By the end of June, DataWedge will release build 7.1.0... there are a few goodies in this build (check your release notes in the Download Manager for more details), but the biggest feature addition in this build is in the area of COUPON CODES.

COUPON CODES (also called PROMO CODES or CALLS TO ACTION) are a method for an RDS to throw an additional carrot to the customer in an effort to drive more orders through the system. 

Scenarios such as “Get Free Delivery with Coupon Code 'DELIVERY', or “Get a $5 rebate with Coupon Code 'REBATE' when you order over $100 worth of food from Bob's Restaurant” are now possible in both DMS and on the internet.

HOW THEY WORK.

First, let's get to the easiest summary description of coupons in DMS:

COUPONS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN HIDDEN MENU ITEMS. 

Let's quickly review.

COUPONS  ARE  NOTHING MORE THAN HIDDEN MENU ITEMS.

Now that we have that clear, let's go into Setup → Menus--> (any menu) and create our first coupon codes. 

You might notice right off the bat that there is an additional section in this form that has to do with Coupon Codes. 

In this section, you have the ability to key in your coupon codes, as well as determine a few additional courses of action when this coupon code is used.  Additional actions such as offering free delivery, giving an immediate discount (either flat dollar or percentage), as well as creating an order minimum for the coupon to be effective can be set in this section.

To illustrate, let's create a coupon that will offer free delivery to the customer, if selected.

In this case, simply:

• Create a brand new menu item
• Check the 'DISCOUNT' box
• Give the menu item a valid ITEM NUMBER (a coupon cannot be a header item)
• Keep the price as 0.00
• Enter in a coupon code of "DELIVERY"
• Put a check in the box marked "Free Delivery"
• (Ideally, but optionally, you can create a "promotions" section on your menu and categorize this coupon as belonging to the promotions group)

In DMS, when a CSR takes an order, the COUPON CODES will simply appear as additional menu items during order taking... 

The CSR can see all coupon codes available on either the house menu or the restaurant menu, and select their addition to the order as necessary.

On the web, however, it's a little different. 

When the menu data is uploaded to the internet, the web engine will HIDE any menu items from the View Menu and Ordering pages that CONTAIN COUPON CODES.  (This prevents customers from just giving themselves free money during every order).

During the payment screen, the web engine will then ask the customer to enter in any coupon codes/promo codes they have for this order...

If the text the customer enters matches the text of any coupons you have entered for either THAT restaurant menu or the house menu, that menu item is added to the order, and the additional actions are then applied to the order (such as free delivery).

Let's say you want to create a coupon code that will offer a $5 discount for orders over $100 with a particular coupon code. 

(Since you already know how to create a menu item, we'll just skip to the details/differences)

• Create the menu item
• Enter in a unique coupon code
• Check the "DISCOUNT" box.
• Put a value of $5 in the pricing levels
• Put a value of $100 in the "Only if order over" field.

How about a coupon that will do a 5% discount?  Simple:  just do the exact same thing as above, except check the box that says “Price is percent”.  This will have DMS and the web treat the dollar value entered as a PERCENTAGE, not a dollar value.

You might have noticed by now that it's possible to place an order on either an INDIVIDUAL Restaurant menu as well as on your HOUSE MENU.

This ability gives you some flexibility in terms of how the coupon behaves, and may save you some time in setting them up.

In general, placing a coupon on the RESTAURANT'S menu affects the RESTAURANT, while putting a coupon on the HOUSE MENU affects ALL Menus.

Let's say, for example, that you wanted to ONLY offer free delivery for a single restaurant.  In this case, you would create the coupon on the SINGLE RESTAURANT'S MENU that you wanted to offer free delivery for.

If, instead, you wanted to offer free delivery for ALL restaurants then it would be far easier for you to simply add the coupon to the house menu.

Note:  Coupons that are on a RESTAURANT MENU will affect the RESTAURANT total for an order.
Coupons that are on a HOUSE MENU will affect the HOUSE+FOOD total for an order.

WHAT ABOUT THIS RESTAURANT ADJUSTMENT THING?

The Restaurant Adjustment dollar amount is used in cases where the restaurant will agree to pay the RDS whenever a coupon is used.  (Or, rather, an RDS agrees to honor a restaurant coupon if the Restaurant will re-imburse the RDS when it is used).

In cases like these, a restaurant adjustment might be in order when the coupon is used.  When a dollar amount is entered here, DMS will add a RESTAURANT ADJUSTMENT for the dollar amount entered UPON ORDER COMPLETION.    

If you have additional questions regarding coupon codes, please feel free to contact us.  

We also highly encourage to you seek out our Discussion Forums and find out from other RDS's what their marketing campaigns might look like with the inclusion of coupon codes.