FAQS


What is the return on investment?
The system costs about 1 drink out of 100 sold. It is typical for 10 to 20 drinks out of 100 served not to be rung up on the POS or till, so the return on investment is typically less than one month to cover the initial costs, and the maintenance and support fee is returned by a multiple of 10x to 20x each month.

What is the average savings achieved by controlling over-pouring and pilferage, and by optimizing sales?
Over pouring, pilferage and sales optimization will decrease the cost of the inventory used by 10 to 20 percent.

Is an IT engineer required to set up the installation?
No, the installation does not require the involvement of IT or Engineering departments. No particular expertise is necessary, and no cables, networks or computers are required on location.

How does Beverage Metrics interact with existing POS systems? Is it compatible?
We are 100% compatible with all systems, and the installation for all systems is equally simple.

How long does it take to train new users?
There is practically no training time because all that is required is attaching the sensors to bottles and scanning the sensor bar code and bottle UPC code. This process enters inventory and matches the sensor to the brand and bottle size.

Are there any rules to operating the system?
Yes, there is one rule. Don't tilt bottles unless you are serving because a false tilt causes a false pour. Note,however, that our software is self healing, so that when a bottle is determined to be empty, the software adjusts that bottle's measured usage against the known true volume when the sensor is removed.

What is the accuracy of the system?
99% accuracy on financial, usage and inventory data for a statistically significant period such as 2-4 weeks, because the only inaccuracy is related to the few bottles that are currently open, which is insignificant compared to the many bottles which are either full, or have been emptied during the selected time period. Poured volume accuracy for any one pour with a standard pour spout and reasonable bartender behavior is about 95% (better than one tenth ounce on a one and a half ounce pour) and the average over a bottle is better than 95%. Poured volume accuracy for super premium bottles poured without a pour spout is not as reliable because bartenders are not often well trained in pouring a consistent drink, however our system will help with the training. Wine pours tend to be quite consistent since there are limited drinks per wine bottle and bartenders are trained to pour wine accurately.

Do you offer foreign language and metric versions of your software?
Yes we offer the most commonly used languages and are happy to offer any language if the customer translates our texts. The system is offered in US ounces and metric measurement.

Can I track my closed back up bottles at the bar?
Yes, because the sensor is attached to the outside of the closed bottle, you can track both open and closed bottles.

Can I track wine, liquor and champagne bottles used without a pour spout?
Yes, because the sensor is attached to the outside of the bottle and does not require a pour spout.

Can I use my preferred pour spout?
Yes, any pour spout can be used, or none at all.

Can I track my storage inventory?
Yes, the sensor, attached to the outside of the bottle when inventory is received in the storage room, gives you automatic storage and bar inventory updates.

Can I track wine bottles sold by the bottle as well as by the glass?
Yes, if the sensor is removed from a wine bottle which has not been poured from, the system will log one bottle sold.

Can I track wine by the glass?
Yes, when a wine bottle is poured the sensor posts the volume poured and the location.

Can I track tap beer?
Yes, Beverage Metrics offers an integrated system for the tracking of tap beer.

Can I track the kegs related to the tap usage?
Yes, Beverage Metrics offers a sensor that snaps onto the beer keg valve harness. When it is removed the system registers the keg as empty and when the valve harness is replaced the new full keg is registered.

Can I track my juices?
Yes you can use the bottle sensor to track juice containers.

Can I track my bottled beer?
Yes, our receiving system enters cases and single bottles into inventory. Beer bottles can be tracked with the Beverage Metrics wireless beer cap remover. Beverage Metrics also offers an optional laser scanner at the bar that can be used to scan bottles as they are sold. With either option, bottles opened are reconciled against bottles rung up.

At times I need more bottles of a particular brand, for example for a party or when I get a special offer from a supplier. Do you consider how to manage my sensors for such situations?
Yes, we realize par stocks are not consistent and recommend the "lose brand" configuration to accommodate inventory spikes of specific brands.

With multiple bartenders at one bar on the same shift, are you able to determine who poured which drink?
Yes, the Beverage Metrics Bartender ID system logs each pour to a person.

If I have multiple bars and concurrent multiple banquets can your system discern which bottle is being poured at which bar?
Yes, Beverage Metrics tracks usage, back up and open inventory by profit center and banquet station.

If I want to audit my inventory does your system relieve me of having to actually count the bottles?
Yes it does. You can rely on the inventory report for each bar's open and back up bottles, the bottle count at each banquet station, and the storage inventory count. Beverage Metrics inventory data is more accurate, timely and more organized than a manual count with its inherent human errors and time consuming effort.

Can your system track a bottle if it is moved from bar to bar?
Yes, the system tracks the change of location automatically.

I receive free bottles from the suppliers at times; do you consider this in the inventory system?
Beverage Metrics averages the value of the brand based on the price paid, adjusted by the free bottles.

Does your system permit juggling bottles for show?
Yes, the software filters the spin and does not register that as a pour.

Does your system allow for fast pouring?
Yes, you can use fast pour spouts because our sensors are snapped onto the outside neck of the bottle, they do not interfere with service in any way, and the pour rates are configurable for different brands and pour spouts.

Can I monitor only 50 or 100 bottles of my fastest moving brands?
You can use the system for as few or as many bottles, spigots, handles and dispensers as you please.

Can I brand the Sensors with a scanner?
Yes, the software includes a laser scanner interface that supports branding (linking the sensor with the bottle it is attached to) at the bar or in storage.

Have you considered that space is tight in restaurants and another PC would not be practical?
The Beverage Metrics Enterprise system does not require a PC; the data is picked up by a Gateway connected to the Internet. The Earth system does require use of the local office PC.

Can I use a PDA or cellphone with the system?
You can access your data with any web enabled handheld system, and Beverage Metrics sends SMS data to your device if so configured.

Have you considered that I may want to keep my data private?
Your data can be downloaded to your computer at any time, and you have the option to delete your data from our servers permanently and irretrievably. With the Earth system your data resides only on your local PC.

Can the system be configured to retain the bottle brand a sensor is used for even after detaching it from the bottle so that I can just snap the sensor onto the next bottle of the same brand?
Yes, this is known as the "retain brand" setting. In this mode, care should be taken that the sensor is always replaced to the same brand and size bottle.

Can the system be configured to lose the brand of the bottle it was attached to, so that the sensor can be used for any other bottle the next time it is attached?
Yes, this is the "lose brand" setting which is the most flexible and operationally most practical. You can allocate a sensor to a bottle manually or with our bar code scanner.

Can the system track data for multiple locations?
Yes, the system tracks sensors and data from an unlimited number of bars, banquets stations and storage locations.

Do you have a solution for damaged UPC codes?
The inventory software includes a camera interface which supports the capture of brand labels. If a UPC barcode is damaged or unknown, a photo of that bottle's label is taken and automatically downloaded to our support team who links the photo to the related bottle brand.

Do you have a solution for bottles without any UPC code?
The inventory software includes a camera interface that supports the capture of labels which the support team converts into the related bottle brand. In the rare case we do not recognize the brand we research the barcode data and update the master database.

Can I brand bottles at the bar or in the storage, or, for that matter, at any location of convenience?
You are not limited as to where you brand the sensors to the bottle, however practice shows that branding in the storage is the most reliable process.

I understand you do not require cables. How do you do that?
The Beverage Metrics system is 100% wireless because data is sent to the Internet servers over cell phone networks, and data within the premises is sent over Beverage Metrics' proprietary wireless network.

I am concerned about security issues on my network; have you considered this?
Beverage Metrics does not require on location cables, switches or networks. All data is transmitted over wireless networks, and therefore there is no use or compromise of property networks. Data access to the reports is encrypted and the data transmitted from the sensors to the server is in a protected proprietary format.

I am concerned that Beverage Metrics may cause problems in my POS or on the POS network when collecting POS data, have you considered this?
We capture POS data via a virtual printer that is connected to the POS terminals printer port. This method mimics a printer and does not entail any risks to the POS whatsoever.

How do you adjust open bottle inventory when first installing a system?
We use a bar code scanner and a volume card where each 1/10th volume is represented by a bar code. The person installing scans the bottle bar code (UPC) and the related volume bar code, this informs the database of the starting volume.

How long does an installation take?
Installing the Print Auditor requires plugging it into a printer port and power. Installing the Internet Gateway and Relays requires plugging them into power. Snapping on sensors and branding the sensor to the bottles takes about 5 seconds each. An entire installation typically requires less than two hours. The customer is responsible to edit their recipes and brands via the on-line software and to configure the POS to print dupes to the relevant printer port.

Does your system track pouring a drink prior to inserting a pour spout or serving the first drink?
Yes, the sensor is attached prior to the bottle being opened so every pour is registered with or without a pour spout.

Does the system alert when an attempt is made to remove the sensor prior to the bottle being empty?
Yes, the bottle volume is constantly tracked, an early detach causes an alert signal.

What if the sensor is dropped?
The standard Beverage Metrics test is to drop a sensor 6 feet to a concrete floor.

Does the sensor function inside a refrigerator?
The electronics are temperature tested to function in a refrigerator.

Can I wash the sensor with hot water?
The sensors are designed to withstand hot water cleaning.

Does the system address sugar residue build-up and cleaning issues?
Since liquid cannot infiltrate the sensor housing, sugar build up and contamination are non-existent issues

Do the Sensors and Gateway buffer data?
Yes, the sensors, the relays and the gateway buffer data, and a handshake with the server is required for relay and gateway data to be transmitted and subsequently deleted.

Have you considered the consequence of power outages?
The gateway automatically handshakes with the server and confirms that buffered data received during power outage has been uploaded to the server.

Are the Gateway and Receiver battery backed up?
Yes they function without power for up to 8 hours. The batteries recharge when connected to power.

Does your system address concerns about slowing service?
Our system does not slow service in any way whatsoever.