http://www.smartcompany.com.au/media/20090916-newspaper-book-and-statio…

This free report made by IBISWorld on newsagencies.

IBISWorld is used by most of the banks and large corporate for research into what is happening. Banks use it for lending.

What I found particularly interesting is the major factor that IBISWorld thought was crucial for newsagencies is technology.

* Ability to control stock on hand. Operators need to be able to control stock on hand. This will assist operators in stocking key selling items, minimise slow selling stock and assist with cashflow.

The only way to do this is with good computer software, like ours and using it effectively.

I was reading here about some of the newspapers in the USA. The problem there is advertising revenue is not enough now so they are raising their cover prices to get the revenue. Something that I think should be done here too.

Then the crazy prices should also be stopped, here is one example

Fairfax gets $10 for this subscription. The retail cost for a Melbourne Age for a Friday is $1.50, Saturday $2.50, Sunday $2.00 and Monday $1.50 equals $7.50 for 52 weeks. So the value of the offer is $390.00. It works out to a 97% discount. What is the sense in that?

We are excited about a new virtual product range coming for our clients. I cannot go into details but hopefully soon, our clients will soon have a new range of virtual product. These products have been tested in several of our newsagents and are selling very well. They have a competitive price with a good margin.

The supplier of these goods knew what they wanted. What the supplier wanted was a software developer with a large user base in retail shops who had a track record in virtual products. Something we certainly do have.

What really stunned us is that one of the many companies that applied was Australia Post who tried to get it but was turned down. So I did not have much hope, when I went in suggesting newsagents but what really helped us was newsagents sell large quantities of greeting cards. So it now looks like we have won for newsagents, a chance at this huge market.

We will need soon to pick some sites for the next stage of the trials. So hang on here for some really exciting news which I am sure will include steak knives too.

Some newsagents are still not getting their network invoices so Network have move to a plan B, email. So please make sure that Network have your correct email address.

Status: Urgent POS Vendor Update

Hi all

We have experienced another issue with DD2 files not arriving to some agents. At this stage we do not know the exact number & list of agents are impacted however we believe it’s less than 10%.

Network Services has decided to move to emailing all of files for this week to all agents as a back up. Furthermore we will continue to email files to agents each week until such time XChangeIT can show that the bugs have all been fixed.

The email schedule will be as follows:

Files for Monday will be emailed to agents the Thursday prior each week

Files for Wednesday and Friday will be emailed to agents the Monday prior each week.

We ask that you please inform your members of these back up emails and the process of copying these files into their systems if required.

Any queries please let me know.

Regards

Daniel Tisi
Supply Chain Project Manager
[email protected]

We received the following communication from network. I am happy to confirm that what we are seeing in our main support office is what they have outlined.

Our windows posbrowser software has built in error protection (smart software) that automatically filter out these duplicates. POS DOS users must be careful so DOS users please use the filters.

The other good news is that XchangeIT have put back Kim Prince, who is both extremely experienced with XchangeIT and a good operator to help find out what went wrong and to help fix the problems.

Status: Urgent POS Vendor Update

Hi all

All Distributors and XchangeIT worked closely together to get on top of the issues and whilst they are not completely resolved we feel that the right short term processes and validations are in place to manage this until such time as the fixes are implemented. This week the number of missing DD2 files reported was below 3%, down from over 40% two weeks ago.

We do however have another issue that we experienced last night. An XchangeIT process caused some Network Services DD2 files to be duplicated. While most POS systems are capable of dealing with this occurrence there are some that are not equipped to identify duplicated files. To mitigate this we are going to send a headline to all agents via XchangeIT advising agents to look out for files that contain the same name and only accept 1 of them. For agents using POS systems known not to identify Duplicate Files, as an extra measure, we will be calling them to advise them of the duplicate files so they are aware they must look first before accepting files.

We ask that you do that same via your communication networks

Any queries please let me know.

Regards

Daniel Tisi
Supply Chain Project Manager

We have added more information sheets in the XchangeIT section dealing with returns from network's view. The information is useful to anyone using XchangeIT

They are titled

EDI Returns via XchangeIT LINK - Quick Guide FINAL

Quick Reference Guide - Shipping Unsolds To Network Services All states FINAL Sept 09

Garth has put together a document showing you how to set up XchangeIT to get total EDI compliance. This will enable you to get the lowest charge rate for XchangeIT.

Everyone I speak today about XchangeIT seems happy today. The invoices are coming through although I know Friday is not much of a test. Now I am happy to report that “All is quiet on the Western Front” although we need to wait till Monday to be sure.

I just want to make a note to say that I deny all responsibility for this mess. In my view, XchangeIT was only initially beta tested. In that, it worked well. The problems that occurred had nothing to do with this beta testing. During the Beta testing, the invoices from all suppliers were sent on time, all the invoices were correct and none were blanks. We tested these invoices thoroughly on both posbrowser and DOS and all worked fine. See Lyle comment from Lucky Charm Victoria Point who was among the very first testers.

What happened from there is we requested a pause so only a few sites would have it while they use it we could see what was happening. Then gradually spread it to all users. If this had happened, only a few people would be affected at any time. As there was nothing wrong with the old system and many people were happy to stay on it, there was no rush. So we opposed moving to a mass deployment.

I think the problem occurred in the mass deployment. It appears there was little if any testing for a mass placement. Plus there was no additional support staff put on the suppliers’ side for this deployment something always required if changes are done. Finally, there was also no contingency plan, if something went wrong.

When it started to go wrong misleading information was sent on the 28/Aug/09, on the 31/Aug/09 and 01/Sep/09 and from then on complete silence was broken only by one email seeking details of the current problems. All this made it worse as newsagents believing these messages kept ringing up saying something like “I was told it is fixed but somehow I am having trouble?”

The problem was made worse because so many people rung the support lines about XchangeIT that they clogged the support lines so people with other problems were delayed.

Word got around too as I know one well-known newsagent supplier who was thinking about XchangeIT told me of their concerns of doing this because of what happened.

When this is over, I think some questions should be asked but knowing the industry, I doubt they will and if they were asked, I doubt they would be answered.

The advantage our clients had is that at all times we kept them as well as XchangeIT and the magazine companies informed on what was happening. We released emergency updates, put on extra support staff and started our main support bay from 6:00 AM. The support staff worked till very late answering calls to get through them all.

People with old versions of POS DOS may need to update to the latest version on the net if they have problems with Gordan and Gotch on XchangeIT.

You will know if you need to update as the software will ask this question when importing a magazine

Return style is marked as (T)op, (F)ull or (C)over

We think it is a problem somewhere in XchangeIT, not our software but rather then wait for a fix from them, we changed our software. It is available for immediate installation

We are conducting FREE Webinar Learning Session on

Subject: Magazine returns

On Tuesday, September 8 at 11:00 AM AUS Eastern Standard Time.

Please email us if you wish to attend, of course there is always this in the morning if you prefer.

To make sure you do not miss out as we expect this one to be very popular please register your interest by calling Michael Varger

Telephone: 0419 553 901
or Email: [email protected]

In the meantime if you have any suggestions or question about returns please make a comment and we will try to combine them into this webinar.

Note: Don't be afraid to come if you are not that good in public or not so good with computers, We supply directions that will step you through getting connected one by one. The narrator is very patient hoping to filed anyone's questions and queries the best he can. Plus in the worst case, our support staff can step you through the process.

I've also been getting many calls about processing these duplicate magazine invoices.

What is happening is many are getting invoices resent by the supplier. When they process them through the XChangeIT document it throws up two "cannot archive" messages for every repeated invoice they try to bring in. Since the message says to contact POS we're getting many calls. For example it is not uncommon for clients to bring in a dozen or so invoices that are already there, that's a dozen error messages x 2 = 24. That's 24 button clicks, most people give up after about 10 and assume their XchangeIT system is locked in a loop then call us.

If this happens to you, it is not locked just keep trying on the next invoice.

We have notified XchangeIT of the problem, that the error message is wrong and are waiting for a fix from them.

Reminder – we are conducting an FREE Webinar Learning Session on Thursday 3 September at 1pm.

Subject: Magazine returns

What is a Webinar?
A webinar simply means you can attend an online event by clicking a link which will take you to a secure web page. You will then be able to view and hear a live learning session by calling a phone number or using, if you have a computer headphone all from where you are.

How does it work?
Just email me if you wish to attend. The first 25 people that email me will be automatically accepted. They will receive an email which will contain instructions.

Those that miss out will be offered a place on the next webinar on the same subject next week.

Tell us what you think!
For those who attend a free webinar learning session, we would appreciate your honest feedback. This will help us to improve our ability to provide you with the information and tips you most want to learn about.

Kind Regards

Bernard

Although we are trying to help, there is unfortunately little we can do about these XchangeIT problems.

Most of the problems is we keep getting messages from several of the magazines companies and XchangeIT that all is fixed; the next day when it is still not fixed, people wonder what is going on and call.

So now the support lines to XchangeIT are flat out. We are constantly hearing from our clients that they "gave XchangeIT a ring and waited too long so they thought they would give us a try." Those that are getting though are finding XchangeIT support rather abrupt. Unfortunately there is little the support people in XchangeIT can do either so probably they are getting frustrated at repeating themselves daily a thousand times.

Added to this is the confusion most people have with new XchangeIT program. Many changed because Network was telling them that they will only accept returns online or EDI. Many of these normally would be struggling just to keep up with the new system, now they have to put up with these data problems too.

We said from the start the roll-out should be slower. That it should only go into production after a complete test. That network new return system should only be imposed after people were used to the new system.

Now it is a mess.

The Australian is re-launching itself; it is changing its look, adding a magazines style weekly section and committing themselves to new major advertising campaign.

I hope many people will want to try it out.

The problems with XchangeIT currently are continuing. Hopefully tomorrow they claim it will be fixed. Here is what they are saying now.

Hi all

XChangeIT have completed the update of the Client and Distributor Gateways for Network Services & NDD, this should fix the intermittent problems we’ve experienced over the last week in getting agents their DD2 files.

Gotch however are experiencing issues with downloading the fixes, hopefully they will be up and running today

Gotch & NDD are due to send DD2 files to agents this afternoon for tomorrow’s on-sale, NSC sent these files last week as well as emailing them out today as a back up.

Please let me know if you do hear of any agents experiencing issues in receiving the Gotch and NDD files via XChangeIt Link for tomorrows on sale. The next lot of Network DD2 files that is due out to agents will be Monday’s on-sale due to agents early Thursday morning.

Any queries please let me know.

Regards

Daniel
Supply Chain Project Manager

This means that many of you will have three copies of the same invoice so be careful.

In the meantime, there is little we can do to help as the problem is not on our end.

On Friday, our software support got hammered with the XchangeIT problems.

Today our support bay is still in damage control fixing the problems created. This was expected, so we put on extra staff.

We will not know till tomorrow whether this problem been fixed.

In any new system, there are often teething problems and clearly here, we have problems that need addressing. This is expected but unfortunate.

I wish that XchangeIT had done a slower roll-out.

Our clients should be now have received the email newsletter that went out today on the problems with Network on XchangeIT.

For those that are not our clients and so have not heard what is happening Network though XchangeIT are sending blank invoices to people and more dangerously, they are sending old invoices some dating from 2002.

Network are working though the weekend to fix the problem; so we hope XchangeIT will have it fixed for Tuesday. It is too late for Monday run so if you use XchangeIT you can expect to receive Network that faulty invoices

In our discussions today with XchangeIT and Network about it today we were told that in the next few hours Network will resend though XchangeIT all the corrected invoices again.

What to do

As posbrowser is self-correcting! When the new invoices from XchangeIT arrive, the correct invoices will overwrite the faulty ones.

POS DOS you will have two sets of invoices, so if in doubt pick manually the last ones received.

In both case, there will be old invoices in your system that manually need to be removed. So doubly check before you import any invoices into your system.

This problem only affects network going though XchangeIT.

The news sections will remain broadsheet size but the business and sport sections will go tabloid size.

Swish group were involved in the ownership of the TV screens that many newsagents after Bill Express went bad.

They also were involved in the initial stages of Cardplai, at present I have no idea what the status was between Cardplai and Swish.

This training session will be on Thursday 3/Sep/2009 at 1:00pm

Magazine Returns

In particular to the latest EDI and what it will mean be for newsagents.

Newsagents not using our software but considering upgrading to our latest smart software are welcome to attend too.

Our attitude after seeing the newer webinar software has changed. Before we had issues and both we and our clients complained but this new webinar software GoToMeeting has everyone happy.

As it is much better. Clients find it much easier to use and to take part.

If you have not tried a webinar or did one and did not like it, I suggest you try again as I think you will find it interest. Everyone gets together without having to go anywhere. You have no fuel costs or other travel costs. You remain in your shop just in case and still have the full experience of outside training.

So to make sure you do not miss out as we expect this one to be very popular please register your interest by calling Michael Varger

Telephone: 0419 553 901
or Email: [email protected]