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Gift Cards
If your restaurant offers gift cards, do you conform to the rules on gift cards that went into effect in August, 2010? The new rules require gift cards to be valid for at least five years. In many instances, you must also now honor expired gift cards. There are also new revenue reporting guidelines. For more information about tax issues regarding gift cards, click here. | |
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| INTERNET VISIBILITY |
| Just Google It
How visible is your restaurant? We don't mean how big the sign outside is. We mean can customers or potential customers find you on the Internet?
According to recent studies, 97% of people use the online media for local shopping. When people are looking for a new place to eat, most of them use Google. Where does your restaurant rank when [Italian or other cuisine or type] Restaurant in [Your City] is searched? Ideally, you want to be in the top 7 choices listed. If you are not near the top, there are many things you can do to improve your ranking.
Click here to find out how to maximize your visibility on Google.
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| MOBILE POS |
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MICROS Offers Food Truck Technology Solution
One of the hottest trends in the restaurant industry is food trucks. They are literally offering innovative and delicious cuisine on the streets of cities across America.
In fact, Mobi Munch, a Los Angeles-based company that was the first to offer a turnkey mobile option at last year's NRA Show, showed their offering at this year's NRA Show with various technology upgrades, including a MICROS POS System, MICROS Digital Menu System, and MICROS Kitchen Display System, all tailored to the specific needs of the mobile truck operator.
For a look inside the Mobi Munch truck, watch a Mobi Munch Video | |
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| PCI COMPLIANCE |
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Do you need to be concerned about PCI compliance?
YES!!
PCI compliance goes beyond just making sure your POS software is a validated version, but it is a good place to start.
Have you checked to see if the version of POS software you are running is on the MICROS List of Validated Payment Applications? Find the list of the latest software versions here.
Are you familiar with the 12 requirements for PA-DSS Compliance for Level 4 Merchants? Click here for a security standards overview.
Every restaurant should have a plan in place to adhere to the PCI requirements. Contact us if you have any questions with PCI compliance.
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Greetings!
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The world has gone mobile whether we like it or not.
Do you know anyone who doesn't have a cell phone? Guess what? The cell phone is going away and it's been replaced by the smartphone. In the not too distant future, all phones will be smartphones with touch screens capable of running "apps". For those who are not familiar with the term, "apps" are very friendly, easy to use programs and certain apps will change the way we communicate, market, and serve our restaurant customers.
The number of smartphones currently used in the US is staggering. There are now over 75 million users nationwide today. Each quarter another five million new US smartphone users join the ranks.
What does this mean for you? The smartphone, along with new apps, can change your business, increase revenue, turn tables faster, and keep your restaurant competitive.
We can educate you and help you understand the advantages of smartphone technology and how it relates to your business. We can recommend a mobile strategy with proven benefits for your operation. With our expertise coupled with a wide array of MICROS mobile solutions, we can demonstrate how your restaurant can achieve top-line results and bottom line savings.
Call us from your smartphone, cell phone, office phone, or pay phone (remember those?) but do it soon. You don't want to miss the opportunity to "connect" to your customers with what's already in their pocket.
Sincerely,
David
David Shaw
President
POSTEC, Inc.
678-424-4010
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Traffic Is Up, Check Averages Are Down
 According the latest NRN survey, guest counts are up while spending is down. The April 2011 numbers for cover counts were up 2.7% compared the same period last year but down slightly from the previous month. The average check, however, was down as consumers focused on "value-specific" entrée purchases. The survey also indicated less spending on appetizers and beverages.
Most of decrease is attributed to certain inflationary issues especially the rise in gas prices which have now began to finally decrease and are anticipated to continue to fall during the summer months. Operators also reported concerns about commodity pricing and overall margin pressures.
With customer counts heading in a positive direction, operators are in a much better position to improve overall sales by "coaching" their staff on how to up sell, creating incentives for customers as well as staff, and using their point-of-sale system to track results.
To learn more about the NRN Survey, click here. | |
MICROS Unveils Mobile Solutions at NRA Show
New Tools Designed to Increase Restaurant Sales
MICROS Systems, Inc. has announced a stunning suite of new solutions that were developed to enhance the guest experience, improve revenue, and reduce costs. New and existing MICROS users will be able to take advantage of mobile technology...some are available right now, and some in the very near future.
The solutions include the following new offerings:
Mobile Payment with Tabbedout - Customers can now use the iPhone or Android phone to conveniently and securely pay their check while restaurants can leverage social media and direct marketing their restaurant to Tabbedout users. The Tabbedout Mobile Payment solution can integrate directly TODAY with the latest version of MICROS RES 3700 POS system, and will soon be available with an upcoming version of the MICROS e7 system.
MICROS mymenu - This application will enable customers to order and pay from an iPad at the table. It creates cross-selling opportunities and up selling opportunities while educating customers with rich digital content.
Other solutions coming soon include:
MICROS iPad Ordering App -This new tool, initially developed for the MICROS RES 3700 system, will enable restaurant staff to take orders on an iPad, to improve table turns and increases customer spend.
Mobile mymicros.net -Management staff working at restaurants subscribed to mymicros will soon be able to have a smartphone app that will enable them to view the comprehensive real-time reporting of mymicros remotely from their phones. Alerts, graphs, and up to the minute information will be displayed instantly on their phones.
iCard Mobile Wallet - This MICROS solution eliminates credit cards altogether and enables consumers to pay securely with their phones.
Learn more about MICROS Mobile Solutions, click here.
To find out which MICROS offerings will enable your restaurant to take the most advantage of the ever-changing mobile revolution, give us a call. | |
Contact Alan Wright
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The Outlook is Sunny for Restaurants  A restaurant securities analyst recently researched the state of the restaurant industry and concluded that despite rising food and fuel costs, things are looking up overall.
For one thing, restaurant traffic is increasing. The idea of people eating out less is not the case. Secondly, social media is the newest and most effective marketing tool to increase business and to keep in front of customers. Additionally, many restaurant chains are currently expanding rapidly, especially those that offer a higher quality product, even in the quick service segment. And while food costs rise, menu prices don't necessarily have to follow. Restaurant owners are finding ways to cut costs and save money before increasing prices. Finally, with the economy slowly on the rise, people are more apt to spend money on dining. That's the bottom line, and it's what every restaurateur wants to hear in the news. And ultimately, they want to see customers spending money at their own establishments.
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WHAT INTERESTS YOU?
Like Our Ideas or Want To Share Some of Yours?
The Z Report is looking for comments, ideas and suggestions about how we can help our customers better utilize technology.
Write us and comment as often as you would like: | |
mshaw@postec.com
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