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Author Topic: Theatre management software - what do you use? Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-05-2014 12:30 PM                     In Canada the two major installed POS systems are Vista and OmniTerm We have always had good support from OmniTerm  |  IP: Logged Justin Hamaker Film God Posts: 2253 From: Lakeport, CA USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 05-05-2014 02:33 PM                        Mike, we received and RTS update at our drive-in a few weeks ago and it was the 7/29/2013 version. Although the update had some changes to the reports and other areas, the interface was unchanged. I think the primary change with that version was converting to and SQL database.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-05-2014 02:50 PM                        Yes I remember that change -- we put that version in when we updated our license the last time. But, just before CinemaCon this year we got an email with screenshots of the "new" version which looks nice. It did say "coming soon" though, so probably just isn't out yet. I was going to ask tech support about it when I called in about an issue last week but those guys are always in such a big damn hurry to get off the phone that I forgot to ask.  |  IP: Logged Chris Daigle Film Handler Posts: 24 From: Gardner, MA USA Registered: Dec 2012 posted 05-05-2014 05:12 PM                     I got the same email a couple months ago informing us of a new sharper looking version as well. I asked one of the techs at RTS a week or two ago about it when I was on the phone with them for another issue. They told me that they had it out in a handful of theaters being tested and getting feedback. The person I spoke to told me that theaters would start getting scheduled to convert later this summer/fall but I suppose that all depends on how its going so far in the few theaters that may be using it.  |  IP: Logged Martin Thuss Film Handler Posts: 20 From: Strathoy, Ontario, Canada Registered: Nov 2013 posted 07-02-2014 02:31 PM                        FYI, I asked Veezi about modifiers (as posted in Justin Hamaker's comment on May 2); here is their response: quote: In Veezi you can set up ‘Options’ which will do exactly what you are looking for. In my demo account I have set up a “DRINK” button, and then when you click on it it asks you which drink you would like. You can set up a SMALL DRINK, MEDIUM DRINK, LARGE DRINK button to do the same.  |  IP: Logged Justin Hamaker Film God Posts: 2253 From: Lakeport, CA USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 07-02-2014 07:17 PM                        Martin, hopefully they made some changes based on my suggestions when I was testing. What I found when I tried to set up modifiers was they would not inherit the parent item. For example, you could set up all your drink flavors for each soda size, but once you selected the flavor on selling, the price entered was the price for the flavor, not the price for the size. This meant having to set up each flavor for each size. In you have 6 different flavors, it meant setting up 24 different size/flavor items. When I was testing, I was in contact with the people at Veezi and explained to them how this issue was a problem. They seemed to understand what I was saying, so hopefully it's been fixed since then.  |  IP: Logged Michael Putlack Expert Film Handler Posts: 187 From: Fort Collins, Colorado Registered: Sep 2011 posted 07-02-2014 08:05 PM                        We've been live with Veezi now for two months and it has been working out great for us so far! Implementation was super easy. I was able to do most of it myself without needing their help, and when I did they took the time to walk me through a few things on the phone. We have a very extensive menu which I was worried about getting all into the POS and organizing it right, but it proved not to be an issue at all. I like the system because it has very strong reporting powers and also because I can log-in from anywhere and check in on things or change things in the system. For instance, I just spend a week + in Japan and I was able to log into the back office to make changes, build the show schedule, and just check-in in general. We've had some busy weekends since we've converted and the software has been nothing but a champ. The only drawback I've really had with them so far is that they don't integrate a timeclock into the program. I've been using timeclockfree.com since we changed over, which is a bit of a hassle but isn't something that would stop me from using Veezi (obviously). I should also say that whenever I've run into anything I couldn't figure out on my own their customer service has been excellent. If you visit their site during business hours (I think West Coast and Kiwi), they'll IM you to see if you need anything and it is pretty cool.  |  IP: Logged System Notices Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi Posts: 215 Registered: Apr 2004 posted 05-25-2019 10:32 AM                 It has been 1787 days since the last post.  |  IP: Logged Sarah Treichel Film Handler Posts: 12 From: Fort Kent, ME USA Registered: Apr 2019 posted 05-25-2019 10:32 AM                     It's been a while and these products have all had updates. What are people using now and what do you think of it? Were there any features or costs that surprised, delighted, or vexed you?  |  IP: Logged Melanie Loggins Expert Film Handler Posts: 154 From: Wayne, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2011 posted 06-30-2019 03:05 PM                        We switched from nothing to Veezi a couple years ago and I've been really happy with it.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-30-2019 03:29 PM                        Still on RTS. I have threatened (inside my head) to switch to something else various times but when I think of the hassle it would be to re-train everybody (and myself), combined with the fact that we'd probably just trade one set of annoyances for another one, we've stayed where we are. RTS has just announced an app where people will be able to buy tickets on their phone so we'll be looking into that.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 06-30-2019 03:35 PM                     Veezi and RTS are "POS" (Point of Sale) systems, not TMS (Theatre Management Systems). The TMS runs the projection/sound.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 06-30-2019 08:20 PM                        It looks like that's what the OP might have meant, Steve. This thread has been about POS since the first post. As for the question: We're still using RTS. We have 8 sales stations and we manage the database from two office seats and two portable computers. One of the features we're using more than when this thread started is the ability to log into the system from a remote location. Previously, functionality was limited. Now, you can access all functions as if you were on-site and connected to the local network. Beyond that, the system (and our needs) have largely settled into a familiar routine. I'd like to see more options as regards available credit card processors, if for no reason but to be able to shop pricing a bit. Otherwise, we've been with RTS a long time and we're happy with how it's developed.  |  IP: Logged Ben Schulz Film Handler Posts: 12 From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Registered: Jan 2017 posted 07-04-2019 06:59 PM                     We use Screenwriter by Arts Alliance  |  IP: Logged Justin Hamaker Film God Posts: 2253 From: Lakeport, CA USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 07-08-2019 02:08 AM                        My drive-in has switched to Veezi since my previous comments in this thread. Veezi has some real positives, especially if you are a low volume theatre. Their licensing is monthly based on the number of tickets you sell, rather than the number of terminals. This helps keep the expense minimal compared to systems which have a flat licensing per terminal. Because the licensing is not based on the number of terminals you use, Veezi is very scalable. If you find you need an additional concession or box office terminal you can easily add it for just the cost of the hardware. A bare bones system with a Monoprice touch screen and used Epson T88 printer can have you up and running for under $300. Veezi is also fairly easy to configure, which makes it relatively easy to set up your tickets and concessions. The concession screen supports image button, but the grid is somewhat limited if you have a lot of concession items. On the negative, I've found Veezi's support to be less responsive than Retriever and RTS. They are slow to implement changes and/or improvements to the system, and their reports leave a lot to be desired. Veezi does have an inventory module which you can add on, but I have found their inventory system to be pretty incomplete. Especially when I also use a system with a much more robust inventory system. There are other issues such as not having a way to do paid outs, and you can not apply security levels to concession items. The void process is more cumbersome than it needs to be, and tendering can be cumbersome as well. I know this sounds like a lot of negatives, but I have found Veezi to be better than RTS. Especially if you are coming to it without having anything else. My biggest complaint about Veezi is it seems like the system was designed without consulting with people who will actually use the system in a theatre environment.  |  IP: Logged

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