Bonus System
A bonus system is available in POSI. If you use this system for multiple outlets, a unified database that is remotely shared by the outlets would be needed. This will ensure that all purchases by a member at all outlets are captured by the database and the member would be able to use her bonus at any outlet.
If you are not opting for a unified database, then a stored-value card system might be more viable. However in using such a card system you need to ensure that the card itself is secure enough, one that has not been cracked. Otherwise the risk of unscrupulous users tampering with the stored value is always there.
If however you prefer to use the bonus system available in POSI which is safe from such card tampering, here are the steps to take:
In main window > Control Panel > Program > Required Settings select the "Membership System active?" checkbox and enter a discount value. Submit.
Now click the "Set Bonus System" button which brings up the "Set Bonus Formula for Members" as shown in the screenshot here.
Submit the required values for "Purchase Value", "Bonus" earned and "Redeem Level".
In the first screenshot here, the formula shown means that if the member buys $20 of goods, she earns $1 in bonus. The Redeem Level has been set at zero, so there is no minimum bonus to accumulate before she can use her bonus. She can even use $0.50 if she has earned only $1.00 bonus.
Now that you have activated the bonus system, on the pos window if you enter the ID of the member in the Member ID box and hit the "Bonus" button the system will tell you how much that member has earned so far. The second screenshot here illustrates this.
When closing a sale, you will ask the customer if she is a member. If yes then enter her Member ID using her membership card. When you press the "Bonus" button the system will tell you how much of her bonus can be used. At that point, the split payment panel will appear for you to enter the bonus value to be used for the sale. After that, click the "Balance" button to get the exact balance amount to tender after factoring this bonus value being used.
When you close the sale, at the end of the receipt a note about the bonus used, added and updated will be shown, example below :
At anytime, you can generate from the Members window a report about a member's bonus for the current year, as shown here.
The Reports window can also generate a report on bonus - using the "Date-based" option on the bottom left panel - but as an aggregate one for all members, as shown here.
Note that to use the bonus system accurately, it is important to maintain the bonus formula throughout a calendar year. In this system the bonus is only useable for the same calendar year when it is earned. In other words if the member earns $50 for calendar year 2009, she can only use that bonus of $50 in 2009. Once the year 2009 has passed then whatever unused balance bonus acquired in year 2009 will be considered expired, that is it is no longer useable for payment.The "Set Bonus Formula for Members" window as shown above has help buttons and notes to explain these issues adequately.
