Aloha 6.3

[DTSMAN]

Interesting fact. Aloha goes from 6.2.xx to 6.4xx with 6.5.xx on its way.
It appears the Dallas Cowboy stadium got its own Aloha version tailored to fit their needs.

Bo

Remember,
If the women don't find you handsome,
they should at least find you handy.
(Red Green)

http://www.redgreen.com

 

[SwampGas]

The Cowboys setup is mostly virtualized and utilizing the hasp key replacement that many have heard about. They are also using the replacement utility of the darden export to do a consolidated edc settlement.

It's a pretty neat setup they have.


MegabyteCoffee.com

 

[alohahello]

I think what is interesting is that radiant techs do not know how to load aloha on a terminal.

 

[DTSMAN]

uh.....could you elaborate?

That is a strong accusation. And, no, I am not a Radiant tech but would like to know more.

Bo

Remember,
If the women don't find you handsome,
they should at least find you handy.
(Red Green)

http://www.redgreen.com

 

[SwampGas]

I'd rather he didn't.

MegabyteCoffee.com

 

[alohahello]

our company usually will have radiant send a tech to customers who are in another state. I remember the site alohaboh didn't have ral on it so he called us for support. I told him he had to set the terminal to term2 and use the login name customer to get on the network. He asked me how does he set the login and does he need a keyboard because he doesn't have one with him. I told him to leave because he was useless. and sorry my comments were not pointed towards you. I have seen some of your feedback with others and can tell you know what you are doing. The funniest thing i have heard from radiant help desk was Aloha Takout out was not support with your terminals hardware, and the terminals were all radiant 1220 udoc's. You know someone got yelled at for saying that.

as far as version with your early post. We are upgrading sites to 6.5.12 as we speak.

 

[alohaakamai3]

In all fairness to Radiant techs everywhere (and no, I'm not one either, but I was an Ibertech tech), it sounds like you just got some tool from another dealer who was not properly trained in even the basics by his own dealership.

When I worked for an Aloha dealer years ago, they were constantly burning through idiots, trying to fill the same position with employees who last a month or two. Some had basic computer knowledge and just didn't know Aloha (that can be fixed), but sadly most of them that got hired just seem to have little knowledge in the field of information technology in general, and were largely incompetent (it doesn't take a college degree to bring a keyboard with you on a call or grab one off the back office).

Unfortunately, I attribute this to the fact that POS is the on the severe bottom end of the pay scale when it comes to IT Professionals. I rarely met a tech making over $45k and year, and most seem to be in the hourly range of 15-17 dollars and hour. That's unfortunate, because in the last 10 years I've watched the industry grow to the extent that it takes a wide range of knowledge to support a modern system- it's seems like you need to know a little of everything, whereas it used to be that basic networking skills were enough.

Anyway, I've seen my share of people walk through the door that were touted as being very knowledgeable computer geniuses or certified in X, Y, and Z- that couldn't seem tie their own shoes without something catching on fire. I'll take someone with no prior experience but who can follow directions really well, over one of these so called super techs any day.

 

[DTSMAN]

Yea the salaries are horrible. Barely 10-12 here in Houston for hardware/cabling guys. That is why I got out. I am temporarily working for an Aloha dealer while between jobs, but start a new job next week that is 10k more a year for me and I have been in POS since 1995. I'll be entry level at this one.
For programming, training customers, and phonesupport staff, it is best to steal a good assistant manager from one of your sites, because restaurant knowledge is so much more important than the IT part. The IT part is so small that, that part is easy to bring someone up to speed on if they are trainable. Plus they are already use to the crappy hours...

Bo

Remember,
If the women don't find you handsome,
they should at least find you handy.
(Red Green)

http://www.redgreen.com

 

[SwampGas]

I agree with you, Bo. For level 1 support, I would hire someone from the field and train them up, whereas the level 2 support techs of mine are usually former Radiant, reseller, or IT techs. I'll also send them to Radiant's office down the street for training classes, then we'll train them on our uniqueness when they come back. But mainly, if they can earn the trust with the field, that goes a very long way. The rest is gravy.

When I worked for Squirrel, most of the installers out of my Long Beach office and Chikcago office were all former restaurant employees.


MegabyteCoffee.com

 

[alohaakamai3]

Wow, 10-12 an hour? I was making more than that at entry level when I started nearly 15 years ago. I know I was being generous saying $15-17, but I figured things must be at least up to that level by now.

I am about 50-50 with you on the restaurant knowledge being more important. Not having it made it a little more of a struggle in the business initially, but I was able to come in and starting fixing hardware and OS software problems right away, which is valuable in bringing money in the door. For training, you are definitely correct, the IT stuff is minimal and most everyone has had some experience with Windows, etc- the restaurant experience is more valuable there for sure.

Haha, yes, how could I forget the hours and the 24-7 support for stupid calls at all odd hours. There a few areas that have made this business easier, and remote access via logmein on my computer or cell phone was a HUGE one. Also, the hardware and software have steadily become more stable due to standardization, which alleviates the ghost chasing of years gone by.

As evidence by what Bo said, I really don't recommend this business to anyone. If it finds you, it's a decent little fall back to make some money, there will always be jobs in this field that will keep you from absolute destitution. Most of the companies are small little crappy places who cannot afford to pay you what you're worth even if they wanted to.

 

[SwampGas]

I agree with you, Bo. For level 1 support, I would hire someone from the field and train them up, whereas the level 2 support techs of mine are usually former Radiant, reseller, or IT techs. I'll also send them to Radiant's office down the street for training classes, then we'll train them on our uniqueness when they come back. But mainly, if they can earn the trust with the field, that goes a very long way. The rest is gravy.

When I worked for Squirrel, most of the installers out of my Long Beach office and Chikcago office were all former restaurant employees.


MegabyteCoffee.com

 

[alohaakamai3]

On the whole I do agree a person with some restaurant experience would make a good trainer and pick it up easily, but ironically our little foray into that market didn't go so well either back when I worked for that Aloha dealer.

They tried exactly that... hiring some little size 4 hottie that was an assistant GM at a country club that used Aloha (a former client) and who was fairly personable and friendly. Though I did know her from service calls, I was not involved in the hiring decision, but it took me all of about 2 days to see she was a mistake, for reasons that are too numerous and varied to list here.

I think had she applied herself a little more, she probably could have done a decent job on it, but her lack of basic technical knowledge did present some problems for her when she was on location training and trying to fix the usual snags that still pop up.

Tough part about a job like is I don't know of that many places that crank out SO many systems that they have full time work for someone to just program menus or train, but I am sure some dealer do.

The said end of the story was that she wasn't very good at her job to begin with, and even worse at doing things assigned to her to keep her busy when there weren't clients for her to train. I was amazed she made it about 3 months.

 

[mgwb]

I myself am a restaurant manager that has turned into an Aloha support person for my company over the years. We were having a lot of problems with our Aloha reps a few years back. Having a major interest in IT work and knowing the problems we were having, I took on the task of learning how to fix and repair things until I now handle all IT and Aloha issues for our 11 stores. I dont know it all but I have managed to keep things running smooth so far. I very much appreciate this site for helping me through some problems that I dont have the answer to, so my thanks to you guys for helping me out. I get shafted big time on pay as I'm really still just paid to be a supervisor even though I save my company around $60K to $70K a year from what they have told me. But with the way things are right now in the economy, I'm not going to complain. It's just my way of creating my own job security I guess. Thanks again for helping people like me get through some tough times.

 

[SwampGas]

When people here are mentioning Aloha reps, are they speaking of actual Radiant/Aloha staff or resellers?



MegabyteCoffee.com

 

[DTSMAN]

I wonder if Radiant uses 3rd party service companies for their corportate accounts.
I did contract work through a field services company that was online, I would accept flat rate jobs from their website and go. I went to a BlockBuster one day to switch out a server. Switch the server get the help desk remote access and that was it. I was completely ignorant in every way, from OS used, applications, network config etc..I couldn't answer any of the manager's questions.

Here is link to where I got my jobs. They seemed to be about half pos and the rest common hardware issues like laserprinters. (At least that way a year ago)

http://www.fieldsolutions.com/

Bo

Remember,
If the women don't find you handsome,
they should at least find you handy.
(Red Green)

http://www.redgreen.com

 

[mgwb]

Im sorry when I say "reps" I meant the resellers. It took a while but my company worked with the actual Radiant people to work out our current situation with our reseller to where I handle all problems unless it's something major that needs their attention, and then we would just pay on an as needed basis. So far its worked out well.