Great support
Open Solutions have been exceptionally
helpful when it comes to the issue of support.” He
adds: “We’ve recently changed our computers
over from Windows 7 to Windows 10 operating
systems, and the support we received during
the changeover was absolutely excellent, making
sure that it was seamless and without interruption
to our data or day to day operation.”
Dorking RFC: improving both bottom line &
membership services with Open Solutions
Focusing on improving the club’s bar
management and its profitability as an additional
income stream, Deputy Chairman and Membership
Secretary Nick Smith led a project to replace the
club’s existing tills and operating system and to
implement ‘smart’ membership cards
with Open Solutions in the summer
of 2016.
The club’s goals for the
new EPoS were to enable
the issue of perpetual
membership smart cards
(sourced from another
local company, Ashley
Forms) which are loaded
with funds and provide
discounts to members. In
addition, the club wanted to
bring the bar stock-keeping,
financial reporting and records
up to date and improve the service
offered to members. The club can now identify the
percentage of members using the Club regularly,
along with their typical bar spend per visit and
over a season, and get a much better idea of the
highest spends and actual and average spend.
Taking advantage of differential pricing and
setting up members’ accounts
DRFC’s bar and facilities manager Nicky
Brown uses new EPoS system to set up
differential pricing, so that a) members received a
10% discount on production of their club loyalty
cards, while b) the club’s many visitors paid the
going RRP for drinks and snacks.
Dorking RFC members aren’t asked to place a
minimum amount on their cards, yet despite the
10% discount on drinks’ prices and with only 25%
of the membership using their loyalty cards, the
amounts placed still generate £2,000 to £3,000
positive cash flow in the club’s bank balance and
account for around 50% of bar takings.
The smart cards also allow online top-ups to
be made by members via DRFC’s website (or in
the near future, a members’ mobile phone app),
so that they can always make sure there’s enough
in their bar accounts before they set out to the
club.
Going cashless means less trips to the
bank – if it’s still there
While only 25% are using their loyalty cards,
the EPoS technology and card readers allow the
growing use of debit cards, helping the
club become increasingly cashless.
That in turn is reducing the
number of visits to the bank
and the amount of cash
carried each time, another
advantage when the UK’s
retail banks are closing
local branches all around
the country.
Enjoying those special
promotions by suppliers
The EPoS system also helps
the club set up special promotions
whenever these are made available by suppliers.
As Deputy Chairman & Membership Secretary
Nick Smith says: “We’ve had a number of special
promotions and these have proven successful and,
better still, easy to set up and analyse. It means
that whenever we choose to take advantage of a
supplier promotion, it’s much easier and simpler
for us to do it.”
Where do you go from here?
Just contact us on 01732 367 227, or send
us an e-mail at [email protected] and we’ll
provide you with whatever you need, or set up a
demo presentation at your club so that you can
see our solutions in action.
www.sportip.biz
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