Connections - Integrated Retail Solution for Convenience Stores
As one of Sage Ireland's leading Business Partners, Advent specialises in providing integrated business solutions. We also have years of experience in providing solution to the Retail sector.
Merging these two areas of expertise resulted in the Connections suite of software - a robust solution designed by Advent to dramatically reduce costs and improve efficiencies for convenience store owners.
Read more about Connections and how it can benefit your retail business!
What is the Connections Suite of Software?
What are the Benefits of Connections?
Is the Connections Suite Suitable for My Retail Business?
Has the Connections Suite Benefited Many Retail Businesses?
What is the Connections Suite of Software?
 The Connections suite of software integrates both the leading Electronic Point of Sale (EPoS) systems in Ireland and the BWG franchise system with Sage back-office accounts solutions. The suite has been developed in partnership with the leading EPoS suppliers as well as BWG to bring convenience store owners a solution that is designed specifically to cut costs, to reduce manual data entry, to maximise profit margins and to increase business efficiencies - critical benefits in these difficult times for retailers! (click here to download a brochure).
So how does the software achieve these benefits? The suite comprises of 3 core modules, each with a different task:
 RetailConnect: Integrating a convenience store's EPoS System with Sage back-office accounts, RetailConnect offers retailers an automated business management link. Now with RetailConnect, retailers will no longer have to manually re-key data from the till into an accounts system. RetailConnect can auto-poll the shop tills’ sales data & cash book data directly into an accounts system at a touch of a button to give you a 360-degree view of your business all the way through to a complete Profit & Loss Statement. (click here to download a brochure).
 FranchiseConnect: By electronically importing BWG’s weekly invoice Print Pack, FranchiseConnect automatically sorts all BWG and other supplier invoices and posts them to Sage back-office accounts, thereby dramatically reducing the amount of manual data entry. (click here to download a brochure).
 FranchiseConnect Plus: FranchiseConnect Plus goes one step further by comparing and matching supplier invoices to purchase orders. Any discrepancies in agreed prices or quantities are highlighted by the software and can be queried with the supplier. All discrepancies are colour-coded to highlight their accuracy and therefore, their urgency in supplier query.
FranchiseConnect Plus saves your business money by automatically identifying correct invoice prices. It also saves time in both manually checking invoice prices & quantities and the elimination of entering weekly supplier invoices into a Sage back-office accounts package. (click here to download a brochure).
What are the Benefits of Connections?
Is the Connections Suite Suitable for My Retail Business?
The Connections Suite has primarily been designed for BWG symbol stores (SPAR, EUROSPAR, SPAR Express, Costcutters, Londis, MACE and XL Stop & Shop). The Advent development team has been working closely with BWG's IT Department to deliver to convenience store owners a solution that brings real business benefits.
We have also worked closely with the 3 leading EPoS solution providers within this market-place to ensure a seamless integration between our back-office Connections solution and their front-end till solution. Our EPoS partners within this market-place are:
However, if your retail business runs on an EPoS solution provided by any of our 3 partners but is not part of a BWG symbol group, we can find a solution to meet your requirements.
Having officially launched the full Connections Suite in December 2008, we are delighted with the level of interest and up-take to date. But don't take our word, read what users say about Advent and Connections:
“I would recommend the Connections software suite and the Advent Team without hesitation. Advent were professional, met the deadlines and budgets that they promised, and provided exceptional support.
In turn, Connections performed exactly as promised: it provided integration capabilities
between our existing EPoS till software and the centralised accounting software”
- Richard Carroll, Financial Controller, Corrib Oil SPAR.
"Our manual system could take up to 4 days a month to process. In our new SPAR store, and using the innovative Connections solution, this same process takes only a few hours a week. Connections has increased our efficiency by over 60%.
Connections has provided us with outstanding benefits. This innovative solution has enabled us to significantly increase our productivity and cost effectiveness. It has increased the productivity of our back-office team by reducing the time spent on analysing dockets and invoices at our SPAR store. Its reporting capabilities allow us to go back to suppliers with firm information, should it be necessary.”
- Ciara Lynch, Assistant Accountant, Mac’s Place Ltd SPAR.
For more information on Connections, please click on a link below to download a brochure:
If you would like a no-obligation demonstration of the Connections software and how it can benefit your business, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01-8223 200 or by email at sales@advent.ie. Back to Top |
