|
|
This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3
|
|
Author
|
Topic: RTS POS system
|
|
|
Dave Bird
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 777
From: Perth, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2000
|
posted 03-20-2017 03:16 PM
We've used it for about 5 seasons now. No huge issues with it. Coming from a supermarket background, I find it a little limited on things like sales/item reporting. Also, there's no real "god" setting to where you can fix mistakes of staff easily. The only thing we ever ran into when busy was likely due to internet issues which we resolved. It's still a little funky to me, but the "drones" (our box office stations) must have internet connectivity to the server (concessions till) or they constantly reset and/or we lose the ability to sell tickets. That's new to me, most systems I've used can "stand alone" and report to the server later. Other than that, it can "choke" with ticket printer issues and not sell, but usually that's just because we've run out of paper. People seem good to deal with. Sensible Cinema always seemed interesting, possibly more up my alley, but then momentum and all our data exists in RTS.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack Ondracek
Film God
Posts: 2348
From: Port Orchard, WA, USA
Registered: Oct 2002
|
posted 03-20-2017 06:41 PM
We've had RTS since '03. We initially bought in to serve a 4-plex indoor. We moved it to our drive-in because they were, at the time, the only company willing to modify their system to provide a single ticket per car. That gave them huge points with us.
By far, RTS benefits from the fact its owners are theatre operators themselves. Initially, they developed the system to serve their own operation. We all came along later.
As noted above, one downside has largely been the interaction with their support people. Most of them are very computer savvy and, unfortunately, a few work on a mental plane that doesn't seem compatible with effective social interaction. I've had my run-ins with them, and came close a time or two to looking for an alternative because of that.
They've improved in the social area however, and their owner is frequently in the room when they're taking their daytime calls.
RTS works on a system that allows them to fix bugs quickly, pushing them out to your system or even their entire network. You don't need to do much to keep the system up-to-date... it does that automatically. They are well-equipped to deal with fixing small details their customers run into, but try to hold of on major feature additions until they've saved up a few. In our daily use, we've come up with a few items we've thought would make our lives easier, and if they agree, they've been able to add them in within a day or two.
The demo version of their software is fully operational, except for finalizing transactions and online ticketing. You can work with the software and see if it's "right for you".
For the price, they do provide a support structure that has always been available to us. Being a drive-in, that means our calls usually wake someone up. They've taken that with reasonable grace.
The off-side of the price is that it's not a buy-out system. You'll pay a yearly price, based on how many computers with the software can actually sell at the same time. For example, could have, say, 10 computers on your network with fully-operational software on them. If you buy a license for 5 sales machines, any 5 of that 10 can log in and make sales. This allows me to grab an available slot and do a quick gift or credit card transaction from my office without having to buy a full-blown license for that position. I understand they are now able to license on a monthly basis, possibly charging the recurring fee to a credit card. The license codes are pushed to the main office server, which then branch out to the individual sales positions.
I think I've said this in a previous post... most of this sounds familiar. If you have a single screen with what the industry might deem a "low average gross", this system might be overkill and too expensive. If you have a few screens and/or multiple locations, it's a good choice.
Since we computerized our POS, several other systems have hit the market. I'm not much motivated to move 13 years worth of data over to a new system, so I can't say much about what else is out there. It would certainly be wise to look around though. These systems are certainly set up to be long-term fixtures, once the choice is made.
As to Mike's comment about the way the ticket screen "looks": I don't have much to compare to, but nobody here seems to care. For us, the point of the system's look is to communicate what the buttons do. We're not really looking for resource-eating ornaments.
As for "busy weekend problems": The system seems to thrive on heavy workloads. If high transaction count brings out bugs, I'd be looking at the computers, network or internet structure, not the software.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
Mike Blakesley
Film God
Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99
|
posted 03-20-2017 10:56 PM
One thing that hasn't been mentioned is, RTS handles all of your data transmissions to the studios for you, which is very nice. I shudder to think of having to put up with that nightly Rentrak phone call, which always seemed to come right in the middle of us eating dinner.
quote: Jack Ondracek
As to Mike's comment about the way the ticket screen "looks": I don't have much to compare to, but nobody here seems to care. For us, the point of the system's look is to communicate what the buttons do. We're not really looking for resource-eating ornaments.
We're only one screen, so I just wish there was something in that huge blank area due to us only having one title on display. Maybe our theatre's logo, or a picture. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or resource hogging. The other competing systems tend to have a much more attractive interface. RTS, being self-designed by a tech-savvy bunch of computer guys, doesn't go in for much of that sort of thing.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All times are Central (GMT -6:00)
|
This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3
|
Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM
6.3.1.2
The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion
and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.
|
Home
Printer-friendly view of this topic