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Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

Setup, Training & Support

Using RTIconnect

Getting Started

1. What functionality is included in RTIconnect?

RTIconnect is a fully integrated restaurant management system, which includes these major components:

  • Food Cost / Inventory
  • eOrdering
  • Food Prep
  • Transfers
  • Sales Forecasting/ Projections
  • POS Interface
  • Employee Scheduling
  • Punch Processing
  • Cash / Till Management
  • Daily Sales Reporting
  • In-Store P&L
  • Task Lists

2. How much does the RTIconnect system cost?

There are two licensing options available for franchisees with less than 50 stores. A detailed price sheet is available from your RTI sales representative, but in general, the subscription option is $99/month per store + setup—or—the license option is $1995/store + support and setup.

For franchisees with 50 or more stores and specific in-house technical expertise, a “self-hosted” option is also available. Please consult your RTI sales representative for details on this option.

3. What is the difference between the Subscription and License pricing options?

Both options provide the same access to the RTIconnect system. The subscription option is designed to be a “pay as you go” plan, minimizing up-front costs and limiting your commitment to three months at a time (there is no contract). The license option has a higher initial investment, but a lower total cost of ownership over the long term.

4. Can RTIconnect interface with my particular POS system/model?

RTIconnect interfaces with most major POS types including Aloha, Casio, CRS, Digital Dining, Exit41, FasFax, MICROS, Mid America, Panasonic, Par, POSitouch, QuikServe (Electralogics), Radiant, Sharp, Sicom, TEC, Wand, Xpient, and others. We are constantly developing new interfaces. If your POS is not on our current list, we will gladly research its compatibility. In most cases, we can develop an interface for your system. (Also see Interface Capability.)

5. What type of computer and operating system will I need?

A complete system requirements sheet is available from your RTI sales representative. RTIconnect is compatible with the major Microsoft® business operating systems and most of today’s IBM-compatible PCs.

6. My POS system has a PC in the manager’s office. Can I use this PC for RTIconnect?

Possibly, if your POS back-office PC meets the system requirements for RTIconnect. First check with your POS provider to ensure that you can load other software on this PC, and that using it to access the Internet will not impact the operation of your POS system.

7. Do I really need a high-speed Internet connection (DSL / Cable modem / Satellite)?

RTI strongly recommends a high-speed Internet connection to ensure quick performance of the RTIconnect system. RTIconnect will operate on a dial-up connection with a 42K or greater connection speed, but it will be noticeably slower than a high-speed connection.

8. Can I access RTIconnect from any computer connected to the Internet?

RTIconnect can be accessed from any Internet-enabled computer where the system components have been installed (but not typically from Internet kiosks, public computers, etc.) As a .NET application, RTIconnect is a hybrid between desktop and Web-based applications. This application structure requires installation of both the Microsoft® .NET framework (available as part of the operating system or as a free download from Microsoft) and the base RTIconnect system (available as a Web download).

Setup, Training, & Support

1. How long does it take RTI to complete my setup?

To customize the RTIconnect database for your operation, it takes approximately 30 days from the time we receive your completed setup questionnaires.

2. Why do I have to fill out the setup questionnaire?

The setup questionnaires provide us with information that is very specific to your business—and they allow us to customize the RTIconnect database to integrate tightly into your current store processes. The more information we have about your business, the better able we are to deliver a system that will provide benefit right away.

3. How will my managers learn the RTIconnect system?

Initial training and implementation assistance is provided onsite at 1-3 of your restaurant locations. Before we arrive, RTI’s training coordinator will discuss your objectives and success criteria with your operations team and develop a custom implementation plan designed to meet your goals. We typically visit your store(s) for 3 days on the initial trip, during which we conduct training sessions and work directly with your store manager(s) during their opening and/or closing processes. Then after checking results and getting your feedback during the first two weeks, we schedule an additional 2-day onsite visit for any "refresher" training that may be needed, and to move forward with implementation of additional functionality.

As part of the implementation process, a dedicated RTI support representative will be assigned to your company through your first processing cycles in each RTIconnect module. Your dedicated rep will coordinate both administrative and store-level training for RTIconnect. Follow-up training is typically conducted in two online sessions, so that you can minimize the impact on your daily operations.

4. What about our ongoing learning needs (as managers change, etc.)?

The initial RTIconnect training for your company is based on a “Train the Trainer” approach, where our support representatives teach you and/or your designates (usually a supervisor, district manager, etc.) how to use the system. We provide you with the level of knowledge necessary for you to train your restaurant managers and office users on an ongoing basis. Of course, RTI support is available to your company “trainer” during normal support hours to assist with any questions that might arise. There are also several other resources available to you for ongoing training needs:

  • RTIconnect includes a complete online help system, which provides detailed content and examples for major areas of system functionality.
  • Help videos are included, which “show” the user how to perform specific RTIconnect tasks.

5. When does my initial RTIconnect subscription/support period start, and when will I be billed for renewal service?

Your RTIconnect subscription/support period begins after RTI completes your setup, and you have received training for one of the RTIconnect modules (Food, Labor, Cash Management). RTI will apply the subscription/support prepayment from your original RTIconnect purchase to the current quarter on a prorated basis. Any overage will be applied to your first renewal, which will be sent to you about 30 days prior to the start of the next quarter. All renewal fees are billed quarterly in advance.

6. Who do I call for support? What are RTI’s support hours?
  • Level 1 support for your stores (how-to and procedural questions, Internet connection issues, etc.) is provided by your company “trainer” (usually a supervisor, district manager, etc.).
  • Level 2 support for your trainer (complex operational questions, hardware/technical support) is provided by RTI during our normal support hours. Our current support hours are Monday–Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST, and Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.
  • After-hours emergency support and monitoring is handled by RTI on a 24x7 basis.

7. I’m most concerned about food costs. Can I implement just one component of the RTIconnect system?

Yes. Because RTIconnect contains so much functionality, we would recommend a phased implementation. For example, you might implement the food section (inventories, eOrdering, prep sheets, etc.) and then move to labor, then to cash, etc. Your RTIconnect Account Manager will help you develop an implementation plan that meets your goals.

Using RTIconnect

1. What type of data security is in place? Can others access my data via the Internet?

RTIconnect has built-in role-based security that allows you to control who accesses your information and which menu options they can select. You determine the appropriate access at all levels of your organization, and you can add, delete, or modify users and passwords in your database at any time.

2. Where does my data reside? What backup/recovery processes are in place?

Your RTIconnect data is secure in RTI’s 24x7 data center in our Marietta, Ga., facility. Our data center is monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is designed to provide you with far more fail-safe capabilities than a typical office environment. This includes a temperature-controlled server room, redundant servers, dual T1 connectivity, backup power generator, 3x daily backups, and other fail-safe components/processes to ensure the integrity and availability of your data.

3. Is the RTIconnect system available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? What has been your track record on down time?

RTIconnect is typically available 24x7 with the exception of scheduled maintenance on Wednesday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. From time to time, more substantial system maintenance may be required, and we will notify your users well in advance of any planned maintenance downtime. Our goal is to provide 99.9% uptime for the RTIconnect product; we have consistently met this goal since inception of our RTIconnect data center in 2003.

4. Does my food vendor participate in RTIconnect’s eOrdering program?

We have many participating food vendors for eOrdering including Amphire, CDI Foods, COI Foodservice, I Supply Company, Maines Paper and Food Service, MBM Food Service, McCabe’s Quality Foods, McLane, PDS, PFG, Shamrock Foods, Sygma Foodservice, SYSCO Foods, Upper Lakes Foods, and Willow Run Foods. We are constantly developing new eOrdering interfaces, so if you have a vendor that is not on our current list, we will be glad to talk to them about participating. In most cases, we will be able to develop an eOrdering interface for your major food vendor(s).

5. Will RTIconnect interface to my accounting software?

RTIconnect provides accounting export files in standard file formats that can be imported by many of today’s popular accounting systems. If your accounting system requires a specific import format, we can evaluate that format for a possible custom interface.

6. Can my menus and task lists be customized to mirror my existing internal processes?

Yes. RTI can assist you in modifying the RTIconnect menu and task lists to closely follow your current operational processes—minimizing training time in your restaurants.

7. Can I interface to other applications through the RTIconnect menu?

Yes. On the store menus (button-style), you can add menu options that call other programs, such as email, spreadsheets, and other software programs.

More Questions?

Please call your RTI sales representative at 800-937-1290.

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