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Greenbank Hotel "We now have a modern system to take our business forward." Ric Lovejoy, co-owner of Greenbank Hotel The Client In the heart of the historic Welsh town of Llangollen stands the Greenbank Hotel. This handsome Victorian villa had been run as a guest house for many years but had become tired and neglected. Fortune came its way recently in the shape of a dynamic young partnership, of Ric Lovejoy and Chris Ainsworth, whose vision and energy have brought the building back to life. In the process, they have created a stylish and popular addition to Llangollen’s hotel and restaurant scene. Today, after a programme of refurbishment, the Greenbank Hotel has 15 well-planned bedrooms and a 3-star restaurant. It prides itself on having broad appeal, catering for families, couples, groups and business travellers. To make guest stays more memorable, it offers a range of adventure activities for adrenalin junkies. For those of a gentler persuasion, it provides uninterrupted views of Dinas Bran Castle with the surrounding Berwyn Mountains as backdrop. “Not only did the hotel need bringing back to life, but we were in the dark ages in terms of technology. Thanks to J2 and LLG, we now have a modern system to take our business forward.” Ric Lovejoy, co-owner of Greenbank Hotel The Solution The Challenge The new owners inherited some rudimentary elements of technology with the Hotel: an old Casio till, a fax machine and a stand-alone PC in the office. It was clear that things could and should be improved. “We needed a system to control our business,” explains Ric. Having worked before with LLG Solutions, it was a natural step for the partners to call this company in. LLG provides products and managed services to small and medium-sized businesses in North Wales and north-west England, based around consultancy, systems integration and support. Having assessed what was required by the new business, LLG recommended equipment from its long-term hardware partner, J2 Retail Systems. The Benefits * The J2 560 cohabits happily with the Possoft solution to meet the Hotel’s computing needs * All elements of the business are now contained within a single system * In just one step, the business has come from ‘the dark ages’ of technology to using state-ofthe- art hardware and software * The reaction of staff has been extremely positive and ease of use is praised * Guests, too, appreciate the new system, including its ability to produce individual bills * The contemporary looks and silent operation of the J2 560 fit well into the newly- refurbished environment. The Process LLG has installed a central till system based upon one of J2’s latest machines, the J2 560. Explains Ric Lovejoy: “The J2 equipment came highly recommended from several parties. It clearly was the kit to use.” For software functionality, LLG has equipped Greenbank Hotel with Possoft, a popular EPoS solution which functions with touchscreen technology. Together, the J2 till and Possoft drive all the essential computing functions. LLG then built a communications network throughout the building, which both serves the management systems and provides free-of-charge wireless access in guest bedrooms. Whilst the implementation was straightforward, it was a challenge nevertheless to cable within the constraints of a nineteenthcentury building whilst respecting its architectural features. About J2 Retail Systems J2 Retail Systems is a specialist manufacturer of PC-based touchscreens, LCD touchscreen monitors and point-of-sale hardware to the retail, hospitality and leisure industries. With 50,000+ units installed worldwide, its clients include Vue Entertainment, Greggs and Thresher Group. By controlling its own design and manufacture, J2 has built a reputation for innovation, reliability and cost-effectiveness. Credited with introducing ‘thin client’ EPoS to the market, J2 uses emergent technologies wherever possible to reduce the cost of hardware ownership. The Results All elements of the business including stock control are now contained within one system. The Sage software application works alongside Possoft to manage business accounts and payroll functions. Networked to the till is a kitchen printer which details the orders as they come through from the restaurant. Plans for the future include giving PC Notebooks to waiting staff, which will also connect into the system. This facility will be particularly valuable when the business expands to offer an outside dining service during warmer months next year. The reaction of the management and waiting staff to the new system has been extremely positive. “Once we became familiar with the new software functions, we found the system clear and simple to use. The hardware has been brilliant.” There’s been praise too for the styling and operation of the new till. “It’s modern, quiet and looks good.” “Guests recognise the difference too,” continues Ric. “This is largely due to the till’s ability to break down orders to note individual guest names. With each guest effectively having his or her account, it makes life a lot easier.” Guests are noticeably more comfortable, especially if dining as part of a party booking. The ability to leave at different times and settle their own bills encourages guests to purchase more. “It’s far more civilised and modern.” “ All in all, the installation of new technology has been a pleasing exercise, and one which will take our business forward.” About LLG Solutions Limited LLG Solutions offers a full suite of computer consulting, installation, support and integration services. As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and Microsoft Small Business Specialist, it is ideally placed to help hospitality and retail businesses to grow. With its world-class consultants and engineers, the company can contribute know-how and expertise to ensure that clients realise maximum benefits from their investments in technology. With LLG managing and supporting computers, networks and communications infrastructures, clients are in safe hands and are very rarely, if ever, without the use of the technologies that their business depends upon. Customised IT solutions include EPoS software which delivers detailed analysis and enables clients to identify sales trends, forecast demand and minimise inventory. J2 560 The J2 560 represents a quantum leap. With the technology in the ‘head’ of the touchscreen and a VESA mount provided as standard, users can operate the 560 as stand-, pole- or wall-mounted. This frees up space, allows the screen to be easily moved and seen by customers and operators. Based on notebook technology, the 560 is fanless, with or without disk drive. As a thin client machine, it has no moving parts and delivers exceptional reliability. J2’s trademark 3-year ‘return to bench’ warranty is included. Users can customise the 560 by selecting wired or wireless, thin or thick client, stand-alone or networked operation, optional swipe for payment cards, operator ID checking via card swipe or biometric fingerprint recognition and resistive or infra-red touchscreens. Sector: Hospitality |
