over time, the bar cards can potentially be used for paying for
functions and even subscriptions. It is currently used to buy food
as well, but at non-discounted prices.
The club also has the option, should it wish to in the future, of
asking members to place a value on their bar cards eg. £10,
£20, £50 or more as an annual requirement, but at the moment
this will also remain an option.
Cards are already improving cash flow and
(probably) sales
On the other hand, with members putting money on their
accounts via the cards and that money being held in the club’s
bank account (accounted for as a liability), the club’s cash flow
has already improved, as Ged explains, “At this moment in time
members pre-payments amount to approximately £400.” This in
turn gives the club greater flexibility when it comes to payments
etc.
As a result of the change to using cards instead of cash, even
with going live for just three weeks the club has also seen a
one-off uplift in the bar sales, as Ged outlines, “The scheme is
too new to be able to track any significant changes reliably and
accurately as yet, but we have had three good weekends with
sales exceeding expectations.”
Speeding up the orders
The importance of support
With all the promise that new technology always brings, it’s easy
to overlook the primary importance of the back up or after sales
service and support which every new user always needs at some
point. So in this respect, what does Ged think of MHS Group’s
support, as and when it’s been required?
“It’s very good,” he says, “and Stuart Millar from MHS Group has
been very supportive whenever we’ve needed his input.” In fact
it’s been good enough that when it comes to the club’s overall
decision to buy the MHS Group’s EPoS system as a package
which includes support, Ged and his colleagues are happy to
recommend their MHS Group EPoS software to other rugby
clubs.
“Most definitely,” Ged says, “I can now say that it’s been a very
worthwhile initiative to update the club’s technology. It’s led
directly and indirectly to the club achieving not only the ambitious
goals we set for ourselves in terms of membership and bar
management, but has opened up all sorts of other benefits and
opportunities for the club and its members.”
Ged continues, “But in the longer term the best thing is that all
our members can now see that their club is investing in growth,
and creating more reasons why they should not only remain
members but encourage their friends and colleagues to become
members too. That’s very good news for the club’s future.”
Every rugby club knows what it’s like before and after a match
when the bar is far busier than usual and when the time to take
orders and serve drinks is even more critical.
The good news is that the new EPoS technology is improving
this aspect as well, following staff training on the new system
as Ged commented, “The speed of order placing has definitely
improved. The initial staff training was facilitated by a test
environment, so we were able to hit the ground running when it
came to the first real-time opportunity, which of course meant a
match when there was a very large number of anxious customers
at the bar!”
He continued, “The single EPoS till has proven to be insufficient
to meet peak queuing needs, so we’re going to order a second
till in due course. All four bar staff are comfortable with operating
the EPoS till.”
New features and membership services
Ged also likes the new features that come with their new EPoS,
like Tabs for groups or when someone wants to place several
orders and pay at the end of the visit. Cashback and splitting bills
between customers are both very simple functions and receipts
are available on request including Members’ card balances
where applicable.
As he explains, “Creating Tabs and Cashback buttons are well
understood and being utilised. The security appears good,
particularly as individual staff transaction reports are available
and are enabled by their personalised fob keys.”
While there are no plans at the moment, the club could also set
up more complex discount schemes such as larger discounts for
the bigger spenders, or for a limited period campaign when a
supplier has a special offer on a particular line.”
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