opensolutions international . com
Open Solutions & First Sports : a new force in business solutions for rugby clubs
Over the last three years , the much admired EPoS system and software package from Open Solutions International ( formerly MHS Group ) has been installed in a growing number of delighted rugby club customers , from Farnham to Bradford Salem , and from Royal Wootton Bassett to Nuneaton .
Now , two bold strategic moves - an acquisition and a new partnership - by this company ’ s dynamic management team have created an unrivalled provider of business solutions to the UK ’ s rugby clubs .
Acquisition of Open Solutions creates a stronger provider
Following the acquisition of Open Solutions by Simon Kimble , the investor who took over MHS Group three years ago , the company is now twice the size , but its ambitions go way beyond that . The provider now looks after some 250 customers , mainly sports clubs , and has the resources and financial strength to develop its clubhouse technology .
CEO Ed Beale explains the rationale behind the acquisition : “ Both companies specialised in clubhouse technology , cashless payment solutions and systems integration , primarily for sports clubs . We all agreed the two companies would be much stronger together , and better placed to give a lot more customers the mobile ready software based solutions they ’ re telling us they want .”
He continued : “ We also share the same philosophy about open platforms that fully integrate with other leading solutions such as the Game Management System ( GMS ) provided to the RFU by First Sports International . The acquisition of Open Solutions creates a financially stronger company that not only offers everything sports club managers need , but software which is robust , mobile ready , expertly supported , and with integration to GMS , designed to suit every rugby club ’ s needs .”
He commented : “ Software needs continuous development , but a high standard of support and service is as highly valued by club managers as the technology itself , if not more so . By strengthening our support resources we will ensure that as we grow , we ’ ll continue to deliver high standards of service .”
“ The name Open Solutions encapsulates exactly what we offer , and enjoys an excellent reputation in the golf club marketplace . The financial strength of the new company will provide both the reassurance club managers expect of us as a provider , with the resources to stay ahead of what is becoming a fast moving game .”
GMS and Open Solutions ’ EPoS : the complete sports club solution
The second strategic move is the relationship that the management teams of both Open Solutions and First Sports have built . It marries First Sports ’ GMS product with the Open Solutions EPoS system to make a uniquely powerful package for managing rugby clubs in every aspect .
The much vaunted Game Management System developed by First Sports provides a comprehensive cloud based platform for subscription and transactional services , dramatically improving a club ’ s ability to manage their business activities in terms of their participants , members , fans , players , officials , coaches , competitions , volunteers , venues , events , ticket buyers , and sponsors .
Want to be the best
As FSI Managing Director Sean Lucas puts it : “ Our mission is to be a game changer for our customers , employees and partners . We want to be the best software provider at delivering a comprehensive sport centric cloud based solution for our customers , and especially our club customers .
He continues : “ Our relationship with Open Solutions is a win win : our unique GMS product and business solution is now fully integrated with one of the most powerful EPoS systems available . The main winners are the clubs . Open Solutions ’ rugby club customers speak very positively about their support , which in my experience is simply unmatched .”
“ As First Sports , we recognise the unique needs of the participants and the governing bodies such as the RFU in meeting the needs of their sport , from grassroots to elite players . Designed from the ground up , our platform provides a 360-degree view of an individual ’ s lifetime involvement in their sport , along with their participation and progress , their roles and relationships , their fans and social connections , their qualifications , statistics , competitions and even more .
Lucas comments : “ Similarly , the GMS platform allows every organisation within a sport at club , school , team , league , region and association level to see the details of the individuals ’ ‘ sporting life cycle ’ across any or all of these categories .
“ First Sports ’ software fully supports financial transactions and reconciliation , web and mobile transactions , event and competition management , data privacy and security , and a range of user ‘ self service ’ aspects to support individual ’ s needs , and those of the club .
GMS and Open Solutions : a unique package
Summarising , Lucas said : “ The combination of our GMS product with Open Solution ’ s EPoS system means there ’ s nothing anywhere near as powerful . With the RFU ensuring an extremely high standard of support to clubs and players in particular , our integrated technology will set up your club with the foundations to meet that challenge , improve your club ’ s bottom line , and enhance your membership services .”
Proof of the pudding : Cambridge RUFC and Gary Barr
Cambridge RFC is one of the first clubs to install the new package , and for the club ’ s decision makers it was a straightforward decision . As honorary club secretary Gary Barr explains : “ We wanted to improve our bar-related membership services and data analysis , and the new EPoS system and four new tills utilising individual membership bar cards via GMS made that objective easy to achieve .”
Using membership cards means members can top up their cards at the club or more likely at home via the club ’ s website , as Barr points out : “ They won ’ t have to remember to bring cash or use their credit cards when they come to the club . That ’ s already made the club much more user friendlier and in tune with modern lifestyles .”
Barr continues : “ These two systems from FSI and Open Solutions are fully integrated , making our life simpler and easier in all sorts of ways . They ’ re also very well supported as well , and that for me is a massive plus point .”
Very good service and support
“ The installation and integration was very good , and the support engineer who came to set it all up , Rob Payne from Open Solutions , could not have been more helpful . The service and training he gave was absolutely spot on . Great support , great people .”
“ The whole system now works very well . Our staff find it easy to learn and use , and using members ’ cards has transformed our ordering speed and turnaround of drinks on busy occasions . The sales and cashing up reports are making analysis and reconciliation easier too .
Barr comments : “ From our perspective , GMS and the EPoS are working well together . On the first Saturday evening that we were using the new system , Rob Payne even called us to check how things were going . How often do you hear about that kind of after sales service ?
He summarises : “ We ’ re very impressed and reassured in terms of our longer term working relationship with Open Solutions and First Sports . I ’ d happily recommend them both to other clubs .”
For more information about Open Solutions , please call 0800 107 5285 or send an e-mail to info @ opensolint . com . For First Sports , please call 01932 231 300 or e-mail info @ first-sports . com www . rugbyclubmag . com 9