Loyal customers are the cornerstone of any successful business but simply providing the best service is not enough these days. Customers are looking for the best price, highest quality and most convenient service. They are highly informed and not afraid to shop around to find the best service from a merchant that rewards and recognizes their loyalty.

The Loyalty Club Program allows you to reward customers for their loyalty as repeat customers and can be incremented by the number of qualifying visits to your store or by the number of qualifying services performed on an invoice. You can specify what the reward should be (coupons/discounts or free services) and what services qualify as counting toward that reward.

Creating and maintaining a reward program is a great way to provide longevity and repeat business to your shop. Loyal customers are invaluable resources that can provide free word-of-mouth marketing, customer referrals, and a sustainable flow of new traffic. By rewarding your faithful customers, you can build a strong brand and reduce marketing costs, all while gaining valuable feedback.
Want to learn more on how to maximize your software by using the Loyalty Club Program? Please contact us: isi@ints.com

January 2013 ISI Insider

Inventory management is vital to an effective fast lube operation. The purpose of inventory management is to know what products you have on hand, where they are in use, and how much is being sold. It is the accuracy of this data that drives the success of your inventory process. Even with the most comprehensive inventory management system, if the data isn’t accurate your inventory control is compromised.

Let’s look at two specific ways you can boost accuracy in your inventory management process.

1. INDEPENDENT COUNTS
Have a trusted employee make the first count and then have a second count taken. Compare the two counts and verify any discrepancies with a third count of the item. By tightening up the independent count system, you will be better equipped to accurately identify and track inventory.

2. CYCLICAL COUNTS
Inventory is traditionally counted at the end of the month. By integrating daily counts into the inventory process by choosing a selected category to count each day (ex. count all fuel filters on the first Tuesday of the month), you can increase accuracy and provide a higher level of inventory awareness. By scheduling a regular daily inventory count, you can cut down on mistakes and increase employee involvement.

For more information on how to move from a month-end to a cyclical inventory system, please visit: https://www.ints.com/category/isi-expert/inventory-control.

Accuracy is a key component to running a successful fast lube operation. Human error is inevitable, which is why it is important to look for ways to decrease opportunities for its occurrence. Tracking coupons/discounts is one easy way for you to reduce the chance for error in everyday store operations.

Simply add barcodes to your coupons for easy redemption with the ISI cashier scanner. By eliminating the need to manually enter coupon codes, not only is your accuracy increased, but your ability to track effectiveness of the campaign improves.

Look for more tips and tricks of the trade in next month’s ISI Insider!

For questions, please contact us at: isi@ints.com

How are you marketing your store? Are you sending your customers up-to-date reminders about their service through varied communication channels?

LubeSoft “Message of the Day”

Taking advantage of LubeSoft’s “message of the day” feature can enhance your customer reach and benefit your business marketing efforts with a few simple steps!

Maximize your software’s capability by using the opportunity to communicate with your customers by using customizable “messages” placed on the bottom of each invoice. Use this chance to present options such as bounce-back coupons or discount reminders to your customers.

Because the message can be changed frequently, daily if desired, the ability to strategically tailor the message according to current store promotions can be highly beneficial to customer communication strategies.

Email, Text & Voicemail

In addition to the message of the day, using multiple communication avenues increases your ability to effectively interact with your customers.
E-mail, text, and voicemail reminders are all options with LubeSoft in conjunction with third party offerings.
Look for more tips and tricks of the trade in next month’s ISI Insider!

For questions, please contact us at: isi@ints.com

We’ve been hearing a lot about the “cloud” lately. But what does it really mean?
Let’s take a look at how the cloud affects you and the value it can bring to your
business.

First off, what is the cloud?

Very simply put, the “cloud” is a virtual server available over the Internet. The cloud can be used for file storage, data recovery, and as a central repository for convenient access to files from any location. By using cloud-based storage, files can be accessible anytime, anywhere. All that is needed to access the cloud is a web browser and a working Internet connection. Learn more

Want to take a look at your store’s closing reports for the day, but you are already at home? No problem. On the road and want to analyze real-time transactions? Easy. Cloud based computing allows you to be anywhere you want without compromising your ability to run your business effectively.

How does the cloud benefit you?

Using a cloud-based system allows you to pull together data from multiple stores for
real-time reporting. The ability to access your store’s information from any location
is a powerful management tool. With each store’s data automatically syncing to
the cloud, you have the ability to track your store’s progress with the most current
information. This allows you, as the business owner, the flexibility to manage
operations remotely. Permission-based access is built into the system, allowing
secure connections to your data.

What is ISI doing about it?

WebCentral is a secure hosted warehouse of Lubesoft data available through the
cloud. With its cloud capability, you can access reports, scheduling, graphs, and the
most current data from any device. WebCentral saves you time by providing the
freedom to check on any of your stores from any location. Real-time updates allow
you to make evaluations with the latest information. This is a resource you don’t
want to miss out on!