Opening a Night Club

One of things that I really enjoy about my work is how many different types of businesses I learn about as a result of the businesses I help with their technology needs. This week, I helped by settting up a Point of Sale (POS) system, printers, menu system configuration, inventory entry, and Internet connectivity for payment processing. I have helped set up a few businesses, but this is my first Night Club. Generally I don't spend much time in bars, clubs, taverns, etc. so that was kind of a culture shock. I have actually spent more time in a bar now than I have in the last five years!

By working with technology, and because of my own curiosity and willingness to take on projects that stretch my skillset, I am fortunate to be able to learn about many different types of businesses. To tell you the truth, the technology part is really a fraction of the job. To do this type of job right, you need to understand HOW the customer intends to do business, because like their owners, each business has their own personality - what is important to them, what they have time for (or are willing to give time for), what they have a handle on and what they need assistance with. Businesses generally follow the rules that their owners set out, either expressed or implicit. As a technologist, you need to be able to make the tools work so that the work process is streamlined and the objective data needed to make decisions is accurate and available.

I will tell you the one thing that I saw here that I see time and again: the various vendors of the technology pieces were really only interested in their piece and did very little to inform the customer of what was required to make it all work together. The hardware vendor provided the hardware and resold the software. They sold the customer a specialized hardware configuration that they had little knowledge in how to set up and they forgot to include a specialized cable to make it work (I just ended up making one myself btw). The software vendor insisted that the employees read the manual before contacting them during their "30 days of free support", yet the manual was electronic, and not very intuitive. Neither talked about the need for Internet connectivity, or even networking, although to print order tickets to the Kitchen and reports to the Back Office, you would need a network, and in order to process credit cards, you would need an always on connection. And the Internet Service Provider (ISP) was most interested in making sure that the shared wireless was in place, and not much else.

So what was I to do? What I think I am good at: determine what is needed, and get it done in a manner that fits the way the business will run. Run cabling in the ceilings, get a switch and a router set up to provide secure and efficient networking, determine how the hardware should be configured and get that set up. Print out and read the hardware and software manuals and figure out how to set things up at least to the point that when I did call support, I had very focused questions so I spent the least amount of time on the phone with them. And then I worked with the owner and the assistant manager to determine pricing and menu structure to make it easy and efficient for the bar tenders and waitresses to enter and process orders.

And as a bonus, I got to learn a little about the Night Club business, the regulations, the promotion, the roles and functions of each of the employees, and more. That is something that I find invaluable, because the more you learn, the more you know, and the more you know the more you can do for others.

The work continues, because today is the opening day, and there are always little things that need to be worked out, and that will be changed as the business gets into full swing. Who knows, maybe I will get an embroidered shirt out of it - it's happened before!