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Agilysys Inc., a provider of hospitality solutions, is implementing 13 integrated software solutions at Kiva Dunes, a golf resort located in Gulf Shores, Ala., intended to optimize per guest revenue, automate administrative tasks, and improve the guest experience.
Agilysys’ applications, which includes point-of-sale software, will eliminate repetitive administrative tasks across Kiva Dunes’ sales, marketing, and catering departments. The integrated apps will also reduce training costs as staff only needs to learn how to operate a single platform. Prior to installing Agilysys applications, Kiva Dunes used multiple systems from disparate software vendors that made it difficult to share information between its property management and point-of-sale systems.
In addition, the apps provide tools for managing memberships and residence rentals more efficiently, while simplifying accounting processes, particularly for revenue allocation and expense reporting for property owners, an Agilysys spokesperson says by email.
In addition to a golf course, Kiva Dunes features a private beachfront, a membership beach club, tennis facilities and accommodations such as condominiums, vacation homes and holiday rentals.
The new apps are also expected to improve the checkout process, as well as streamline check-in and dining and activity reservations, such as booking tee times.
Members will also have access to a new self-service portal that allows them to manage their accounts, make reservations, book tee times, register for events, and manage their loyalty points, says the Agilysys spokesperson.
“Sharing data across systems will provide Kiva Dunes with consistent and accurate information throughout their operations, which is a significant improvement over their previous setup,” the Agilysys spokesperson says. “This marks a major shift from Kiva Dunes’ previous challenge of disconnected systems, where issues often led to vendors pointing fingers at each other and additional costs for the resort. The unified approach will enable coordinated processes across the property while helping identify revenue opportunities and enhance guest experiences.”
Also on the POS front, Cantaloupe Inc. is rolling out a point-of-sale system for arcade and amusement operators that allows consumers to pay once using their credit or debit card for as many games as they play, as opposed to paying per play.
The new system supports ladder pricing, which allows consumers to select multiple plays or extended time periods in a single transaction without having to swipe their card each time at an arcade or amusement machine, the company says.
“Ladder pricing displays up to [eight] different pricing options on the screen. Each price corresponds to a different amount of plays or time,” Brian Hilton, product marketing manager for Cantaloupe, Inc. says by email. “Consumers simply tap the pricing option of their choosing, and their card is charged.”
Enabling ladder pricing via non-cash payments is expected to increase overall sales. Early adopters of the system have seen sales increases of as much as 85% in the first two months of use, Cantaloupe says.
Lieberman Companies, a provider of cashless-payment systems for arcade systems, has seen a $2 to $3 increase in sales per customer, from the default price of $1 per play. Lieberman currently has more than 700 games throughout the Minneapolis/ St. Paul area and Rochester, Minn., according to its Web site.
Consumers spent more than $100 million at amusement machines in 2023, with 63% of total sales volume coming from cashless transactions, according to Cantaloupe’s 2024 Micropayment Trends Report. The average value for cashless purchases in 2023 was $6.13, compared to 81 cents for cash purchases, the report says.
Improving the cashless-payment experience for games at arcades and amusement parks will help broaden the potential customer base for those merchant locations to include consumers who don’t; carry cash, Hilton adds.
