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newsagent software

Online Training Academy for newsagents launched

My software company, Tower Systems, formally launched its online Training Academy for newsagents today.  This is an exciting move for us and for newsagents – guaranteeing a on-goinging training opportunities which will help produce better outcomes for newsagents, their customers and their suppliers.

Free online Training Academy for newsagents and newsagent staff

MELBOURNE – March 10, 2009 — Tower Systems, Australia’s largest supplier of retail management software to newsagents has launched a free online Training Academy for newsagents.

Through the Training Academy, newsagents can access formal training designed to help them better compete in today’s environment.

This is an unprecedented opportunity for newsagents and further demonstrates the leadership of Tower Systems to its community of 1,500+ newsagents.

Fully interactive, participants learn from each other and the workshop leader – as if are in the one room – even though they can be at home or their shop. Questions are answered and live examples provided to create a professional learning experience. Each session ends with a test to gauge what has been learned and the value of the experience.

Tower Systems provides access to all training for free. There is no limit to how many workshops newsagents and their staff participate in.

“Anyone can train you about what button to press and when, this is different. We train you about the why, we help you genuinely save time and make more money.” commented Mark Fletcher, Managing Director of Tower Systems. “Training like this, months and years after you install our software, helps you unlock tremendous value from the relationship with us.”

The online program includes training on magazine management, stock control, point of sale, stock take and how to move from POS Solutions to Tower Systems.

The online training services are in addition to Tower Systems’ group and one-on-one training sessions which are delivered around the country.

Access to the Tower Training Academy is from any computer with broadband. A phone is used for toll-free audio participation.

The Tower Training Academy is part of the exclusive Tower Advantage TM initiative.

Tower Systems serves in excess of 1,500 newsagents with retail management and home delivery software. It serves more newsagents than all other software companies combined. Tower owns and operates three newsagencies – it uses its software itself and provides test facilities for supplier initiatives.

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Customer Service

Sales based replenishment project

The next version of the a major newsagent sales based replenishment program is a few weeks away.  Through Tower Systems I have been involved since SBR was first tested with newsagents years ago.  Each incarnation has been an improvement on the last.  I have seen that good sales data from compliant newsagencies has been used to refine the project.

This next incarnation of SBR is all about avoiding sell outs – something proactive newsagents will be pleased to hear.  It will drive good commercial outcomes.

The SBR project is proof that not all software products used by newsagents are the same.  There is a reason some POS products have not been part of the SBR evolution.  Yes, I am crowing.  Hard work is paying off.  This is practical progress for newsagents as it gives us access to new tools at the same time as our competitors – well most newsagents at least.

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Newsagency opportunities

Newsagent training opportunities

Tower Systems is running free online training on magazine management and newspaper home delivery management which non Tower newsagents may find useful.  While some processes are Tower specific, general training is provided which could save time.  If you would like to participate please email bookings@towersystems.com.au.  You’ll need broadband and access to a phone for a toll free call.  The sessions are:

  • Magazine Management Workshop – 24/02/2009 2pm
  • Home Deliveries and Customer Management – 26/02/2009 11am
  • Magazine Management Workshop – 26/02/2009 2pm
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newsagent software

Stimulus package will help newsagents

In addition to the benefits you are likely to feel at the cash register from the passing today of the Federal Government stimulus package, the 30% investment allowance in the package means that if you spend money on capital improvement in your business in the next four and half months you can access a 30% investment allowance.

Tower Systems is adding value to the investment allowance offer with its own bonus package which includes an additional six months of support, free bonus training and package system prices at 2008 rates – before our dollar collapsed and drove hardware prices up.  We are also using our in hous accounting team to ensure that our offers are packages to achieve the best outcome for Tower newsagents.

With more than 1,500 newsagents partnering with Tower Systems today, we are well placed to help even more newsagents save time and improve business efficiency.

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newsagent software

Comprehensive software training for newsagents

Tower Systems yesterday announced a comprehensive schdule of free online training for newsagents using its point of sale software.  There are several new training programs including help for all the POS Solutions users transitioning to Tower.  Online training is free.  It is time friendly – do it at the shop or at home – and easy for staff to do without travel costs. Here is the schedule for the next two months:

  • 19/02/2009 11am Magazine Management Workshop
  • 19/02/2009 2pm Retail Stock Management – Configuration & Maintenance
  • 24/02/2009 11am Retail Stock Management – Reordering
  • 24/02/2009 2pm Magazine Management Workshop
  • 26/02/2009 11am Home Deliveries and Customer Management
  • 26/02/2009 2pm Magazine Management Workshop
  • 3/03/2009 11am Former POS Solutions Users – Helping Ease the Transition
  • 3/03/2009 2pm Point Of Sale Training
  • 5/03/2009 11am Magazine Management Workshop
  • 5/03/2009 2pm Home Deliveries and Customer Management
  • 12/03/2009 11am Point Of Sale Training
  • 12/03/2009 2pm Retail Stock Management – Configuration & Maintenance
  • 17/03/2009 11am Retail Stock Management – Reordering
  • 17/03/2009 2pm Magazine Management Workshop
  • 19/03/2009 11am Retailer Security
  • 19/03/2009 2pm Point Of Sale Training
  • 24/03/2009 11am Magazine Management Workshop
  • 24/03/2009 2pm Former POS Solutions Users – Helping Ease the Transition
  • 26/03/2009 11am Home Deliveries and Customer Management
  • 26/03/2009 2pm Putaway Management
  • 31/03/2009 11am Magazine Management Workshop
  • 31/03/2009 2pm Retail Stock Management – Configuration & Maintenance
  • 2/04/2009 11am Retail Stock Management – Reordering
  • 2/04/2009 2pm Point Of Sale Training

I am proud that Tower continues to innovate in delivering valuable training for newsagents.  It is this commitment which helps Tower Newsagents be the most IT compliant group of newsagents in Australia.

To book for any of the free online training sessions please go to the Tower website, select support and click on user training.

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Customer Service

Keeping your newsagency computer running in the heat

We published advice to Tower Newsagents tonight on helping newsagent computer systems survive the heatwave which others who visit here may find useful:

  1. Ensure there is good ventilation. Clear out unnecessary papers and other junk crammed around the hardware.
  2. If the computer is in a very hot place and is acting in an unstable way, consider training a small fan to circulate air. Do not remove the cover because most boxes are designed for optimum airflow over important components with the cover on.
  3. Place something under the case to lift it off the ground or shelf (but keep it stable) to improve airflow.
  4. Reduce internal dust. Turn everything off, unplug the computer box, remove the cover, blow out dust, place the cover back on.
  5. You will have more water around for drinking – be careful. Computers do not like to drink.
  6. Don’t have too many devices running off the one socket.
  7. Use a battery backup to deliver clean power in the event of a blackout or power spike. We sell these.

The heat problem is compounded in some situations by a considerable build up of dust in the computers.  Some preventative measures would have stopped this in most cases.

Stay cool everyone…

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Newsagency challenges

Software support fees

Bernard Zimmermann one of the owners of POS Solutions has slammed a newsagent software company for announcing a significant increase in software support fees.  I agree with Bernard.  Software support coverage should be priced fairly.  This is one reason the 1,500 Tower Systems newsagents are not being hit with the price increases being applied by whichever company Bernard blogs about.

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newsagent software

Where IT compliance helps newsagents

Newsagents received an Off-Sale Date and Return Method Changes Notification from Network Services last week.  This is the first of what we expect to be many.  The newsagents operating according to industry standards did not have to do any extra work.  Newsagents not following industry standards or not using compliant software have had to engage in manual processes to deal with the three pages of magazine return changes notified by Network Services.

These change notifications are coming through weekly as Network Services moves to its weekly returns model.

To newsagents who wonder about the value of up to date industry-standard software, the time saved for many in handling these Network Services notifications is the answer.

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magazine distribution

Magazine management workshops help newsagents

Following four filled to capacity workshops already this year, Tower Systems has scheduled four additional free online Magazine Management training sessions.  The additional magazine management training sessions will cover the latest requirements for fficient and compliant magazine EDI returns and control.  They are to be held:

  • Tuesday January 20 11:00am
  • Thursday January 22 2:00pm
  • Tuesday January 27 11:00am  
  • Thursday January 29 2:00pm

Access is free.  To book, please go to the Tower website, click on support and select User Meetings.  You can have the website update your Outlook calendar as well.  You can also book by emailing bookings@towersystems.com.au.

here is what one newsagent said who participated in one of these sessions last week:

Thank you to Rowan & Michael for the great session on Magazine Management.  It was my first experience at online conferencing and I found it very easy to listen and also to see what was going on. I certainly had many of my questions answered and will now need to re-look and have another go at the fine tuning process. I’m sure I’ll be in touch again when I get stuck!! Thanks Guys – much appreciated – especially down here on the south coast of NSW.  Regards, Rosemary Rosemary Oates Tuross Head Newsagency

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Customer Service

Magazine management training popular with newsagents

At Tower Systems we announced a free online workshop of magazine management for Thursday this week.  It filled in two days.  We announced another for later the same day.  It filled in less than a day.  Two more sessions were announced for Thursday January 15 at 11am and 2:30pm.  They filled in a day.  More will be announced in the next couple of days. 

It’s great that newsagents are eager to learn more about best practice in managing magazines.  We know from feedback from previous sessions that this workshop can help cut magazine management (arrivals and returns time) by a third in many newsagencies. 

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newsagent software

Newsagent charged $4,000 a year for software support

A newsagent called me last week to ask for help.  They received a bill for $4,000 for software support.  No, I didn’t tell them to switch to my software company, Tower Systems.  I advised them that I know of newsagents paying just $1,500 a year to their current software company for support (mediocre as it is). 

Software companies ought to treat all newsagents.  There is no justification to charge someone $4,000 and the newsagent in the next suburb $1,500 for the same services – such an approach preys on the weak.

Trust is key to the relationship between newsagents and their software provider.  Trust is demonstrated in common pricing for all.  In the case of this other software company, $1,500 a year software support is the benchmark they have established.

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Ethics

Magazine compliance roundtable discussion

Tower Systems has scheduled a free online roundtable discussion on magazine compliance for Tuesday December 9 at 11am.  This discussion will review current standards and provide newsagents with steps to take to ensure their businesses are compliant and ready for the next phase of IT innovation in the magazine supply chain. This session is available for supported Tower Newsagents only.  Bookings can be made by emailing bookings@towersystems.com.au.

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newsagent software

Increasing unemployment

A newsagent in country Victoria has let a casual employee go last week following the replacement of their computer software.  The different approach to magazine returns and stock management in the business resulted in sufficient efficiencies to eliminate the role altogether.

While this sounds like an ad for Tower Systems, the software company I own, I have been thinking more about the focus of the newsagent to achieve genuine benefits from investments like in  software. Too often, I see newsagents do something which saves time only to not use the saved time to their personal or financial advantage.  There is no point pursuing efficiency if you are not going to make it count for your business.

This country Victorian newsagent is now a couple of hundred dollars a week better off because they wanted what the sales pitch said could be achieved.  They did this themselves.  Sure they were trained, but the achievement is theirs and kudos to them for that.  They have done more than many newsagents who don’t make computer systems and other infrastructure investments in their businesses pay off what they promise.

I can arrange contact details or anyone who wants to verify the story about the time saved by the switch and the decision to let the employee go.

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newsagent software

Update on Fairfax Rural newspaper offer

The team from the Ballarat Courier driving the Border Mail and other newspaper offers I blogged about last night have contacted me and I have talked through the problems with the original plan.  I have put them on to the software experts to discuss details of how a subs offer covering two titles could be made to work.  The discussions have been fruitful and I am encouraged that the publisher representatives have committed to creating an offer which is fair and easy to manage for newsagents.  There will be more discussions on the mechanics tomorrow.

I note that VANA has sent out a bulletin tonight saying they are in discussion over the problems with the plan.  It is a pity these discussions did not occur when VANA representatives were consulted during the formation of the offer.  VANA is not appropriately skills to discuss the mechanics of subscription offers.  This has, for years, been best managed by those in control of the software newsagents use.

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Newsagency challenges

Software training for newsagents

Tower Systems is hosting a National Spring Newsagent Training and User Meeting Tour starting next week. Any newsagent is welcome to attend.  The meeting will commence with a presentation on how to use the Tower software to increase sales and cut costs – smart business management for tough times.

The dates for the free training are as follows:

  • Newcastle – Tuesday, October 28 – 10am*
  • Melbourne – Wednesday, October 29 – 2pm*
  • Sydney (Camperdown) – Thursday, October 30 – 10am*
  • Sydney (Camperdown) – Thursday, October 30 – 2pm*
  • Brisbane – Friday, October 31 – 11am*
  • Melbourne – Friday, October 31 – 11am
  • Canberra – Wednesday, November 5, 2pm
  • Perth – Wednesday, November 5 – 10am
  • Dubbo – Thursday, November 6 – 10am
  • Albury – Thursday, November 6 – 10am
  • Geelong – Friday, November 7 – 11am
  • Adelaide – Friday, November 7 – 10am
  • Cairns – Monday, November 10 – 1pm
  • Gold Coast – Tuesday, November 11 – 1pm
  • Darwin – Wednesday, November 12 – 11am
  • Hobart – Wednesday, November 12 – 1pm

Click here to download the booking form for the Spring User Meeting Tour.  Bookings can be made on bookings@towersystems.com.au.  * – these are the sessions in which I am certain to participate.

Disclosure: I am the owner of Tower Systems.

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newsagent software

Don’t be scared, be smart

The news reports over recent weeks are enough to make any newsagent worry about business. Worrying achieves nothing positive.  Indeed, it can suck you into pursuing failure.

Ignoring the economic news, we are using our point of sale software to pursue growth.  Plenty of smart newsagents with good software are doing this.  Things like using the software to marketing the business at every opportunity, to improve customer service and to cut labour costs.

The staff roster is a good example.  Using your point of sale software to manage your roster makes it easy to make changes. At the risk of humiliation I’d suggest the Coco Chanel approach to rostering.  Coco’s fashion advice was that once you are dressed, look at yourself in the mirror and remove an article of clothing.  Less is more.  The roster is the same.  Once it is done, step back and cut an hour.  That hour saved could be equal to an extra $80 in revenue.

Since many newsagency employees read this blog, I have a revenue raising suggestion for you to balance the above suggestion that your boss cut hours from the roster:  If you are responsible for a part of the newsagency in which you work, ask to see sales and other reports which compare this year to last.  Get into as much details as possible   Look a your area as if your future depends on you achieving cost savings or sales growth of, better still, both.  By you thinking about your part of the business as an owner and with access to new data about your area you are likely to drive a good result for the business and for you.

My point is that smart newsagent computer systems can be your best friend in tough times.  Use them to their fullest and worry less.

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Newsagency challenges

eziPass serving newsagents well

Close to 1,000 newsagents use eziPass for vending mobile phone recharge, phonecards and other products. It has proven to be reliable and useful software for newsagents, especially since the collapse of Bill Express. Now that Optus is available, eziPass can offer newsagents all the top selling mobile phone products.

eziPass is free for all newsagents including the 1,500 newsagents who use Tower Systems software and the 1,200 newsagents with any of the other six systems on the market.

Last week, some eziPass users experienced challenges when POS Solutions updated their software without warning. Their update included an untested interface to PC TAFMO, technology used in the current version of eziPass. POS had not tested the software in-house.  It had not passed testing with the folks at TAFMO.  Had they followed basic testing requirements they would have found that the software had a bug and therefore not released it.  The TAFMO testing is crucial since they would know the environment into which POS was about to install its software.  POS knew they yet rushed the update out.

We alerted POS to their problem and they sound found the bug released an update to their software.  POS Solutions has blamed  Tower Systems for the problem. They have done this because they are about to announce their TAFMO interface and they want to switch people away from eziPass. This will be easier if they can discredit us.

There are other reasons POS has falsely accused us of causing the problem with their software but I will leave that discussion for another day.

The eziPass software continues to work well on POS Solutions installations and many hundreds of other locations. No update has been released. None was necessary. The problem which affected a small group of POS users was caused by them and fixed by them.

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newsagent software

The value of discount vouchers

The Sunday Age today has a story (page 4 in the print edition) about the importance of discount vouchers in tough times.  Smart newsagents will make sure that every customer leaving their shop has an offer which aims to lure them back.  The voucher could be something printed on the copier in-store or printed using your point of sale software.  While I can’t speak for others, I know that our Tower Systems software prints vouchers – based on what has been purchased for for all sales.  I like this because the voucher becomes automatic.

I plan to take a careful look at the vouchers being issued by other businesses with a view to developing a strategic plan for the next three months.  This is something we need to be consistent with. The article in The Age is right – it is times like this that customers will be drawn to businesses offering deals.  For newsagents that has always been a challenge.

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newsagency marketing

Technology meetings for newsagents

On Friday last week Tower Systems details of the Spring User Meeting Tour:

How to take advantage of tough economic times using Tower Systems’ software

As the title suggests, this Tower Systems User Meeting / training opportunity will focus on helping you find ways to turn tough economic times into success for your business.

We will provide training in software functions and reports you can use right away to improve the outlook for your business.
We will also answer all of your questions on any topic related to our software. This is your session designed to help you learn more about your software.  Here are the dates:

  • Newcastle – Tuesday, October 28 – 10am
  • Melbourne – Wednesday, October 29 – 2pm
  • Sydney (Camperdown) – Thursday, October 30 – 10am
  • Sydney (Camperdown) – Thursday, October 30 – 2pm
  • Brisbane – Friday, October 31 – 11am
  • Melbourne – Friday, October 31 – 11am
  • Canberra – Wednesday, November 5, 2pm
  • Perth – Wednesday, November 5 – 10am
  • Dubbo – Thursday, November 6 – 10am
  • Albury – Thursday, November 6 – 10am
  • Geelong – Friday, November 7 – 11am
  • Adelaide – Friday, November 7 – 10am
  • Cairns – Monday, November 10 – 1pm
  • Gold Coast – Tuesday, November 11 – 1pm
  • Darwin – Wednesday, November 12 – 11am
  • Hobart – Wednesday, November 12 – 1pm

We have tried to accommodate dates and time based newsagent preferences. In order to fit the locations in we have had to use some less ideal days like Wednesdays. We have a smaller format version of these sessions which we will be delivering through our free online program in October.

Any newsagent is welcome.  Book by emailing your details to bookings@towersystems.com.au.

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newsagent software

Free online training for newsagents

My software company, Tower Systems, has been delivering free online training and user meetings this year in addition to the seventy or or face to face user meetings around the country. The online series is proving to be a great success with close to full attendance at most sessions. We have a cap of fifteen attendees. We have purchased access to the Web Ex platform – this is a widely used conferencing platform and provides good management of video and audio to create a professional and comfortable online meeting experience.

Next week we are repeating one of our most popular online training events – a Meet The Experts session where we make available one of the mist skilled Tower team members:

  • Michael Elvey, Customer Service Manager. Michael has hands on newsagency experience as well as exceptional Retailer software knowledge. His session will start with advice on how to ensure you get the magazine supply you want and the credits you deserve. This will focus on key compliance challenges. Michael will also take questions on any issue. Session details: September 17 at 2pm.

We are offering these sessions to help our users more directly connect with our most senior people and thereby get more from your software. Participation is free. All you need is a phone for a toll-free call and a computer with broadband connected. Please book by emailing bookings@towersystems.com.au.

What is really good about these sessions is that we get to connect newsagents who would not usually meet.

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About us

Better than Bill Express

better_than.JPGMy newsagent software company, Tower Systems, sent a fax out to newsagents yesterday promoting our offer as better than Bill Express. Click here for a full copy. With Optus and Vodafone coming to our exclusive integrated eziPass platform, integrated eftpos, excellent eftpos rates, exclusive magazine supply initiatives and our respected newsagent customer service status we felt like crowing.

Claims about how good we are would be hollow if were not putting something back into the channel and I mean really putting something back. While this year already we have sponsored the ANF national convention, three QNF conferences in Queensland and the national website initiative, it is our soon to run national TV commercial which demonstrates the extent of our support for newsagents.

I have owned this business since I started it in 1981. The TV commercial is a long held dream and proves more than any sales pitch that when it comes to newsagents that I am prepared to put my money where my mouth is and support the channel in a practical non partisan way.

This is why we are better than Bill Express, much better.

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Bill Express

Truth about mobile recharge

The 300 or so newsagents using the Pos Browser software may want to contact the company about their claim today that they print mobile phone recharge vouchers through their software.

Tower Systems is currently the only newsagent software supplier able to offer mobile phone and phonecard vouchers, including for Optus and Vodafone, from within newsagent point of sale software.

UPDATE: Bernard Zimmermann has subsequently edited his blog post yet the implication remains that they print vouchers from their software.

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Ethics

GNS Sydney Market Fair this weekend

Tower Systems will have a stand at the GNS Market Fair in Sydney this weekend.  We will have support and sales people on hand to answer questions and help you move to the software twice as many newsagents use as any other.  We will be demonstrating our new mobile software as well as answering questions on our ePay integration which delivers Optus, Vodafone, Telstra and other mobile product recharge direct to your point of sale softwasre.  We are the only software company offering this to newsagents.

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Bill Express
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