan Brownon 0800 655 6095 or visit www.gs-systems.co.uk

Cocktails are popular with customers - but canbe an opportunity for devious bar staff to shortchange you and your guests, underpouringmeasures and spiriting away your profits andgoodwill, writes Richard Tarran. Similarly, ifstaff give away dozens of cups of coffee everyweek without charging? Think about it? The costis not just the price of the stock but the incomeit would generate at the point of sale. £200 ofmissing or unaccounted stock could easily havea retail value of £1,600!

Plug the leaks

Empower clients


47Accountability

Key Performance Indicators can be used to constantly monitor andreconcile business activities. They can be fed through to you on a daily oreven hourly basis to show your current performance. Our clientsinvariably want to know gross profit margins (the money you’re making)and staffing costs (your most expensive variable expense). KPIs can befun too. A good staff motivator. Why not run a competition. See who sellsthe most Sol and use the KPI to monitor real time sales. Staff will lovecompeting against each other - with the winner announced at the end ofthe session. They collect a prize - and you boost Sol sales and profits.

Procedures protect your investment Adopting integrated EPOS procedures safeguards yourbusiness from human error and theft. Without them, it ispractically impossible to exert any real influence over yourtrue performance. For example, if a complimentary coffeeisn’t entered into the system your stock cannot balance- and you don’t know if a gesture to a loyal

customer has also become a means forothers to pocket your cash.

Just as we all use mobiles, tablets and computersdifferently, so businesses have their own methods forbanking, petty cash and floats, often with few, if any, controlmechanisms to highlight errors and shortfalls. This needsto be rectified. Integrating cash control into your EPOSsolution and adopting correct procedures gives you totaltransparency and accountability. Every transaction isattributed to a person, a shift and a terminal. A void withoutan explanation is not accepted by the system. Appropriatedetails have to be added to give you a forensic trail - anda picture of your business where unhealthy habits andtrends can be spotted and eliminated.

top tips for smarter business control

Every picture tells a story

Spot checks keep everyone alert

Cash control

An EPOS solution is, without question, the most effective technology tool for controllinggrowing businesses. It tells the real time and historical business story, creating afascinating, accurate and insightful narrative. Here we reveal four simple tips whereEPOS gives you better accountability. There are many more that can be found when youvisit www.gs-systems.co.uk. Alternatively, call business development manager MeganBrown to arrange a demonstration and a needs audit to see how EPOS can help youroperation flourish.

Surprise spot checks are a great way of controlling your business and keeping staff on their toes. If they arecarried out on an ad hoc basis then stock discrepancies and potential issues can be identified and nipped inthe bud. Line checks can be carried out on a daily basis by picking two or three popular items such as bottlesof Becks or Magners. A blind stock count where only you, as the owner/manager, know the figures you shouldbe hitting takes a matter of minutes but sends a long lasting message that tight business controls are in place.


8Viewpoint

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

Why gamble when EPOS procedures

can safeguard your business?

At one end of the spectrum are the results we see on adaily basis thanks to our EPOS solutions. We havemany long term clients who benefit from the very latestsophisticated, multi-faceted EPOS technology. They havedeveloped successful organisations in part because theyappreciate how EPOS gives them the operational toolsand business intelligence to control, manage and growtheir businesses. Every decision they make is informed by evidence fromour solutions. From recipe and portion control tohighlighting stock discrepancies to validating andreconciling void transactions, our EPOS solutions providethem with pinpoint accurate answers. However, sadly, for every hospitality and retail operatorchampioning the power of EPOS, there are others whotell you they don’t enjoy the same effectiveness fromtheir investment. I come across them and their anecdotal evidence all thetime, at exhibitions, at prospect presentations or fromhorror stories I hear from my peers in the hospitality andretail sectors.

Despite having access to the same or similar EPOStechnology and possessing good brand concepts, EPOSjust doesn’t do the business for them. Although no two circumstances are ever likely to bethe same, the major reason EPOS doesn’t work forthem is simple. They don’t embed the necessarywatertight procedures into their businesses. And that is crazy. Think about it in another context. Awayfrom the office I fly planes. Before I even contemplatetaking off, I have to follow over 30 pre-flight safety

procedures to check the aircraft is ready for action. AndI willingly carry them out because I know that being2,500 feet above the North Sea is not the best time orplace to discover you’ve neglected to follow safetyprocedures designed to protect you.As a pilot, I also carefully study reports of aircraftcrashes to help improve my awareness of the dangersinherent in my hobby. My studies show it is clear pilotsare far less likely to be involved in accidents if theyadhere to all the relevant procedures.

The same lessons apply to the hospitality and retailindustries. Obviously, following EPOS procedures isnot a matter of life and death but it’s the differencebetween incurring unnecessary losses, breakingeven or making a healthy profit.That’s why whenever I meet potential new clients I focuson communicating the importance of two key objectives.The first is to demonstrate the solution’s functionality,revealing the WOW factor. The second is to explain howthe technology is only ever as good as the proceduresin place to support it. This bit isn’t so exciting as itmeans committing to a lot work and effort (althoughwe’ll help you through the process).

Whenever we specify a solution, implementing clearlydefined procedures is integral to our overall package.

As anyone who has ever worked with me professionally knows, I am passionateabout the EPOS industry. After all, few business sectors can be simultaneouslyso exciting and motivating - and yet so frustrating.

GS Systems managingdirector Niels Nielsenis passionate aboutthe power of EPOStechnology. One of theEPOS industry’s mostexperienced andinnovative experts, heworks closely withmany leadinghospitality and retailindependents and multiples such as Alma De Cuba,Almond Family Pubs, Alchemist, Blackhouse,Cheshire County Council, Gusto, Felicini restaurants,High Peak Borough Council, Living Ventures, LowryArts Centre, Max Spielmann, Salford City Council,San Carlo Group, Stockport Metropolitan BoroughCouncil and Timpson.

We recommend the rules of use for your new EPOSsolution are literally written into the terms and conditionsof staff contracts. Failure to observe them becomes adisciplinary matter with dismissal as the ultimatesanction. Such measures may appear to be drastic but theyare necessary. You need to show staff you are totallycommitted to eliminating all operational loopholesto protect your business from genuine and deliberate‘mistakes’. By integrating failsafe EPOS usage procedures into yourbusiness, you are effectively ensuring that alltransactions, purchases and stock movements aretransparent, trackable and traceable. Nothing happensin your business without you having a full audit trail. That is a remarkably powerful business tool to have atyour disposal - and there is no greater feeling when yousee businesses in full flow with a fully functioning EPOSsolution accelerating their growth and financialprosperity.

Issue 16 Spring/Summer 2012

You can read Niels’ regular blog about unleashingthe power of EPOS - including tips and advice oninitiating, implementing and monitoring procedures.Simply visit www.gs-systems.co.uk and registeryour details and choose the information you want toreceive from us. The www is packed full ofinformation, case studies, videos and all the latestnews about EPOS helping businesses grow.

There are numerous EPOS suppliers out there, ranging from the good, the bad to the downright ugly, writes GS Systems business development manager Megan Brown.Deciding who is suitable for your business is never going to be easy. To help, we’ve published a comprehensive white paper to guide you step by step through the selectionprocess and help you make an informed and objective buying decision. Inside, you’ll find information about the real cost of EPOS failure, how EPOS has evolved, what toexpect from your EPOS provider and what sort of questions you need to ask to ensure your prospective provider is right for you. A free copy can be obtained by calling meon 0800 655 6095 or visiting www.gs-systems.co.uk.

How do you choose your EPOS provider?

You need to show staff you aretotally committed to eliminating

all operational loopholes

It’s the difference betweenincurring unnecessary losses,breaking even or making a

healthy profit

Nothing happens withoutyou having a full audit trail


grapevine 16

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