Revel Systems' iPad POS system launched at The New ASU Stadium, home of the Hornets. (Photo by Revel Systems)
For a company that started developing a next-generation point of sale (POS) system primarily for restaurants in 2010, Revel Systems has come a long way. The New ASU Stadium at Alabama State University in Montgomery installed more than 30 Revel-powered iPad POS systems, the company’s first large stadium launch.
The New ASU Stadium boasts the POS units at all of its concession stands. The launch’s first test came at the ASU Hornets’ season opener, Aug. 31, where the units rang up a record 5,721 transactions. One feature that makes Revel Systems' POS software unique is the units’ offline feature.
“We can operate when the power goes out, and if the internet goes out we have an offline mode so the whole POS system still functions off line,” said Revel Systems Cofounder and CEO Lisa Falzone. Due to mechanical issues, one side of the stadium lost power during the opening game. Because of the system’s offline mode, the concessions stands continued to serve customers during the hour-long power outage, generating revenue that otherwise would have been lost.
It’s not just stadiums that are using the system. Brett Enright, CEO and Founder of Juicy’s Outlaw Grill, started using Revel’s POS system July 25. Juicy’s does more than $15 million in sales each year, traveling to fairs, festivals, racetracks and other events throughout the country.
“At the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, Calif., we served in excess of 300,000 customers,” said Enright, who added that he’s been looking for a POS system with full back-end reporting functionality and the ability to work off line.
A fair setup for Juicy's Outlaw Grill, which started using Revel Systems in July. (Photo from Juicy's LLC)
“Even in the best scenarios, when big events get a lot of people, cell service, internet and WiFi can get bogged down,” he said. As a traveling concessionaire, it’s important to be adaptable for any situation, including lack of connectivity.
The units consist of an iPad, the POS software, and several hardware items depending on the customer’s needs. Revel Systems can create a package that includes hardware such as iPad stands, wireless routers, credit card swipe machines, scales, barcode scanners, printers, cash drawers and even digital menu boards. Though Falzone said that the software has an API that can work with other brands of hardware, she recommends bundling a package together — what she calls a “Point of Sale in a box where you can just plug it in and go.”
The typical business version of the software, which includes a terminal bundle with a cash point and stand, as well as unlimited users and robust reporting, among other features, runs $3,300 per terminal with a $99 monthly support fee. Falzone said Revel Systems is priced around one-third the cost of other POS systems on the market.
The system in action. (Photo by Revel Systems)
Reports are a key component that made this particular unit the right choice for New ASU Stadium’s concessionaire Gourmet Services. The enterprise reporting lets managers see statistics and sales for each stand in real time. Alerts can be set up to notify when products are running low to keep stands adequately stocked at all times. Plus, Gourmet Services Executive VP Alfred Baker said in a press release that there is a major difference when it comes to saving time.
“We are saving a minimum of five hours a week on inventory. For example, we stocked 10,000 bottles for the game and only sold 3,000,” said Baker. “Before Revel, we would have had to count the remaining stock in each stand in order to place the order for the next game. Now, I can just check all that from my computer or smartphone at any time, even as the game is in progress.”
The reporting functionality was key for Juicy’s, too, said Enright. The company uses 65 registers, currently split between the Los Angeles County Fair and Washington State Fair in Puyallup, all of which he regularly checks for performance on his cell phone. He said Juicy’s is up to about 600,000 served, having launched less than two month ago.
Revel’s software also includes scheduling and the ability for employees to clock in and out.
Falzone said that the Revel Systems' POS unit is 14 percent faster than traditional POS systems, which helps take advantage of the influx of customers during the short breaks at sporting events. Also, combining the software with the iPad contributes to ease of use.
“You don’t have an intimidation factor,” said Falzone. “The iPad is typically marketed as a consumer device, so most people have already used it.” Baker said his staff was quick and that within a half hour everyone was comfortable using the product, while Enright said Juicy’s went live with the Revel Systems product with very little training and had no problems.
Interviewed for this story: Alfred Baker and Lisa Falzone, (206) 456-9630; Brett Enright, (888) 909-9991