03-04-07 Hospitality stars of the future learn their trade with Zonal EPoS

Since Zonal lead the way in hospitality EPoS solutions in the UK, it was only natural that the UK’s only specialist college for hospitality and tourism management training chose Zonal to provide the EPoS system to train up the next generation of hospitality professionals.

The Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies has an excellent international reputation so needed an EPoS solution that reflected their position of distinction. It was also essential to have a versatile solution that was diverse enough to service all sales areas in their restaurants, bars, cafés, bakery, reception, library and visitor information centre to be fully integrated.

The college trains professionals in all aspects of the hospitality and leisure industries, including chef catering, bakery, food and consumer management. Sales areas at the college process thousands of transactions each week, most notably in the three training restaurants, cafés and bars, serving members of the public and fellow students.

Not only are Zonal the UK’s No.1 hospitality EPoS provider, but their unrivalled experience throughout all hospitality and leisure sectors means that their EPoS terminals are proved in all areas that are important to students of the Birmingham College of Food.

The college’s Director of Catering and Bakery Studies, Bill Farnsworth, said: “It is important that our students use EPoS on a daily basis in the various restaurants and can see the benefits of the system in a working environment.”

Peter Marshall, the college’s Computer Systems Manager was particularly impressed with the integrated and wireless Chip and PIN devices supplied by Zonal.

“One of the great advantages of Zonal’s terminals is the fact that they have integrated Chip and PIN. Chip and PIN is commonplace across the hospitality industry and it is vital that it is part of the students’ training with EPoS.”

“We also have Zonal’s handheld Chip and PIN units at the college, and as a result, students can take payments from fellow students and members of the public at their table.”

Peter Marshall has access to sales and performance data from all of the college’s EPoS terminals on his PC in real-time, allowing him to check the income from any outlet accurately at any time, identify fast and slow moving items and analyse the sales and service performance of every student.

He said: “Thousands of people use the facilities on offer at the college each week and it is important that the EPoS terminals are able to work smoothly and efficiently to cope with all the transactions. They are an integral part of the workings of the college and its outlets and play an important part in the students’ training in preparation for their move into full time employment.”

Zonal’s Sales Manager Mark Isaac said: “We are delighted that the UK’s only specialist college for hospitality and leisure chose Zonal to provide the EPoS equipment to train the future stars of the industry.

Zonal’s EPoS terminals are proven in the busiest sales environments and this reliability is invaluable to the Birmingham College of Food as the terminals at the college are in constant use, generating high volumes of sales and offering exceptional speed of service in the day-to-day running of every outlet.”