Trade Fair News Shopworks


TECHNOLOGY PROVID- ERS SHOPWORKS were back at this year’s Trade Fair, with product director Lee Bowden reporting “a good 12 months for us.” Last year Shopworks installed


their online automated staffing solution for Paddy Power. “It’s gone very well,” said Lee. “We’ve done lots of bespoke development for them and they’re very happy with the system. It’s been rolled out to all their shops in the UK; it’s saving them money and improving efficiencies. In addition to Paddy Power,


British culture. People send an SMS for speed, convenience, and because it’s cost effective. This gives a shop manager or an area manager the ability to send out a communication to 20, 30 or 40 staff in an instant. “Paddy Power can send out a message to just shops, just area managers, or certain staff in a certain area.We think that’s a pretty neat tool and a huge USP for the system.” In addition to saving head


we also work with Backhouse Racing, Jenningsbet-Better and Joe Jennings, casinos such as Fox Poker Club and adult gaming centres such as Talarius, as well as a number of non- gaming retailers, so we’re taking it across other markets as well, but there’s still a lot to be done in the LBO market.” “Shopworks’ web-based


platform allows the user to build error-free rotas, run detailed staffing and social responsibility reports and even run the payroll. It facilitates more effective communication with staff via SMS and can save up to eight per cent on staff and admin costs. The platform has the capacity


to work over a large estate of shops with limited numbers of staff, or with single units with high staff numbers, such as call centres and casinos. Other savings come from


greater visibility of costs, a weekly comparison of actual costs versus budget, and no double payments or for un- worked hours. What’s more, there is no


office costs and ensuring better management information, the Shopworks system also has a reporting package to help customers reduce time and effort in producing ‘per shop per week accounts’. “The reporting suite on


it is very clever,” comments Lee. “Regional managers, area managers and staffing managers can all run accurate reports on exactly where they are with their contracted workers, with their budgets and really get a handle on costs. “You can run end-of-


Shopworks’ Lee Bowden (left) and Mike Hennessy.


Version 2 has recently been launched, offering a whole new reporting suite that allows the user to carry out cash reporting and FOBT reporting. It’s a data entry system so instead of relying on the firm’s current EPOS platform, it can run reports, enter data throughout the day, and balance up. “We’re going to keep adding


Picture: Mary Pitt


are customer driven. “The biggest cost to any


business – and their biggest asset – is obviously their staff costs. We’re offering the ability to save money and put it back in the pockets, and also to improve morale and communication. With no development fees, you can’t lose.”n


day cash reporting, run up to 6 o’clock trading reports. That‘s helping the time and efficiencies, and if you have a similar rota for the next week, there’s a button where you can populate the same rota, but you can also drag and drop and make differences.” Former Ladbrokes area manager Mike Hennessy has recently joined the company to take charge of business development. “The great thing about


initial investment up-front in the infrastructure because it’s a web-based piece of software, hence there’s no installation and no hardware to buy. “It also improves morale,”


adds Lee. “Staff can go and see exactly when their shifts are, making sure they’re going to be paid for that, because it automatically updates the payroll; and the SMS communications allows them to always have on them exactly when they’re working or the shops they’re working in. “SMS has its own place in


getting Mike on board is that he really knows the LBO industry,” says Lee. “He’s worked at Ladbrokes and at Better, so he knows both ends of the scale, so he’s a good acquisition for us. He understands exactly the efficiencies and savings that our system can make. “He hasn’t seen another


system like ours with all its benefits. Sometimes you can find something with certain elements of our software but not collectively, and certainly not in the way whereby our commercial proposition means that people don’t have to invest any money in it; they just pay a rental for the software. The return on investment is immediate.”


32 November/December 2011 BOS Magazine


to the system,” insists Lee, “we’ll keep adding benefits which we know that our customers want. The great thing about working with Paddy Power and Jenningsbet-Better is that they will drive forward the road map, so we’ll only make changes and additions to our product that


For further information please contact Lee Bowden Tel: 07971 187578


Email:lee@theshopworks. com www.theshopworks.com


Mobile betting application from ABetA


ABETA IS CURRENTLY working on a revolutionary mobile betting application for independent bookmakers, according to director Chris Latter. He said: “It is being developed


in a similar way to what the major chains offer. It will show that independent bookmakers can also diversify into that market. “It will be branded for


individual clients and will bring all the functionality of the leading betting smart phone apps into the reach of independents. “Even someone who has one


the market and if independents cannot offer this, they may lose business to the major chains,” he said. “Their survival in the next


few years depends on whether they are able to diversify, and this will be widely available by the end of the year.”n


For further information please contact


Debbie Hardman


shop who takes telephone bets will be able to offer it to their clients. It’s a growing sector of


Tel: 01420 549988 Email:debbie.hardman@ abeta.co.uk www.abeta.co.uk


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