NEWS RELEASES

ROCKET's versatility has been further demonstrated by a newly-created version of the software which works in conjunction with DVD vending kiosks. It’s been built in partnership with the RedRoomDVD group, which is running rental kiosks in supermarkets and shopping centres around the country, in addition to its chain of vending machine-driven stores.  

ROCKET replaces the software which comes with the Italian-made Buster24 DVD vending machines; the kiosk version links multiple kiosks with a head office, and controls their operations and provides data in real time, including hiring and returning, automatically charging credit cards, and adding new members. 

DVD kiosks are forecast to be an increasing part of the rental industry. In the US, market leader RedBox already has some 12,000 kiosks, and NCR is planning to build 10,000 Blockbuster-branded kiosks. 

ROCKET-powered DVD kiosks can be used in stores for browsing and/or vending; get in early on this new wave! For kiosk or store opportunities call Steven Whittington at RedRoomDVD on +612 8399 1555, email steven@redroomdvd.com. Available in Australia and New Zealand.

Just scan the retail product UPC once for each unit on hand or scan the scanner’s reference card for quantities of greater than one. The scanner allows you to scan UPCs in any order, so, if you find more of a particular stock item later, you just
scan again. ROCKET will automatically add the units together. 

When you’ve finished a batch you simply place the scanner in its cradle and the UPCs and units are automatically dumped into ROCKET’s results screen and the total for each UPC added together. Multiple operators can be processing at the
same time and ROCKET will add all their results together before processing any variances. It’s so easy even the boss can do a stocktake! (Screen at right is used to import the stocktake results from the cordless scanners.)

And there’s more!

To increase their efficiency, the memory scanners can also be used to mark down rental stock, mark items as ex-rentals, or used for rental stocktakes. In each instance there is no need to take the stock to the counter. The scanners can hold up to 4,000 barcodes.  

ROCKET’s range of third party software products has expanded again! With the addition of new automatic interfaces with debt collection agencies collectyourdebt.com.au and eCollect.com.au, ROCKET now offers four easy to use electronic options for debt recovery.  

Already integrated in to the software is an interface to the Video Defaulters/Legal and Commercial system, and ROCKET is also compatible with Entertainment Recoveries. 

The newest interfaces allow stores to electronically send details of non-returns and unpaid late fees straight out of ROCKET. All that’s needed is an email connection. 

Once the members are selected and sent, ROCKET will automatically add a time and date stamped message on the member’s file to denote that they have been passed for collection.  

The new features are included in the Version 2.05 general release upgrade, which will be available during October. ROCKET users with a CustomSoft software maintenance plan and who are customers of either collectyourdebt or eCollect have already received the new feature free of charge.

• For further information on the collectyourdebt service call Mark Anderson on 1300 363 527 or visit www.collectyourdebt.com.au
   

• For further information on the eCollect service call Andrew Righetti on 03 8611 2670 or visit www.ecollect.com.au.

OWNERS and managers of multiple home entertainment stores can now benefit from easier and time-saving management oversight, plus give greater convenience to their customers, with ROCKET’s new Multi-Store version.

Multi-Store allows two or more stores to be seamlessly linked on an ADSL wide area network. All information is kept in the one database, so an owner or manager can enquire in real time on all aspects of stock and transactions across all stores on the network.

Members can join at any of the linked stores, and (if desired) return items and pay late fees at any of them. Member history and debts details are available at all linked sites, while hire items and stock “belong” to a particular store.

You can even use ROCKET’s Chasings module to call for overdue items from all stores, at the one time!

Stock availability is shown for each store separately, and you can enquire on what the “other stores” have available in retail or rental items. Stock transfers are a breeze, and stock can be receipted at once for all stores.

ROCKET Multi-Store allows an owner to report on all aspects of the business on both a store-by-store basis and across all stores. This is invaluable when reporting on stock on hand and what needs to be re-ordered, or what needs to be marked down.

ROCKET Multi-Store operates in conjunction with the base ROCKET program.

ROCKET’s brand new stocktake module is ready for release in time for the end of the financial year. It’s a great improvement on the stocktake function in our old technology program VideoMinder, as it handles both retail and rental items.

And, it’s completely free for ROCKET users with a CustomSoft Support Plan! BUT, you must tell us you want it - see below.

The stocktake module also comes complete with an upgrade to ROCKET’s brand new version 2.02, which has a host of new features, and fine tuning from its two years of in-store service.

Features of the Retail and Rental stocktakes include:

Retail This function allows you to stocktake any or all of your retail lines, based on a number of criteria. Worksheets are printed for the chosen items, allowing multiple staff to note the results on the sheets. The Expected Quantity can optionally be printed on the sheets. Staff can then go to multiple screens and enter the results in a grid that is presented in the same order as the sheets. The Results screens can be saved and returned to, until all results are entered. A barcode scanner is not required for this function.

Once completed, the Retail Stocktake can be processed and, optionally, adjust the stock-on- hand results. If this adjustment is chosen, a Stock Receipt will be entered for the negative or positive adjustment, with a Supplier of Stocktake. This allows the manager to reprint the stocktake results at any later date from the Stock Receipts Reports, showing the value of the adjustments. An audit listing is printed at the end of the process.

Rental This is similar to the stocktake process in VideoMinder, except that each operator has a full screen showing the items that have been scanned into the Results screen and their expected status (eg, Booked out, Stolen).

Again, the screen can be saved and returned to until the stocktake is complete. Both hand held and portable scanners can be used in this process. Items “missing” can be marked as Unavailable as part of the final process.  An audit listing is printed at the end of the process showing the variances.

If you’re eligible to receive the stocktake module and the new version 2.02 free of charge you MUST respond and tell us that you want them. To do this, click here.

If you’re not on support, you can still get the stocktake module (and version upgrade), for $595 per site. PLUS, buy the stocktake and for just $95 more get 12 months 24/7 software support per site; add-on support offer valid until 1 August 2005. To buy the module click here.
 

THE roll out of ROCKET has received another boost with major franchise group Civic Video adopting the program for its more than 350 stores in Australia and New Zealand.

The software is already being installed in Civic Video stores, the great majority of which are using ROCKET’s predecessor software package, VideoMinder.

The Civic Video move follows that of Ster-Kinekor Home Entertainment, a unit of South Africa’s largest listed media group, Primedia, which is installing ROCKET in a brand new 65-store chain it is establishing in that country.

“Civic Video’s decision is another vote of confidence in ROCKET and the capabilities it provides for 21^st century home entertainment rental and retail stores,” said Angela Dunlop, CustomSoft Australia Pty Ltd managing director.

“Civic Video is highly advanced in its use of technology to improve the performance and operations of its franchisees’ businesses, and its adoption of ROCKET is a huge reflection on the extensive effort and resources we have invested in the development of this brand new software,” she said.

The version of ROCKET being installed in Civic Video stores is a special build of the software containing features developed to the specifications of the Civic group.

“Civic Video is excited that the Windows platform powering ROCKET provides enormous opportunity to further enhance and integrate the unique systems available to Civic Video franchisees, enabling them to better manage their business and communicate with their customer base,” said Rod Laycock, Civic Video general manager.

ROCKET has been designed as a point of hire and point of sale program for any rental or retail home entertainment environment. Its powerful database and new-technology programming allow users to track and report on product, transaction and customer performance over a wide range of parameters and over any date range. The base program is supported by a range of plug-in modules with brand new capabilities.