UK-based Amadeus selects Agilysys technology for hospitality operations across the NEC Group

April 23, 2012 - PRLog -- Amadeus, the catering business of the NEC Group that operates world-class entertainment, sporting and conference venues, has awarded a large-scale technology contract to Agilysys (Europe) Limited.  

The contract caterer has appointed the hospitality technology company to supply, install, configure, train and support an integrated software and hardware solution across all of its venues including the LG Arena, the ICC, the NEC and the NIA.  The contract is for five years.

Services provided by Amadeus encompass public catering (quick-service bars, kiosks and restaurants), and hospitality and event catering (fine dining, banqueting and celebrations).  It runs 42 restaurants across the NEC and the ICC alone.

Amadeus is headed by Managing Director Kevin Watson. He explains: “To support our growth, we need enterprise-wide technology that will not only drive our operations but will expose us to the latest technologies and equip us to innovate and keep ahead of our competitors. Agilysys have proved themselves to be our ideal partner for this significant period of our development. ”

Agilysys InfoGenesis™ POS, a point-of-sale solution, will be deployed on 281 touchscreen tills and replace the existing system in all of Amadeus’ catering outlets. The point-of-sale deployment includes permanent and temporary installations and will be capable of supporting the aggressive sales and site growth that is within the Amadeus business plan.

Other software elements being acquired include the Agilysys Cash Manager, eMenu and eCash solutions.  Integration will take place with Agilysys Eatec®, an inventory and procurement solution, which is already in use across the business.   The initial deployment has now been completed.

He added: “There is massive market potential for Amadeus.  We are investing heavily in our business, and already feeling the benefits of our ambitious plans in the major contracts that we’re winning.”  

The engagement between Amadeus and Agilysys started in April 2011, when Amadeus decided to refresh its EPoS estate, having identified that its current system was approaching end-of-life.  

Given that the Eatec inventory, procurement & stock control system used by Amadeus is owned by Agilysys, the provider was able to demonstrate the value of integration with its other complementary solutions including support for contactless payment that would de-risk the business and generate cost-savings and efficiencies.

Comments Adrian Burns, Vice President and General Manager - EMEA at Agilysys: “In InfoGenesis™, Amadeus saw a good core POS platform.  It perceived the benefits of integration between point-of-sale and stock management.  We’re also able to create open-standards interfaces with its other software such as booking, events management and accounts. The results are a fully-integrated, enterprise-wide solution with consolidated reporting on the real workings of the business and the flow of data across it.”

Amadeus is installing Agilysys’ Cash Manager, to improve the way in which the group manages and accounts for cash and its movement across its four locations.  The current process is labour-intensive and fragmented, with exposure to cash shrinkage.  Cash Manager will supply real-time data, so the team can monitor risk, understand the true cash position, and make savings by optimising security service collections.

Two additional Agilysys solutions have been taken - eMenu and eCash. Agilysys InfoGenesis™ eCash, a cashless payment solution, takes traditional cashless payment and stored-value card capabilities and integrates them directly with InfoGenesis™ POS.  In addition to cutting operational costs, it improves the customer experience and increases loyalty.  

Agilysys eMenu is the central solution within the InfoGenesis™ POS empowering self-service options.  Its online food ordering capabilities help hospitality operators to offer better service through an automated workflow, and provide a convenient and intuitive user interface.

Adds Andrew McManus, IT Director of the NEC Group:  “Our relationship with Agilysys will be more than just the supply of systems.  We want to leverage their know-how, expertise and technical creativity.  They’re already working with our Innovation Forum, looking at new developments such as Mobile POS, Smartphone POS and e-coupons. Agilysys can share market advances with us and demonstrate how they can fit into our roadmap and operations, enabling us to win and retain business in the market.”

About Agilysys (Europe) Limited - www.agilysyseurope.com

Agilysys is a leading provider of innovative IT solutions to the retail and hospitality sector.  The company offers proven software, services, hardware and consulting for hotels, restaurants, casinos, resorts, condominiums, cruise lines, stadiums and arenas, and conference centres, designed to streamline operations and enhance guest satisfaction while maximising profitability.  

Agilysys’ hospitality solutions provide unparalleled reliability, functionality, efficiency and control over multiple aspects of operations – from reservations, check-in, point-of-sale and business intelligence, inventory and procurement management, to document management.  

The company operates extensively throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), with a main office in Cheshire, UK and additional sales and support offices through partners across Europe, UAE and South Africa.  Agilysys (Europe) Limited is part of Agilysys, Inc.  whose corporate headquarters are in Atlanta.

About Amadeus - www.amadeusfood.co.uk

Amadeus is one of the UK’s fastest growing venue and event caterers operating at over 19 major events and venues including: the NEC, the ICC, the LG Arena, the NIA, The Scottish Open Golf, RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, Coventry Transport Museum, Stoneleigh Abbey, Kenilworth Castle, Hagley Hall, National Sea Life Centre and the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

A business within the NEC Group, Amadeus can boast more the 35 years experience catering for the Group’s 4.1 million visitors, to more than 900 events a year, across its world class venues (NEC, ICC, LG Arena and NIA).

With more than 800 staff, including 75 chefs, the Amadeus team has clocked up over 600 awards for quality.

About The NEC Group - www.necgroup.co.uk

The NEC Group is the Birmingham-based venue management company that operates four world-class venues: the National Exhibition Centre, the International Convention Centre, the LG Arena and the National Indoor Arena. The Group also operates a national ticketing agency, The Ticket Factory, and award-winning, prestige caterer Amadeus.

Every year four million people come together at the NEC Group’s venues to learn, do business, and be entertained at more than 800 diverse and varied events; ranging from some of the UK’s best loved shows, the greatest live entertainment, to some of the world’s most important business events.
Employing over 1,100 people on a permanent basis, and with around a further 800 casual workers, the NEC Group delivers a £2 billion annual impact on the regional economy and supports the full time equivalent of 29,000 jobs.