Screen savers

Many licensees are moving away from standard tills and taking advantage of the efficiency offered by EPoS. Graham Ridout reports

If the cellar is the engine room of a pub, then an EPoS system is the control room. In less than a decade, EPoS systems have become an essential tool in controlling stock, cash and umpteen other aspects of a pub's business.

Like most computer-based equipment, prices of EPoS systems have tumbled in recent years, thereby making them affordable to small multiple operators and sole traders. Rapid Wholesale Supplies' (RWS) UK sales manager Graham Wagstaffe says: "The demand has been caused by the fact that they are now more affordable and within reach of the independent licensee."

RWS offers terminals that cost less than £2,000 each to buy outright or are available on a three-year lease for about £18.95 per week.

Paul Roberts of EZ Touch says licensees are moving away from simple cash registers to EPoS because stock control is now high on their agenda to minimise fraud and theft. Roberts advises people to consider what business functions they want from their EPoS because some

systems can be overly complicated or contain modules that might never be used.

He says: "Licensees must be able to control their own destiny and be comfortable with the system they use." For that reason, he says people should start with a "no frills" system that handles stock control without going into the finer details such as how many chips have been used.

He also says a module that records the working shifts of staff, which can then be used to make up the payroll, is a useful addition. Once licensees become used to EPoS, they can download additional modules that cover everything from special time-related promotions and marketing, to modules that analyse the trading patterns at their outlet.

Although Micros-Fidelio supplies many large chains, the company has recognised the growing demand among sole traders by introducing the Micros e7 terminal. Deputy managing director Steve Madden says: "We say between 3% and 6% of a pub's on-costs can be saved by having a proper inventory and stock control."

His advice to potential buyers is to look at their business model and write down what they are trying to achieve with an EPoS system, whether it is to make the business more efficient or more profitable.

Paul Green, managing director of Hospitality Tills, offers similar advice. He says: "Going for the super hi-tech approach can be very expensive and it can take a few months to train people how to use the equipment efficiently."

Green says a common failing with many operators is that they don't accurately record all their deliveries, which makes a nonsense of trying to have proper stock control.

He reckons around 80% of all EPoS systems have similar capabilities and advises licensees to check the support and fault-rectifying service offered by suppliers.

While most EPoS installations are intended for managing costs and stock control, Uxbridge-based ELX Touch Technology has added another dimension by linking to terminals in a pub's music system.

Operators can control the music from the till via a touch screen that lists the tracks available by genre, artist or title. ELX encrypts all the music on to the terminal's hard disk, and terminals in different parts of the pub, such as the dining area and bar area, can be programmed to play different music to suit the mood of the customers. Director Nicholas Payne says: "We write all the software ourselves and the system can be run via the pub's existing amplifier or we can install new equipment, whatever is easier for the licensee."

With more pubs/bars now offering food, AccuPOS provides a food-service system that is ideal for both counter and full-service establishments. It means seating plans can be designed to exactly match the layout of the venue, ensuring orders are delivered to the correct customer.

AccuPOS can also give data on

the total hours worked for each employee, without duplicating any existing payroll or other accounting functions. In addition, it can give a breakdown of beverage and food costs, profit and loss, and even top-selling items at the touch of a button. Specials can be added quickly and easily to the menu, and assigned a stock value.

Once a special is out of stock, servers are made aware and it can be removed from the menu or wiped off the board.