New Remote Ordering Capabilities with SpeedLine 5.9 POS Software Release

LYNDEN, WA – February 5, 2008 – In the company’s third point of sale software release in 12 months, SpeedLine launched a major upgrade to its OrderLink Gateway interface with online ordering, call center services and self-order kiosk providers.

Enhancements give third-party ordering services access to the restaurant database to add customers, edit customer information, add and recall orders, request information on stores, streets and zones, and much more. As a result, online ordering providers can process and update orders easily, and remote call center agents can easily handle the order entry and editing tasks just as though they were at the restaurant.

In addition, the new release extends the capabilities of OrderLink Gateway beyond ordering into EIS, providing tools for multi-unit restaurant groups and third-party companies to develop and integrate real-time executive dashboards.

SpeedLine partner Brygid Technologies uses OrderLink Gateway to integrate online ordering with restaurants’ POS systems. Brygid’s Sy Bor Wong adds, “With the enhancements in this new release of OrderLink Gateway, we can use the same level of security used for online banking to transmit orders over the Internet to the SpeedLine point of sale systems, helping restaurants safeguard their patrons’ personal information.”

The OrderLink Gateway upgrade has attracted a range of technology partners, offering SpeedLine customers a variety of choices for online ordering and call center services. In addition to Brygid, QuikOrder, Onosys, Golicious, Big Holler, and OnlineMenuOrdering.com have also integrated their online ordering services with SpeedLine. A number of other Web ordering and call center service providers, including iPie Solutions, are currently in the process of integrating as well.

In addition to the OrderLink Gateway enhancements, the new SpeedLine software release also adds support for new gift card processors, enhancements for credit card processing, menu panel design, and kitchen display integration, and new employee information safeguards.

LYNDEN, WA – February 4, 2008 – SpeedLine 5.9, scheduled for public release February 2, will be the last version to support the Windows NT operating system.

Microsoft discontinued support for the Windows NT operating system on January 1, 2005. To extend the useful life of your NT computers, we have continued to ensure that new SpeedLine releases would run on your existing NT computers for three years past that date. However, at a certain point, it becomes impossible to develop new technology for outdated operating systems. We have reached that point with Windows NT.

Because of the age of your NT computers, it will not be possible to upgrade them to Windows XP. While you may continue to run SpeedLine 5.9 and previous versions on your older computers for as long as you like, you will need to replace those computers before you can upgrade to SpeedLine 6.0.

Please call SpeedLine Support at 888-923-9185 if you have questions or need assistance with upgrading. We thank you for your ongoing business with SpeedLine, and look forward to a long continued relationship.

Marble Restaurants Selects SpeedLine POS Software for Pizza Hut Units

LYNDEN, WA – November 9, 2007 – Marble Restaurants announced that the company is replacing its existing POS systems in 20 Pizza Hut restaurants with SpeedLine POS and adding SpeedLink Enterprise for multi-unit administration and reporting at head office.

"We evaluated several POS software solutions for our restaurants and chose SpeedLine because it is technologically superior," comments Shamez Jivraj, president of Marble Restaurants. "Based on the more than 700 Pizza Hut stores in the US already running SpeedLine systems," Jivraj adds, "we knew we were dealing with a company that could handle the unique requirements of our menu and business."

Marble Restaurants has installed the SpeedLine POS software in four locations to date, and SpeedLink Enterprise above store. The company plans to roll out the new software to all 20 of their Pizza Hut locations. In addition, they have contracted with SpeedLine to provide remote menu and POS management services.

"Our staff finds the SpeedLine POS much more user-friendly than our previous system," Jivraj says. "We appreciate the improved level of security SpeedLine provides, particularly the fingerprint sensor technology. We have had issues in the past with employees clocking in too early or clocking out late to try to maximize their hours. The security controls on clock-in and clock-out times prevent staff from stretching their shifts or clocking unnecessary overtime; we believe that functionality alone will help us reduce labor hours."

"SpeedLink Enterprise above store," Jivraj adds, "will give us improved insight to run tighter, more economical operations across all of our Pizza Hut units."

Award-Winning Chicago Restaurant Concepts Roll Out SpeedLine POS Systems

LYNDEN, WA – October 26, 2007 – Nancy's Pizzeria and Al's Beef restaurants in three states are upgrading their point of sale systems with SpeedLine POS. According to parent company Chicago Franchise Systems, Inc., all existing and future locations of both franchise concepts will be equipped with SpeedLine point of sale systems, and the company will use SpeedLink Enterprise to manage the POS systems and reporting from head office.

"A consistent technology solution in all our stores is important," said Chicago Franchise Systems president Dave Howey. "We believe that SpeedLine is the best product for our restaurants, and so we're mandating it in all locations. We design our training for new franchisees around the POS. It allows us to manage the business efficiently and train effectively."

Nancy's Pizzeria was one of the first pizza chains to adopt point of sale technology for its restaurants, and Howey has been involved from the first. When he started his search for the company's next generation POS system, he knew exactly what he wanted.

"When I looked at POS systems, the first thing I wanted to see was the back office—how it works under the hood," Howey said. "SpeedLine has all the bells and whistles, but what's most important to me is that I learned it quickly, and I can teach it quickly. SpeedLine is logical. It's a structured, orderly system that makes sense. That makes it easy to use and easy to train."

"We are pleased to be able to provide Chicago Franchise Systems with a technology solution that's such a great strategic fit for Nancy's and Al's Beef," comments SpeedLine vice president of development Terry Haan. "Our solution for Nancy's and Al's Beef reflect the expanding appeal of SpeedLine for fast casual and quick service restaurants—and in particular for multi-concept companies that need a point of sale solution that can meet the unique needs of both their pizza and fast casual concepts."

Valentino's Pizza Chooses SpeedLine POS

LYNDEN, WA – September 21, 2007 – Valentino's Pizza president Anthony Messineo, Jr., announced today that the company has selected SpeedLine POS from SpeedLine Solutions, Inc., as its new point of sale solution. The Lincoln, Nebraska-based chain is rolling out SpeedLine to their 22 corporately owned restaurant locations, and is now recommending the SpeedLine software to franchisees.

"Making the conversion to a new POS as easy as possible for employees and managers was a priority for us," Messineo commented. "SpeedLine gives us a lot of flexibility to customize the software, easing the transition for our staff. On top of that, SpeedLine's extensive reporting system allows us to get any figure or report we might need. And by integrating online ordering and connecting all of our stores together with SpeedLink Enterprise, we are streamlining procedures and advancing Valentino's with 21st century technology."

"We are delighted that Valentino's has selected SpeedLine for their restaurants," says SpeedLine president John de Wolde, "and that they have elected to integrate online ordering and enterprise reporting. We look forward to working closely with them to develop the technology solutions that they need in their restaurants and above store."

500-Unit Retail Brand Group Selects SpeedLine POS for Fast Casual Concepts

LYNDEN, WA – September 14, 2007 – Retail Brand Group announced today that the company will equip all new locations of its three fast casual franchise concepts with SpeedLine point of sale systems. A subsidiary of Sodexho, Inc. based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Retail Brand Group, LLC franchises three brands in its portfolio: Pandini's®, Jazzman's® Café, and Salsa Rico®.

"SpeedLine gives our franchisees an innovative system that meets the needs of all our different operating environments—in upscale bistros and coffeehouses, pizza and ethnic cuisine, and in a variety of formats and footprints," commented Michael Hollen, Retail Brand Group Director of Operations.

"Some of our top priorities when researching POS systems included speed of service, reporting capability, inventory tracking, integration with online ordering, and marketing," Hollen continued. "SpeedLine was able to deliver on all of these priorities and more."

The SpeedLine restaurant point of sale solution makes its Retail Brand Group debut in the newest Pandini's franchises in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. The company is also evaluating SpeedLink Enterprise above store to provide them with detailed reporting and centralized management capabilities for the franchised locations of all three concepts.

"We are honored that Retail Brand Group has selected SpeedLine as its technology partner," commented SpeedLine President John de Wolde. "The SpeedLine software is uniquely scalable across their quick casual pizza, coffee, and Mexican concepts. It is an investment that will equip their franchisees with new tools for profitable growth."

New SpeedLine POS Software Release Targets Quick Service

LYNDEN, WA – September 4, 2007 – Speed of service is the focus of the new SpeedLine 5.8 POS software release by point of sale provider SpeedLine Solutions, Inc., with a range of new capabilities for high volume restaurants and quick service concepts.

"A growing percentage of pizza companies, including a number of our customers, are adding new quick service concepts to their brand portfolios," says SpeedLine vice-president of development Terry Haan. "They need their POS software to be versatile enough to address the specific technology needs of both types of restaurant."

Although many of the new capabilities in the SpeedLine 5.8 release are targeted at quick service concepts and multi-brands, the speed of service improvements will benefit any restaurant.

One such development is Directed Order Entry™, a unique toolset that speeds the ordering of meal deals with flexible options and accurate pricing. Restaurant staff can order a package deal with one touch of a button, or build a value meal interactively with prompts for each choice. Restaurant operators can also use the new tools to prompt staff with upselling messages at key points in the order process.

SpeedLine 5.8 also adds support for customer-facing displays at the point of service and outdoor displays for drive-thru concepts. "Customer displays increase customer confidence," says SpeedLine marketing manager, Jennifer Wiebe. "With the details of their order right in front of them, customers feel confident and in control, and the added visibility helps keep staff honest."

The displays double as digital billboards as well, displaying appealing product images and upselling advertisements. "The impact of a well-crafted marketing message can be huge when it's presented at the moment a customer is making a buying decision," Wiebe adds.

New kitchen display options speed service and keep orders organized in the kitchen. Additional new tools enhance employee record-keeping, speed menu maintenance, and improve inventory tracking and labor performance analysis.

The compliance deadline is August 31, 2007 in order for users to avoid non-compliance fees. All customers who use PCCharge will need to install the upgrade before that date.

Why Are AMEX CAPN And Visa Card Level Results So Important?

The CAPN compliance deadline is August 31, 2007. Any merchant not in CAPN compliance by August 31 will be subject to non-compliance fees of up to $1.00 for each non-compliant transaction.

Starting in October 2007, merchants must meet the requirements of Visa'a Card Level Results program in order to receive proper rate qualification. Failure to do so will result in an additional transaction fees.

What Is AMEX CAPN?

American Express Card Acceptance Processing Network (CAPN) is a global, multi-million dollar, multi-year technology effort that will deliver a more flexible, adaptable, and efficient card processing infrastructure for all of the American Express core payment systems—authorization, submission, clearing, and settlement. The benefits of CAPN to merchants include:

• Simplified processing by aligning more closely with bankcard data requirements
• Enhanced confirmation, tracking, and resolution of disputes and other submission issues
• Help reduce fraud by providing enhanced authorization data
• Allow authorization and submission of transactions greater than $99,999

What Is Visa Card Level Results?

Visa has mandated that all merchants send Authorization Response field 62.23 (a field used to determine the card type used in a transaction) to their acquirers/processors. Visa has also mandated that the acquirer/processor utilize this field for qualification of the transaction and to pass the value in field 62.23 in settlement files. As of version 5.7.1i SP8, PCCharge transmits this field according to Visa's specifications.

Getting Upgraded

All end-users with current PC Charge support either through SpeedLine or Verifone are covered and will not have to pay for the upgrade. Customers covered for PC Charge support with SpeedLine will be contacted in the coming days in regards to upgrading.

Those without support can contact Verifone to purchase the upgrade. To find out more about the PCCharge 5.7.1i SP8 or how to obtain it, visit http://www.pccharge.com/products/pccharge.htm or contact a VeriFone Sales Representative. The general PCCharge Sales Group can be reached at 1-800-725-9264 or at SalesInfo@VeriFone.com.

Rage Inc. Rolling Out SpeedLine POS to 105 Restaurant Locations

Rage Inc. announced that the company is upgrading all 105 of its Pizza Hut restaurants with new point of sale systems from SpeedLine.

"We selected SpeedLine based on the recommendations of other Pizza Hut franchisees who were already using SpeedLine successfully,” commented Gina Hollingshead, Rage Vice President of MIS.

"Compatibility and support for current technology were primary considerations," Hollingshead added. "SpeedLine supports our unique systems, including the complex coupons that we offer. In addition, SpeedLine allows us to take advantage of new technology such as integrated online ordering and high-speed access and support."

Rage is the sixth of the 11 largest Pizza Hut franchise companies in the United States to choose SpeedLine as their POS technology provider.

According to Hollingshead, Rage is in the midst of an aggressive rollout. Since November, 35 locations have been upgraded with SpeedLine POS systems. Hollingshead expects that the remaining locations will be converted to SpeedLine by the end of the summer.

SpeedLine president John de Wolde said, "We are working with Gina and her team to help them complete their SpeedLine rollout quickly and efficiently so that they can take full advantages of the new capabilities of the system across all their locations."

With installations completed in more than 500 Pizza Hut, KFC, and Long John Silver locations to date, SpeedLine has signed agreements to install SpeedLine POS systems in more than 1000 Yum! Brands restaurants before the end of the year.

Pizza Hut of Fort Wayne Speeds Service with SpeedLine POS

Pizza Hut of Fort Wayne, operators of several of the busiest Pizza Hut restaurants in the nation, announced plans to roll out SpeedLine point of sale systems to the franchise company's 45 restaurant locations.

"We have been pleased with the system's reliability in our high-volume restaurants," commented Kevin Espy, director of information technology for the franchise company. "The first location where we installed SpeedLine has 13 point of sale terminals and five kitchen displays,"
Espy added.

"In our fast-paced delivery locations, speed of service and operational efficiency are critical," he added. "SpeedLine gives us the responsiveness and reliability we need to serve our customers quickly and efficiently. And with SpeedLink Enterprise above store, we have access to employees, sales, and inventory details for all locations. That gives us the information and controls we need to improve operations and manage the business effectively."

"We look forward to a long and mutually profitable partnership with Pizza Hut of Fort Wayne," said SpeedLine president John de Wolde. "We are pleased to be able to help them improve efficiencies in their very successful restaurants."

SpeedLine will be exhibiting and meeting with customers at the International Pizza Hut Franchise Association Spring Meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado later this month.

Kentucky Pizza Huts Improve Results with SpeedLine POS Systems

Pizza Hut announced that the company is rolling out SpeedLine point of sale systems to its 27 restaurants.

Kentucky Pizza Hut COO Rodney Walraven noted significant improvements in delivery service after only a week with SpeedLine POS systems in two recent restaurant installations.

" The first Friday night with SpeedLine, we ran 94% on time delivery," Walraven said. "We can see our delivery service a lot better with SpeedLine than with our previous system. It’s easier to operate. We can select grids, keep track of drivers, track their performance real-time throughout the day – out the door time and time in store –to measure performance on an ongoing basis. And with SpeedLine’s fingerprint security, we have strict control over exactly who did what and when.”

In the Leitchfield, Kentucky location, where SpeedLine has been up and running for several months, Walraven noted similar delivery improvements as well as reductions in discounts and voids, and tighter security and cash control.

Walraven also noted a "safety side benefit”: with SpeedLine, they can force drivers to cash out after every run, minimizing the amount of cash they carry on deliveries. Walraven pointed out the importance of features such as this for his multi-unit franchise operation: "I can’t always count on every manager to enforce the rules a hundred percent of the time. SpeedLine adds another layer of control.”

"I’m an old sailor,” Walraven added. "I like to make things sailor-proof – as easy as possible. SpeedLine takes a lot of things out of the hands of staff and makes sure that they happen as they should. It provides the checks and balances we need to run multiple locations.”

”It is gratifying to hear examples like these of the bottom-line impact that SpeedLine has on our customers’ profitability,” said SpeedLine president John de Wolde. "We look forward to working with the Kentucky Pizza Huts to expand the effect of these improved controls across all their locations as we continue their point of sale system rollout.”

SpeedLine POS Selected for 34 Tetra Management Pizza Huts

Tetra Management announced that the company has selected SpeedLine Solutions, Inc. as the point of sale technology provider for their 34 Pizza Hut restaurants.

With their existing point of sale systems at the end of life, Tetra Management began evaluating replacement options in 2006.

"A number of major Pizza Hut franchisees had already successfully implemented SpeedLine systems,” said Tetra Management CFO Doug O’Connor. "Based on the recommendations of those companies, we were confident that SpeedLine would work for us—with no need to reinvent the wheel. The SpeedLine system does everything we need.”

"SpeedLine’s order taking process is quick and easy, O’Connor added, "so it’s very easy to train. On top of that, detailed inventory management, ideal food cost, and labor scheduling are important to us, and SpeedLine has all the management tools that we consider essential for managing our restaurants effectively.”

Tetra Management has installed SpeedLine in four locations to date, and plans to roll out SpeedLine to their remaining Pizza Hut restaurant locations over the next 12 months.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with Tetra Management,” commented SpeedLine President John de Wolde. "They are an established franchise company with solid management systems, and we look forward to providing them with new tools to increase efficiency and profitability.”

April 1st - Are You Ready for Daylight Savings Time?

Daylight saving time (DST) is here. By now you should have updated Windows on your computers with the appropriate patch/fix. If you have not or you just changed the time on the clock, further action is required to avoid a potential issue.

Daylight savings time was originally scheduled for April 1 this year before it was changed to happen March 11. If you did not update your operating system with the appropriate patch or fix, on April 1 your system will think its daylight savings time. By not updating your system, a chain reaction is created that will continue to when the time changes back in November and so on.

An update to your Windows Operating System is required. Click here for instructions so you can update now. SpeedLine Technical Support is available to assist you if you need help. Just call (888) 923-9185 if you have questions.

New SpeedLine 5.7 POS Software Release Improves Efficiency

Point of sale provider SpeedLine Solutions, Inc. today announced the public release of SpeedLine 5.7.

"The new release enhances the SpeedLine suite of products to improve efficiency and profitability in nearly every area of the business," commented the company's vice president of development Terry Haan.

Inventory, deposit editing, and reporting improvements simplify day-to-day management at the restaurant level and at head office. In addition, the new release integrates SpeedLine with new vendor partners for seamless caller ID, gift card processing, and integrated purchasing.

The upgrade also fully automates the company's "no-hassle" SpeedMail program. The turn-key service takes customer database marketing off the plate of busy restaurant staff, providing weekly reminder mailings to inactive customers and related services—all completely automated.

For buffet concepts, the new SpeedLine release automatically calculates buffet consumption based on actual sales, improving the accuracy of forecasting and prep planning to minimize waste.

And perhaps most notably for restaurant operators, an extensive new online help system and training aids for managers and customer service staff reduce training time for new employees and provide instant access to step-by-step assistance.

"Having the right tool for the job only helps you when you know how to use it," said SpeedLine marketing manager Jennifer Wiebe, who directs the company's training development team. "Training is the key to success."

Boston Pizza Replaces Call Center Software with SpeedLine

Boston Pizza announced today that they are updating their Edmonton-based call center with new software from leading pizza point of sale provider SpeedLine. The Edmonton area call center is the chain's first call center in Canada.

"Equipping our call center with SpeedLine software will help us grow our business," said Kelly McClung, Business Manager for Boston Pizza's Northern Alberta corporate office.

McClung expects that the new software will drastically reduce the number of errors and omissions – and callbacks to customers to get the correct information. McClung explained, "SpeedLine ensures that the call center operator selects all the appropriate sides and options before sending the order to the store, so things don't get missed. With fewer callbacks tying up phone lines, the call center will be able to handle more calls. That will increase our business overall."

The call center is a strategic asset for the chain in a region facing serious labor shortages: "It takes a lot of staffing pressure off our individual restaurant locations by taking phone orders off their plate," McClung said. "Down the road, we plan to expand the capacity of this call center, and perhaps add more in other areas."

The existing UNIX-based system at the call center was limiting growth. "It was archaic," commented McClung. She and her team began researching alternatives in the fall of 2006.

"A number of our competitors use SpeedLine, and we were impressed by how solid the system is," McClung said. "The company's industry experience also gave us confidence: SpeedLine has been in the pizza point of sale business for a long time."

"On top of that," McClung added, "SpeedLine has made the process so simple. Usually, when it comes to technology, it's complicated. But from the first contact, SpeedLine made it easy—helping us evaluate our options, and customizing a solution just for us."

Why miss out on the benefits of upgrading your SpeedLine system?

New capabilities such as auto-discover coupons, prep and buffet planning, online ordering and more can help move your business forward. Moreover, SpeedLine 5.7 includes extensive online help that will make it easier than ever to master SpeedLine and use your POS to maximize your profits.

If you are running a version of SpeedLine prior to 5.0, take note:

In order to ensure that we can provide thorough training to growing technical support team, as of April 2007, we will no longer provide support for versions prior to 5.0. If you run an older version of SpeedLine, we will be in touch soon to help you with an upgrade.

SpeedLine 5.7 is running successfully in a number of beta test sites. The beta period has been extended for a few weeks to add some additional features. It will begin shipping in February to all customers who have requested it.

Request your upgrade here.

"POS-itively productive": Pizza Marketplace interviews SpeedLine about boosting productivity with a modern POS system

What prompts an operator to finally take that step and invest in a new POS?

"It becomes an easy decision once they can visualize how they’re going to recover their investment,” said Jennifer Wiebe, marketing manager of SpeedLine Solutions, Inc. "On average, a SpeedLine POS will pay for itself in somewhere between six and 18 months. For someone who decides to lease a POS, a big factor in the decision may be realizing that the POS will save them enough to cover their leasing costs each month — and then keep making them money long after the system is paid in full.”

Excerpt taken from "POS-itively," PizzaMarketplace.com.

SpeedLine Recognizes Customer Service Account Executive Pam Miedema as Outstanding Employee

ABBOTSFORD, BC – December 18, 2006 — At a company event last weekend, Customer Service Account Executive Pam Miedema was the first recipient of SpeedLine's Outstanding Employee award. She received her award from Terry Haan, SpeedLine's vice-president of development.

A three-year SpeedLine veteran, Pam's knowledge and savvy in customer service and administrative management come from twenty years of experience in related fields in a variety of industries. At SpeedLine, Pam manages the support renewal process for our growing customer base with friendly efficiency and attention to the every detail of excellent service.

Congratulations, Pam!

SpeedLine Delivers Cost-Effective Multi-Unit Restaurant Management with SpeedLink™ Enterprise 3

LYNDEN, WA – November 3, 2006 — Enterprise management and reporting is more flexible and cost-effective for multi-unit restaurant operators today with the release of SpeedLink™ Enterprise 3 by pizza point of sale developer SpeedLine Solutions, Inc.

The new SpeedLink Enterprise is a ready-to-use solution that pizza companies can host at their own offices, with no subscription fees. Its flexible new design makes it easy for pizza companies to create custom reports and integrate with existing systems.

"We plan to use SpeedLink to drive operational improvements that will help our people in the restaurant give customers the great service they deserve," commented Kevin Espy, Director of Information Technology for Pizza Hut of Fort Wayne, a 45-unit franchise company that was involved in the beta program for SpeedLink Enterprise.

Pizza Hut of Fort Wayne plans to use SpeedLink to send all the daily transactions from their high-volume restaurants, including employee data and inventory, to their main office.

"Importing this data into our accounting package and producing the reports we need will help us run our business more efficiently," Espy added. "Our goal is to use the SpeedLink data to improve our operations, from reporting on how certain coupons have worked in different locations to speed of service comparisons."

With SpeedLink, corporate offices can eliminate manual reporting by automatically collecting detailed data from their restaurant locations. SpeedLink retains the details of every order and financial transaction from each restaurant in a secure SQL database. Head office also has access to complete customer and employee information, including time clock data and schedules, as well as inventory data and sales forecasts.

Head office staff have the flexibility to create the exact reports that they need using SpeedLink's built-in report designer or other tools such as Crystal Reports or Microsoft Report Server. They can easily schedule delivery of key reports to managers and corporate staff.

In addition, SpeedLink can eliminate hours of administration work, allowing head office staff to manage the restaurants' POS systems efficiently from a central office. Instead of updating the POS systems one by one, they can push out menu updates, configuration changes, and upgrades to all locations at once.

"Our multi-unit customers have very different information needs," added SpeedLine Vice-President of Development Terry Haan. "In SpeedLink Enterprise 3, we have developed a set of stand-alone modules that allow users to integrate the capabilities they need with their existing in-house systems and third-party reporting tools. They can use this capability to share accurate information from all locations with their payroll, accounting, purchasing, and marketing systems."

As a result, managers and IT staff are more efficient, and head office staff have an accurate picture of the entire business every day to help them identify and resolve problems early, improving performance at individual restaurants and chain-wide.

Find out more information about SpeedLink. Or even better: book a SpeedLink demo today to see how this comprehensive management tool could work for your business.

SpeedLine OrderLink Gateway Gives Restaurants New Remote Ordering Options

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – September 13, 2006 – At the Northeast Pizza Expo today, SpeedLine announced a new approach to integrating Internet ordering or other remote ordering services with their point of sale systems.

OrderLink Gateway opens up a world of choice to SpeedLine users, allowing virtually any online ordering service, third-party call center, or automated voice ordering system to send orders directly to the SpeedLine POS.

"The real benefit of OrderLink Gateway is that it allows restaurant operators and chains to integrate existing Web sites or third-party call centers — or choose their own remote ordering service or Web developer," commented SpeedLine VP of Development Terry Haan. "When you've already invested in a Web site or a relationship with a trusted service provider, the last thing you want to hear is that to add online ordering, you have to start over from scratch," he added. "OrderLink Gateway gives restaurant operators the freedom of choice."

Through OrderLink Gateway's XML pipeline, SpeedLine can accept orders from Web sites, remote call centers or drive-thru ordering services, automated voice ordering systems, or even self-serve kiosks. Communication is two-way, allowing instant order confirmation.

"It gives restaurant operators all kinds of flexibility to give their customers new ways to order," added Marketing Manager Jennifer Wiebe. "Their patrons tend to spend more when they order online or through a professional call center, and the restaurants gain the ability to handle more sales with less staff."

Today, several large pizza chains are processing online orders in their SpeedLine-equipped restaurants via QuikOrder. Other SpeedLine users and their preferred Web developers have already begun implementing OrderLink Gateway to give their customers the flexibility of ordering online.

"This new product also leaves the door open for easy integration with future ordering technologies, added Haan, "things we haven't even thought of yet."

Operational Efficiency Drives New SpeedLine POS Release

LYNDEN, WA – September 8, 2006 – Operational efficiency and ease of use are the focus of the newest release from pizza POS maker SpeedLine.

With efficiency enhancements to everything from order entry and tip handling to credit card security and driver cashout, the refinements and new capabilities in SpeedLine 5.6 address nearly 200 specific customer requests.

"After the extensive new feature set introduced in SpeedLine 5.5, we felt it was important in this new release to focus all the little details that can make a difference between efficient operations and extra steps," commented VP of Development Terry Haan. "Anywhere we saw that we could help restaurant operators do something faster and more easily, and with better control, that's where we focused our attention in this release."

Automatic driver cashout on return simplifies cash control and improves coupon tracking accuracy. Streamlined tip handling makes the system easier to use in a table service environment. Hourly statistics provide managers the information they need at a glance to control costs. Inventory improvements speed up purchasing, receiving, and inventory setup tasks.

Other enhancements include order entry improvements for carryout and delivery orders, expedited kitchen monitor settings for quick service restaurants, shortcuts for creating coupons, and new additions to SpeedLine's extensive set of back office reports.

In addition, the company will announce a breakthrough in third-party ordering service integration at the Northeast Pizza Expo in Atlantic City next week.

Godfather's Pizza Chooses SpeedLine for Enterprise POS

LYNDEN, WA – August 25, 2006 – Godfather's Pizza announced plans today to install SpeedLine POS in all of their corporately owned stores.

"SpeedLine has an excellent track record within the Godfather's Pizza organization," commented Godfather's Vice President & CFO Annette Sneckenberg, "so when we decided to upgrade our stores with an enterprise point of sale system, SpeedLine was the obvious choice."

She added, "Our store operators appreciate the SpeedLine system for its reliability and ease of use, but we also see great strategic value: we expect to recover our investment in part by leveraging the data from our corporate stores for analysis at head office."

SpeedLine began installing POS systems in Godfather's Pizza franchise locations five years ago, and has been the exclusive POS provider to their largest franchise company, ROC Management, since 2001. Godfather's operates more than 500 restaurants across the country.

Beginning this week, Godfather's Pizza will be enrolling several of their staff in the SpeedLine Certified Installer program, with plans to begin their rollout into the remaining corporate stores this fall.

"We have been honored to do business with Godfather's Pizza for many years," said SpeedLine president John de Wolde. "This move will strengthen our relationship with Godfather's, and provide new opportunities for us to partner with them in designing solutions to improve operations and profitability across the chain."

SpeedLine Earns Top Score in Hospitality Technology 2006 POS User Satisfaction Survey

LYNDEN, WA – August 11, 2006 – In Hospitality Technology's 2006 "POS Scoreboard," published this month, SpeedLine earned the top overall score in the independent POS user satisfaction survey for companies with fewer than 20,000 installations.

SpeedLine was the top-ranked pizza point of sale company on the Scoreboard, placing #1 in its segment for both User Satisfaction and Strategic Value. SpeedLine users gave the company consistent high marks in the survey, resulting in top-three scores in 8 of 9 categories.

SpeedLine has ranked among the magazine's Top 20 for two years, alongside some of the world's largest hospitality POS companies.

"Although many of the companies in the study are much larger than SpeedLine, the user satisfaction survey clearly applies to POS companies of all sizes and specialties," comments SpeedLine president John de Wolde. "SpeedLine's top ranking for User Satisfaction and Strategic Value is an achievement that we will continue to build on."

New Customer Service Manager Expands Team

LYNDEN, WA – August 1, 2006 – Another eight new service technicians are honing their technical skills and preparing to join the ICSA-certified SpeedLine call center team on the phones this week in an initiative spearheaded by new Customer Service Manager Bryan Champ.

"Our mandate is to deliver superior POS solutions for pizzerias and pizza chains. And that includes providing the best support in the industry," Champ stated. "We are adding staff and developing better internal training systems to ensure that our customers experience timely, knowledgeable support every time they call us."

In addition to the new call center hires, SpeedLine has created a new internal training position in its busy Documentation and Training department to enhance the training and certification programs for help line staff and onsite trainers. Four more Customer Service department promotions last week will ensure optimal support for the newest members of the team.

Champ explains: "We are making these changes now to ensure that we can continue to provide the level of service that the fast-paced restaurant environment demands. In Hospitality Technology's 2006 independent survey of POS users, published this month, SpeedLine earned the top overall score for User Satisfaction in our segment. That is an achievement that we want to maintain and build on."

"With thousands of POS stations to support in five countries, it's essential to invest now in a customer service system that will keep pace with our customer base, added SpeedLine president John de Wolde." And Bryan knows what it takes to deliver world class service." Before joining SpeedLine, Champ managed help line services for some of the largest technology companies in the world, leading a top-performing team of 500 service representatives and supervisors.

Bergen Food Enterprises Chooses SpeedLine POS for 54 Stores

LYNDEN, WA – April 11, 2006 – Bergen Food Enterprises, an Oklahoma-based YUM! Brands franchise company, announced that they will be converting the POS systems in their 54 Pizza Hut® locations to SpeedLine POS solutions.

"SpeedLine came highly recommended within the Pizza Hut franchise community," explained Ted Bucholz, General Manager of Bergen Food Enterprises. "After a test with another point of sale provider whose systems did not adequately meet our needs, we took the advice of several other Pizza Hut franchise companies and selected SpeedLine."

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to assist Bergen Food Enterprises with this key component of their operations and business information strategy," commented SpeedLine president John de Wolde. "Because of our experience with other Pizza Hut franchisees and top 100 multi-unit pizza companies, we were able to offer them a complete suite of tools to manage their store operations and corporate information needs."

SpeedLine Announces Opening of New Customer Call Center

Pizza point of sale provider SpeedLine announced the opening of a new customer service call center to meet the needs of the company's growing customer base.

The spacious, 50-seat facility hosts a larger team of International Customer Service Association certified agents to help ensure timely service, even at peak calling times. A new, state-of-the-art phone system streamlines call management, allowing faster response times for incoming calls. The new center also includes a training facility, fully outfitted for computer-based and multimedia training for staff and customers.

"Helping restaurant owners succeed by providing comprehensive software solutions and solid after-sale service has always been our aim," said SpeedLine president John de Wolde. "The new call center gives our team the tools to handle continuing growth without sacrificing service quality and efficiency."

SpeedLine support is available by monthly or annual subscription, or per incident. Subscribers enjoy unlimited toll-free phone support as well as regular software upgrades and training opportunities.

ADF Selects SpeedLine POS for 200 Pizza Hut Locations

ADF Companies of Fairfield, NJ, announced that they have selected SpeedLine as the exclusive POS provider for their Pizza Hut restaurants.

"Based on a successful six-month test and the strong recommendations of several other leading Pizza Hut franchise companies, we have selected SpeedLine as our POS partner," commented ADF CFO Mike Lubitz. "One of the strengths of the SpeedLine solution for ADF is that it is truly full service. In addition to excellent POS and inventory software in our restaurants, SpeedLine provides complete menu management and support services to keep our business running smoothly with minimal IT overhead."

A report commissioned by the International Pizza Hut Franchise Association for its members in 2005 identified SpeedLine as one of the "leading point-of-sale (POS) computer systems available in the market place for pizza restaurants." In the past year, 13 Pizza Hut franchise companies have signed agreements to install SpeedLine in more than 700 restaurant locations.

"We are honored that ADF has made SpeedLine their POS of choice," replied SpeedLine president John de Wolde. "We look forward to forging a strong partnership with ADF as we begin to work hands-on with their restaurants."

Database Marketing Made Easy with SpeedMail

Database marketing is the #1 way to increase sales with your POS. And now, with SpeedMail—an exclusive service for SpeedLine's customers—you can plan affordable and effective mailings with no hassle.

All it takes is two minutes a week to run one simple report. And that's it. We dial into your store to pick it up. We verify addresses and design, print, and mail your postcards. Then we report back to you with the results.

Although you pay a little more per piece than with bulk mail, your total cost is much lower. And the return is dramatically higher. Our latest mailing group saw average redemption rates of 14% for New Customers, 35% for Lazy, and 72% for Frequent! Through a new partnership with Mailmark, a firm with 20-year experience in direct marketing, we can now offer you the flexibility of weekly mailings and customized postcards. Choose from a selection of postcard designs and add your logo, address, personalized message and coupon offers. Your cards are printed and mailed, and Mailmark sends you regular reports.

Click here to request more information.

Atherton Restaurant Systems Chooses SpeedLine POS

Atherton Restaurant Systems announced their selection of SpeedLine as the new POS provider for all of their Pizza Hut® restaurants.

"After evaluating POS systems for over two years, we chose SpeedLine," explained Trent Thompson, Atherton's vice-president and director of CHAMPS. "In the beginning, we put together a list of 'must haves' and 'would likes.' And although many of the other systems we looked at had items from both lists, only SpeedLine has them all: a tailorable software system, options for hardware, support, customer service, and programming help that makes you a priority."

"They truly view this as a partnership," Thompson added, "always listening to our needs and ideas to improve their services and product. This is the best product on the market. You get it all."

"Atherton Restaurant Systems is one of the oldest Pizza Hut franchise operators, and highly respected among the franchise community," commented SpeedLine president John de Wolde. "We are proud that they have selected SpeedLine as their POS partner, and anticipate a long and prosperous relationship as we work with them to help them achieve their business goals."

SpeedLine Launches New Speed of Service and Loss Prevention Controls

SpeedLine today announced the introduction of a range of new capabilities focused on loss prevention, speed of service, and efficiency.

"Loss prevention is the driver behind many of the new capabilities," commented SpeedLine president John de Wolde. "We have developed a number of advanced security tools to track key activities that have the potential for misuse in the restaurant."

Up-to-the-minute reports highlight potentially suspicious activity such as discounts after save, coupons after payment, and changes that reduce the ticket price – such as removing a beer and adding a glass of water in its place.

Time clock editing controls save and report on every change—and who made the changes. A new log tracks such activities as canceling a ticket, using training mode, and entries where the system filtered out foul language.

In this extensive release, SpeedLine also sets new benchmarks for money-saving coupon controls. Flexible and comprehensive coupon rules control precisely who can use specific coupons, and when and how they apply them.

"Innovations such as coupon auto-discovery take ‘smart coupons' to a whole new level," adds marketing manager Jennifer Wiebe. "When you take an order for two large pizzas and a 2L soda, the system automatically recognizes it as a meal deal and pops up the value meal coupon with the correct pricing. You never have to re-take an order to select a value meal or apply a coupon."

A new wizard makes it easy to set up complex coupon offers such as size substitutions and restrictions by day, time, minimum purchase, order type, and more. And restaurant staff can take orders faster and track coupons more accurately because the POS grays out coupons that don't apply to the current order.

Plan for Profit with SpeedLine 5.5

SpeedLine announced its largest ever release this week, rounding out the already extensive back office capabilities of the SpeedLine pizza point of sale solution with a unique, proactive planning system.

"The new Operations Planning suite in SpeedLine 5.5 is the first of its kind in a pizza POS system," noted Terry Haan, SpeedLine vice-president of development. "It leverages the sales data already in the system, giving operators new planning tools to control food and labor costs up front. With SpeedLine 5.5, they can literally plan for profit."

At the heart of the new toolset is an extensive Sales Forecast. A detailed sales history and recommended forecast give restaurant managers the tools to project daily sales, break down their sales figures in a variety of ways, and analyze variances. SpeedLine can even import sales history from a previous POS, allowing new users to start planning with real numbers right away.

The Forecast feeds sales projections into the new Prep and Buffet Plans. The system then recommends food prep plans and buffet requirements to help restaurant operators cut waste, ensure adequate supply, and keep out-the-door times low. New buffet templates also integrate with SpeedLine Inventory, simplifying inventory management for buffet and catering operations, and ensuring tighter controls on food costs.

Marico Thomas, whose Bermuda-based The Upper Crust Gourmet & Pizza stores were involved in the test program for the new release, commented on the bottom line benefits:

"SpeedLine's new Sales Forecast will help store managers stay focused on their overall business. Any POS system can track current and historical sales. But the ability to compare sales targets versus actual sales in detail—by day, day part, and even service type—helps us plan our schedule and prep plans more efficiently. Without this tool, information like this would take weeks, if not months, to compile."

SpeedLine staff will be available to demonstrate the new version 5.5 capabilities to attendees and media in booth #225 at the New York Pizza Show November 1-2.

All Bases Covered: Creating a database keeps customers in the know

Pizza Today interview with SpeedLine customer Jon Moss of Pizza Ranch and SpeedLine marketing manager Jennifer Wiebe provides an in-depth discussion of customer database marketing.

"Direct mail is our primary tool that we use for advertising and it's the primary end use of all this information that we gather from our database" says Jon Moss, Pizza Ranch brand director. Moss says a customer database is invaluable because it allows restaurateurs to target current customers to foster repeat business.

Read the entire customer database marketing article here.

SpeedLine Scores #1 in Segment in Three POS Scoreboard Categories

SpeedLine was the only pizza point of sale company to earn a spot in Hospitality Technology magazine's 2005 POS Scoreboard. Of 47 POS companies evaluated in the survey of restaurant POS users (the only independent in-depth industry survey of POS user satisfaction), the top 20 were included in the Scoreboard.

In the magazine's POS user survey, SpeedLine scored #1 in its segment in the categories of Overall Performance, Ease of Installation, and Support & Service.

In fact, SpeedLine tied with InfoGenesis for the highest score of all 47 participating companies (4.56 out of 5) for Overall Performance— the criterion judged by 54% of respondents to be the most important in selecting a POS.

As a specialized pizza-specific POS provider, SpeedLine was somewhat of an underdog in the Scoreboard, comparing functionality with much larger companies and more generalized POS solutions. According to the magazine, "Companies that cater to the broadest range of restaurants fare better in the Scoreboard's top 20 than companies that specialize in specific niche markets." Nevertheless, in the user satisfaction survey breakdowns by segment, our customers' evaluations clearly highlight SpeedLine's strengths.

Download the full research article from Hospitality Technology (requires a free login)

New SpeedLine Hires Enhance Service and Training Capabilities

SpeedLine announced three key management hires in customer service, training development, and sales.

"We are building a team with the depth of experience to ensure that every one of our customers can share in the benefits of our growing resources," commented SpeedLine President John de Wolde.

New Customer Service Manager Ed Moss oversees all aspects of customer care, from installation planning and new customer training through all ongoing customer support programs.

"SpeedLine's policies and leadership in the area of customer loyalty were key factors that attracted me to the company, and I am excited to begin implementing new customer programs to build on that solid base," Moss stated.

Training Development Manager Paula Yunker brings 25 years of adult education experience with companies such as Bank of America and Telus to her new role, leading the newly expanded training and documentation team at SpeedLine.

"SpeedLine has already developed one of the industry's most in-depth new customer training programs," Yunker said. "My team's priority now is to design new employee training aids and train-the-trainer programs that will help restaurant operators use SpeedLine more efficiently and profitably."

On the business development side, new Sales Manager Luis Feitor is building and training a team of highly knowledgeable product sales experts. Feitor and his team will bring to market a range of new customer services and training programs in the coming months.

"An effective SpeedLine support agent has to be much more than just technically savvy. This certification shows that our agents have mastered industry best practices in customer service," said Technical Support Manager Mark Veerman. "But in Customer Care, we measure our success by the response from our customers. So far, the feedback has been gratifying."

Recent customer surveys have drawn feedback such as this comment by Ken Boyer of Milano's Pizza in Edmond, Oklahoma:

"The SpeedLine service and quality are outstanding. Each time I call, everyone I talk to is really kind and considerate. And they do not get frustrated with me, or the questions I ask. They see what problems I am having, and fix them quickly."

ICSA certification is now a requirement for every SpeedLine technical support agent, and a key component of the company's rigorous Customer Care training program.

SpeedLine Unveils New Technology Tools at Chicago Pizza Expo This Week (Booth #201)

At the Chicago Pizza Expo June 14-15, pizza POS developer SpeedLine will be demonstrating a range of new tools to boost productivity and profits. Kitchen monitors speed makeline performance and improve tracking. New inventory and multi-unit configuration management tools cut costs and increase efficiency. And integrated gift cards out-perform traditional gift certificates by up to 10 times.

"We have heard a lot of buzz in advance of the show about our highly configurable kitchen displays and new gift card capabilities. We look forward to showing those tools in Chicago," commented SpeedLine President John de Wolde. "And for multi-unit operators and chains, the time and labor savings they can realize with SpeedLine's expanded multi-location management tools will be the eye opener of the show."

New tools allow owners or area developers to manage POS settings and menus for all their stores from head office. They can then push out changes to individual locations or groups of restaurants (for example, a state tax change that applies only to Illinois locations).

SpeedLine staff will also be available at the show to discuss the extensive new capabilities in development for SpeedLine 5.5, scheduled for release this fall.

PMQ Canada Publishes Community Marketing Article Featuring 2 SpeedLine Customers

A new article on community-based marketing published in PMQ Canada features in-depth interviews with SpeedLine customers Nader Chafchak, a Hungry Howie's franchisee, and Scott Davis, a multi-unit Pizza Ranch franchisee and owner of Bulldog Marketing.

IPHFHA Report Names SpeedLine a "Leading POS" for Pizza Restaurants

A report commissioned by the International Pizza Hut Franchise Association for its members identified SpeedLine as one of the "leading point-of-sale (POS) computer systems available in the market place for pizza restaurants." This independent report outlined the parameters that decision makers should consider regarding the successful selection, implementation and operation of a new POS computer system, and included detailed information on SpeedLine.

SpeedLine 5.1 adds gift cards and totally revamped Inventory

SpeedLine 5.1, released this week, adds gift card processing and a completely redesigned SpeedLine Inventory.

"Many of our customers are interested in increasing revenues through gift card sales. SpeedLine and Givex now make it easy for them to do this," said SpeedLine president John de Wolde. Givex gift cards now integrate with SpeedLine for seamless gift card transactions at the point of sale.

"Inventory software has to be easy to set up and maintain," added Terry Haan, SpeedLine vice-president of development. "Inventory and food costs have a major impact on profits, and restaurant owners need reliable, user-friendly systems to help them track and control costs.

SpeedLine developed one of the first pizza-specific inventory control applications a number of years ago. SpeedLine 5.1 includes a totally revamped SpeedLine Inventory with step-by-step wizards and new tools to make it more effective and easier to use.

New inventory features include purchase orders, multiple costing methods, and a powerful new Sales Mix model that dramatically reduces testing time.

Version 5.1, the first of several scheduled 2005 upgrades, also adds many other new features and enhancements to the popular SpeedLine POS software.

Order the v5.1 upgrade now.

Major Pizza Hut Franchise Company RMC Selects SpeedLine

Restaurant Management Company (RMC) of Wichita, Kansas, announced today that they have selected SpeedLine as their exclusive POS provider, the third major Pizza Hut franchise company in three months to announce a contract with the pizza point of sale company.

RMC, which operates 183 Pizza Hut, KFC, and Long John Silver's restaurants in 10 states, plans to roll out the SpeedLine point of sale system in all their locations over the next 12 to 18 months.

Hal McCoy II, president of RMC, commented, "The people at SpeedLine understand pizza. We evaluated POS systems and chose SpeedLine because of their clear focus on pizza and extensive experience in our core market. They are a mature company, yet very willing to work with us on tailoring a solution to support specific Pizza Hut requirements."

Diana's Doubles Sales!!!!

Congratulations to SpeedLine customers Diana and Pierre Coutu of Diana's Gourmet Pizza in Winnipeg, featured this month in the cover story of the first issue of PMQ Canada.

UPDATED JUNE 28: Click here to the read the article "Don't Read This Unless You Want To Increase Your Sales" written by Diana Coutu in Canadian Pizza Magazine.

Read the full story online at www.pmqcanada.com.