SEMS Classic / SEMS 4 EOL FAQs
SEMS End-Of-Life
When is the End-Of-Life date for SEMS?
The end-of-life date for SEMS is December 31, 2021, which will be the final support date for SEMS Classic and SEMS4. Please schedule your transition to RTIconnect now, as our implementation appointments fill up quickly and are typically reserved 2-3 months in advance. RTIconnect transitions require 45-75 days to complete (more for larger operators) and are scheduled on a first-come / first-serve basis.
Why are the SEMS products being replaced?
Currently Xenial has multiple Back Office and reporting solutions. To better serve our clients, we are focusing our efforts on a single Back Office. This will enable us to concentrate future development and support efforts on one best-of-class platform. .
What is the replacement product for SEMS?
RTIconnect will replace the legacy SEMS solutions. RTIconnect is a proven, feature-rich Back Office, with over 9,000 successful restaurant installations.
How will I access SEMS and historical data after transitioning to RTIconnect?
During your RTIconnect setup, basic employee information plus a complete year of net sales and customer counts will be migrated to RTIconnect. Your POS systems will begin posting to RTIconnect and when you successfully transition to RTIconnect, SEMS will become “view-only”. Xenial will provide view-only access to necessary SEMS data for archival purposes. Details on storing historical data are being worked out and will be provided in a future update.
I have customizations in SEMS. Will these same customizations be in RTIconnect?
Existing SEMS customizations may or may not be part of the standard RTIconnect feature-set. Please check with your Xenial Account Manager about specific RTIconnect feature questions before scheduling your transition.
Getting Started with RTIconnect
What functionality does RTIconnect include?
RTIconnect is a full-featured Back Office system which includes these major components:
*eOrdering and eInvoicing are subject to vendor availability
What is the cost to transition to RTIconnect?
There is a one-time setup cost of $250/store for RTIconnect. The annual subscription is $1,285/store and replaces subscription fees that you are paying for SEMS Classic or SEMS4 at the end of your paid subscription period.
What type of computer and operating system will I need?
A system requirements sheet is available from your Xenial Account Manager. RTIconnect is compatible with major Microsoft® business-class operating systems (not Home versions) and most current IBM-compatible PCs.
Setup, Training & Support
How long does it take Xenial to complete my RTIconnect setup?
To deliver your turnkey RTIconnect setup,
it takes about 45-70 days from your project kickoff, which is scheduled in the first available reservation after your completed setup questionnaire is received.
Do I need to fill out the setup questionnaire?
Yes, the setup questionnaire provides us with information that is specific to your business – store hours, delivery schedules, schedule preferences, etc. -- and allows us to customize your RTIconnect experience so that it integrates tightly into your store operations. We can’t begin your RTIconnect setup without this required information.
Do I have to transition all stores to RTIconnect at once?
Yes, if you have 30 stores or less, you should transition all stores to RTIconnect at the same time.. If you have more than 30 stores, we recommend implementing RTIconnect in phases of about 30 stores each.
How will my managers learn RTIconnect?
RTIconnect training is accomplished through a combination of online courses at Xenial Academy, and a recap/Q&A webinar at the end of your implementation with your Xenial Consultant.
Xenial Academy includes a series of courses designed to teach RTIconnect usage, test learning, and even certify users on their knowledge in RTIconnect skills. The Academy is available 24x7 and ensure consistency of training, now and for your future hiring needs.
What is the RTIconnect support plan?
Xenial uses a two-tiered support plan for RTIconnect that separates responsibilities among our RTIconnect support team, your RTIconnect Administrator/Trainer(s), and your District Managers.
Level 1 support
Routine questions from your restaurants such as how-to and procedural questions, Internet issues, etc. are supported by your District Managers or your internal RTIconnect Administrator(s).
Level 2 support
The Xenial support team assists your RTIconnect Administrator(s) with complex operational questions, software options that impact company-wide procedures, troubleshooting data or reports, and any RTIconnect issues that cannot be resolved by your District Managers or Administrator(s). Our support team also provides technical support for RTIconnect and can escalate issues to our Quality Assurance and Development teams as needed.
What are the RTIconnect support hours?
Our Back Office support hours are:
Monday–Thursday 8:30 am to 7:00 pm EST/EDT
Friday–Sunday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm EST/EDT
After-hours emergency support and monitoring is handled by Xenial on a 24x7 basis.
Using RTIconnect
Can I run the same reports in RTIconnect that I have today in SEMS?
The underlying data between SEMS and RTIconnect is the same, but in many cases the RTIconnect report names and formatting may be different from what you are accustomed to. As part of the setup process, your Xenial implementation consultant will assist you in identifying replacement or comparative reports to your standard SEMS reports.
Will my custom SEMS reports be available in RTIconnect?
Custom reports is an add-on feature in RTIconnect that is being made available to all former SEMS users. As part of your transition to RTIconnect, your implementation consultant will build up to three (3) custom RTIconnect reports (within existing RTIconnect data and functionality capabilities) and will provide training curriculum that you can use to learn how to create your own custom reports.
Are auto-alert reports available in RTIconnect?
RTIconnect has the ability to automatically send certain reports as alerts at specified intervals. Please advise your Xenial implementation consultant of any auto-alerts that you are using today, so that they can setup and review alert functionality with you in RTIconnect.
Will employees in RTIconnect be automatically injected into the POS? As an option, RTIconnect can act as a single source for employee data, pushing new employees and changes into Encounter (SICOM) POS systems. RTIconnect can also accept employee data feeds from onboarding solutions such as TraitSet, SnagAJob, TalentReef, and other systems. Please consult your Xenial Account Manager for details.
Is schedule enforcement be available?
No. Schedules are not sent to the POS by RTIconnect at this time.
Will I need to change my store level operations (ie. daily closes, payroll closes, shift closes, etc) when I switch to RTIconnect?
No store operational changes are required. However, you may find that with the availability of additional functionality in RTIconnect, you could benefit from reviewing your operational procedures and taking advantage of additional software features. Your Xenial implementation consultant will review best practices with you, based on our experience with other franchisees, and make recommendations to help you get the most out of RTIconnect.
I use third party software (such as accounting or payroll software) that relies on SEMS to get its data. Will RTIconnect be able to facilitate the same functionality?
RTIconnect provides export files in standard file formats that can be imported by many of today’s software systems. If your system requires a specific import format, a custom interface may be created for an additional fee.
Complete the form below to schedule the implementation of RTI Back Office or for any additional questions not covered in the FAQ's.
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Additional questions?
Please contact your Xenial Account Manager.