Bar Management Software [trial]

[sgroves]

Hi all!
Name is Sean, 23, I'm a software programmer from Britain and in my spare time I've decided just for the heck of it to write some bar management software, Automated text messaging, sales/losses reports, inventory, staff/jobs..ect.. I've never worked in a bar so all these requirements are just from the top of my head. I'm here looking for idea's, basically what a bar owner would expect from such software, useful features?

The closest thing i've done to this is writing a program to manage the pool tables for a night club in Finland.

regards
sean

 

[James1980]

Getting a part-time job in a bar will give you valuable hands-on experience and "domain knowledge". It will ensure you don't waste time on unnecessary features, omit essential functionality, or create a user interface that might prove impractical when being used "in the real world".

 

[ExplorerBDM]

What gap are you trying to close? Is there a problem with the software that bars use at the moment, that you're aware of? What made you focus on bar management software in the first place?

 

[Bradley Holmes]

Hi Sean.
Make sure its really quick to use. if the bartenders take ages to put through an order the pub is losing money.

I´d like to be able to watch the till camera feed, and see what drinks the bartender is putting into the till and what change they should be pulling out of it. I mean your program should display an overlay over the video or next too it with the buttons being pressed in real time.

What management did the pool tables need?

 

[Rory Downey]

I assume you would be plugging into the current EPOS, and finance system, otherwise you need to develop a working knowledge of accounting. Therefore I think your biggest issue will be system integration, so build a good API for whatever you build.

 

[liams7]

Hi sean, Well done mate, Getting off your ass at 23 and building something is very cool. Best thing to do is find a bar that will trial your software for free and work with them to see what could be added, You might want to ask them what they struggle with because a full system to run a bar would take a while to build. Best thing to do is ask the people that own the bars. not people here.

 

[FSIvan]

Hi sean, Well done mate, Getting off your ass at 23 and building something is very cool. Best thing to do is find a bar that will trial your software for free and work with them to see what could be added, You might want to ask them what they struggle with because a full system to run a bar would take a while to build. Best thing to do is ask the people that own the bars. not people here.

While this is generally good advice the main thing you need to watch out for if you do this is to avoid at all costs being dragged in to creating a bespoke system for any one client. If you can afford / have the time to trial with more than one bar then all the better. Good luck.

 

[Opinion87]

Hi Sean,

I'm a bar owner so feel free to give me a PM or an address and I can drop you an email if you want a bit of back and forth.

Hi all!
Name is Sean, 23, I'm a software programmer from Britain and in my spare time I've decided just for the heck of it to write some bar management software, Automated text messaging, sales/losses reports, inventory, staff/jobs..ect.. I've never worked in a bar so all these requirements are just from the top of my head. I'm here looking for idea's, basically what a bar owner would expect from such software, useful features?

The closest thing i've done to this is writing a program to manage the pool tables for a night club in Finland.

regards
sean