Search the Community

Alvaro, one of the owners of a restaurant and café in Bolivia, shares how the use of digital tools has been essential for the growth of their business. Facing a challenging economic context, he implemented Loyverse as an efficient solution to optimize sales and gain clear insight into the establishment’s performance and growth. To better understand your story, could you start by sharing what type of business you have? How long have you been open? We started ten months ago; in January, the idea of opening the café began. We spent about half of that month working on planning, setting up the place, and everything else, and then we began operating at the end of January. We have a partnership between three people: myself, my partner, and my partner’s father. The three of us decided to start the Café&Restaurant business. Our goal is for it to grow into a faster service model, more grab-and-go drinks, food, and so on. We are located in the downtown area of the city, and we opened the business because our country, Bolivia, was going through an economic crisis. Finding a job is no longer easy or viable. That is why we decided to open the business. What challenge were you facing before using Loyverse, or what was the main reason you said, “Let’s look for a point of sale or a system to better manage the business”? Mainly for recording sales. When we started writing everything down on little pieces of paper or one by one, we realized we were losing time and sometimes even data, because we would forget to note things down when the café was very busy. If a cupcake went out among several orders, sometimes we would miss it. That caused mistakes, and at the end of the week, doing the accounting with all the papers became a long task. Sometimes we wasted two or three hours just gathering all the information. So we decided to look for a sales system. There were several options in the Play Store and also online systems that work on the web. We tested several of them, but the one we felt most comfortable with was Loyverse, because it was easier to have it on our phones: mine, my brother’s, and my partner’s. Before implementing Loyverse, you did some research. How did you discover the system? We first searched on the web and saw that web-based applications were missing many functions, and the ones that had more features were paid. Since the business was just starting, we couldn’t afford that extra cost. So we opted for free applications from the Play Store. We tried several until we found this one, which had the best user recommendations. Perfect. So once you found Loyverse and ran some tests, how was the implementation process? Did you find any challenges? Since we had no experience with this type of system on a mobile device, it was a little complicated at first to get used to it. We couldn’t find some functions, but by exploring the app, it didn’t take us more than two or three days to get comfortable with the features, review data, and so on. Regarding the use of the program, which Loyverse function do you use most frequently? What we use the most is the Back Office because that’s where all the collected information is stored. We use it for recording sales since that’s the part that takes the most time and where most information intersects. And the tool that is most useful to us is the ability to add products with their cost and have the system automatically calculate the profit margins. Since we are in a dollar crisis in Bolivia, prices change every day. So being able to enter the cost and see the margins, even when prices fluctuate, is what has helped me the most lately. Regarding the impact Loyverse has had on your business, what changes have you noticed? Mainly time savings when managing the accounts. Before, not everything was as organized. Now, since the system collects all the data automatically, doing the accounts is much faster. It takes us at most an hour, when before it sometimes took up to two days. Have you noticed improvements in inventory, sales, or speed when serving customers? Yes. Before, when the café was full, we sometimes forgot to deliver a product. With the system, that no longer happens because we review the tickets. Also, decision-making is more accurate because we have the information at hand. Do you believe that using software makes businesses more efficient or profitable? Yes, there is a clear difference. I previously had a restaurant, and we managed everything with an accountant and recorded everything in an Excel spreadsheet. We never used software. Compared to now, the software helps me keep everything up to date and generate more profitability. Regarding your experience as an entrepreneur, have you faced any difficulties, and how have you overcome them? From my experience, organization is key. When I had my restaurant about four years ago, the first year was chaotic, and I hardly saw any profit. Sometimes we sold up to Bs16,000 per day, but in the end, I only had Bs 100 or Bs 50 left as profit. It was due to poor organization of data, decisions, and purchases. Keeping everything organized from the beginning makes a business healthy; otherwise, money slips away everywhere. Since you started using Loyverse, what do you value most about the system? Its ease of use and how complete it is. You can add many things specifically for gastronomy. Many apps only allow fixed products, without options or variants, and in gastronomy, that is essential. We tested several tools, such as open tickets by table, take-out orders, beverage modifiers, since some drinks have options like milk or water, and other settings. It makes the sales process much more comfortable. Finally, what advice would you give to other entrepreneurs who are undecided about using a program like Loyverse? Do you think this program fits other cafés? That they give it a chance and try it. Since it has many free features, they can easily start testing it. It’s with the practice where you really see the change and the difference between having everything organized versus managing everything traditionally or manually. Using a system like Loyverse speeds up the sales process with additional tools like variants. I would say it is the most suitable system. From what I saw in the Play Store, it is one of the most complete, especially because of the modifiers and extra features like open tickets and table management, which are essential in gastronomy. SPANISH VERSION Para conocer mejor su historia, Podria comenzar compartiendonos qué tipo de negocio tiene? ¿Hace cuánto tiempo abrieron? Comenzamos hace 10 meses; en enero comenzó la idea de tener la cafetería. Estuvimos más o menos la mitad del mes trabajando en la planificación, armar el local y demás, y ya posteriormente comenzamos a finales de enero a operar. Tenemos una sociedad entre tres personas: mi persona, mi pareja y el papá de mi pareja. Entre los tres decidimos empezar con el negocio de la cafetería. Esto lo tenemos con miras a que crezca como un servicio más de servicio rápido, más bebidas al paso, comida y demás. Estamos justo en una zona céntrica de la ciudad y lo hicimos como una medida porque nuestro país, Bolivia, estaba atravesando una crisis en el tema económico. Conseguir trabajo ya no es tan fácil ni tan viable. Entonces por eso decidimos abrir el negocio. ¿Qué desafío enfrentaban antes de usar Loyverse o cuál fue el motivo principal por el que dijeron: “Vamos a buscar un punto de venta o un sistema para llevar mejor el negocio”? Principalmente por el registro de ventas. Cuando comenzamos a anotar todo en papelitos o uno por uno, veíamos que perdíamos tiempo y a veces incluso datos, porque olvidábamos anotar cuando el local estaba muy concurrido. Si salía un cupcake entre varios pedidos, a veces se nos pasaba. Eso generaba fallas y al final de la semana hacer cuentas con todos los papeles se hacía largo. A veces desperdiciábamos dos o tres horas buscando toda la información. Entonces decidimos buscar un sistema para ventas. Había varias opciones en Play Store y también en sitios online que funcionan en web. Probamos varios, pero con el que más nos acomodamos fue con Loyverse, porque fue más cómodo tenerlo en los celulares: el mío, el de mi hermano y el de mi pareja. Antes de implementar Loyverse, hicieron una búsqueda. ¿Cómo conocieron el sistema? Buscamos principalmente en web primero y vimos que a las aplicaciones web les faltaban muchas funciones, y las que tenían eran de pago. Como el negocio estaba comenzando, no podíamos darnos ese pago extra. Entonces optamos por aplicaciones gratuitas en Play Store. Probamos varias hasta que llegamos a esta que tenía las mejores recomendaciones de los usuarios. Perfecto. Entonces, cuando encontraron Loyverse, e hicieron algunas pruebas. ¿Cómo fue el proceso de implementación? ¿Encontró algún reto? Como no teníamos experiencia con este tipo de sistemas en celular, fue un poquito complicado al principio acostumbrarnos. No encontrábamos algunas funciones, pero explorando la aplicación no nos tomó más de dos o tres días acomodarnos a las funciones, revisar datos y demás. En relación al uso del programa, ¿cuál es la función de Loyverse que usa con mayor frecuencia? Lo que más utilizamos es el Back Office, porque ahí está toda la información que se recopila. Lo usamos para el registro de ventas, ya que es la parte que más tiempo lleva y donde más se cruza información. Y la herramienta que más nos sirve es la de agregar productos con el costo y que automáticamente calcule los márgenes de ganancia. Como estamos en crisis de dólares en Bolivia, todos los días varían los precios. Entonces, poder introducir el costo y ver el rendimiento, aunque el precio fluctúe, es lo que más me ha ayudado últimamente. En cuanto al impacto que ha tenido Loyverse en su negocio, ¿qué cambios ha notado? Principalmente ahorro de tiempo al llevar las cuentas. Antes no estaba todo tan organizado. Ahora, como el sistema recopila directamente todos los datos, es mucho más rápido hacer las cuentas. Nos toma máximo una hora, cuando antes nos tomaba a veces hasta dos días. ¿Ha notado mejoras en inventario, ventas o rapidez al atender al cliente? Sí. Antes, cuando la cafetería se llenaba, a veces olvidábamos entregar algún producto. Con el sistema ya no pasa porque revisamos los tickets. También la toma de decisiones es más acertada porque tenemos la información a la mano. ¿Cree que utilizar un software hace que los negocios sean más eficientes o rentables? Sí, hay una clara diferencia. Antes tuve un restaurante, manejábamos con un contador y registrábamos todo en una planilla de Excel. Nunca usamos software. Comparando con ahora, el software me ayuda mucho más a mantener todo al día y generar más rentabilidad. ¿En relacion a su experiencia como emprendedor, han pasado por alguna dificultad y cómo la han sobrellevado? Con la experiencia que tuve, la organización es clave. Cuando tenía mi restaurante hace unos 4 años, el primer año fue un caos y casi no veía ganancias. A veces vendíamos hasta 16,000 al día, pero al final solo tenía 100 o 50 de ganancia. Era por mala organización de datos, decisiones y compras. Llevar todo organizado desde el principio hace que un negocio sea saludable; de otra manera, el dinero se escapa por todas partes. Desde que comenzó a usar Loyverse, ¿qué es lo que más valora del sistema? La facilidad de uso y que está bastante completo. Se pueden añadir bastantes cosas para gastronomía. Muchas aplicaciones solo permiten productos fijos, sin opciones o variantes, y en gastronomía eso es esencial. Probamos varias herramientas, como los tickets abiertos por mesas, para pedidos para llevar, modificadores para las bebidas ya que algunos tienen opciones como leche o agua, y otras opciones. Lo hace mucho más cómodo al momento de realizar las ventas. Para finalizar ¿Qué consejo le daría a otros emprendedores que están indecisos sobre usar un programa como Loyverse? ¿Cree que este programa se ajusta a otras cafeterías? Que lo prueben. Como tiene muchas funciones gratuitas, facilmente pueden comenzar a probarlo, ya en la práctica es donde uno ve realmente el cambio y la diferencia entre tener todo organizado y manejarlo de forma tradicional o manual. Manejar un sistema como Loyverse agiliza mucho el proceso de ventas con las herramientas adicionales como por ejemplo las variantes. Diría que es el sistema más apropiado. De lo que vi en Play Store, es de las más completas por el tema de modificadores y las funciones extras como tickets abiertos, mesas, para gastronomía son imprescindibles.

Amkha Paris Bolivia is a company founded by Michael Kang that is dedicated to selling beauty products. Michael Kang has chosen the country of Bolivia to run his business. Amkha Paris Bolivia sells cosmetics products, hair products, perfumes, and nutritional products as well. We had a short interview with Mr. Kang to learn more about the company’s business model and how Mr. Kang has integrated Loyverse into it. -Thank you for taking the time to have this interview with us today. Can you describe the story of your business briefly? My business is beauty-oriented. We sell cosmetics products, hair products, perfumes, and nutritional products as well. We started 3 years ago, with very little capital in a very small store. We import products from Brazil and bring them to Bolivia. Our business runs via consultants meaning with catalog. We have a catalog with the products which we give to the vendors. We sell the products to the consultants at a wholesale price, and they, on the other hand, sell to the customer at the retail price. The vendors have practically 100% profit. This system continued growing, and we have today around six thousand consultants. We have wholesale distributors all around Bolivia. - How did you find Loyverse, and when did you start using it? We began looking for a system to manage our sales in our physical shop and also to help us organize and manage our wholesalers. We checked various platforms. Besides, we wanted to pay a developer to develop a customized system only for us. But, all these options were too costly for me. Then, I encountered Loyverse on the internet and we started immediately testing it. It was amazing because Loyverse had all the tools and all the options that we were searching for. Loyverse really helped us save a lot of time and helped us organize financially and manage the wholesalers. It is an amazing platform with a very affordable price. We have been using Loyverse for almost a year now. - How was the last year for your business? Were you affected by the pandemic? It was incredible because in March I was in Brazil. I had a journey scheduled to the United States. But all the flights were canceled because of the pandemic. I returned to Brazil, and I had won a trip with a cruise ship from the company from which I buy the product for my business. Because of the situation, the cruise ship was not allowed to stop anywhere so we just kept sailing. Then, we returned to Brazil, but the borders were already closed and I remained in Brazil, and I trusted my business in Bolivia to my employee. I had to stay in Brazil from March until September. But, incredibly, our sales during the pandemic year were quadrupled. The reason for this was because since most of the people remained unemployed during this period, they found the opportunity to buy products from my business as wholesalers and sell it at a retail price so they would win 100% profit very attractive and they took this opportunity. So we kept growing, and this growth during this time was incredible, and we are very grateful. - So, you don’t sell directly to customers, but only to wholesalers, right? Yes, that’s correct. I buy from the factory, and I sell it to our consultants who sell it door to door. I have more than 500 items. The consultants win 100% profit when they sell the product they receive from us. It is a very beneficial business for the consultants who sell our products. - How do you use Loyverse, and what features do you like the most? As I mentioned before, I have a small physical store where I sell products to the customers that come to visit us personally. I have many wholesalers as my customers who buy in large quantities from me and then supply other vendors. I distribute for all departments in Bolivia. I use Loyverse to manage the sales in my physical store and to manage the wholesalers as well. What I like most about Loyverse is the agility it offers me to handle my items. I have more than 500 items, and for us, it was a headache to remember the prices and details of all the products. Now, with Loyverse, that is extremely easy. The sale process is seamless. I can make use of the discount feature to give the discount to my consultants and wholesalers. The shift report is also very important and useful to me. Loyverse is very helpful for the financial part of the company. I can honestly say that Loyverse is excellent for me. Currently, I use the Employee Management service. I have added my employee in the system and some wholesalers employees as I need to check their sales and offer them the opportunity to win bonus points in the factory from the company from which I buy my products. I have also tried Advanced Inventory, and I think it is good, but for my business, at this moment, it is not necessary. - Why did you choose Bolivia to run your business? I lived in Bolivia for 12 years. I studied here, and I started to learn here, and I decided to stay here permanently even though Bolivia is considered to be an emerging country. But, it is a country that offers a lot of opportunities, and for me, it has been going very well. - What feature would you like to see in Loyverse in the feature? I would like the option to forbid the sale of an item it is out of stock. The other option I would like is to be able to edit the closed receipt, to have the option to add some kind of note. I understand that these features are needed specifically for my type of business. The system is great in general. - What would you like to say to the Loyverse Team? I want to say that you are excellent. You are very attentive to your customer. Every time I have any doubts, you reply to me immediately in chat support. I wish you a lot of success, and I hope that Loyverse keeps up with a good job and expands its presence globally even more. I am very honored and happy to be part of the Loyverse Community. - Lastly, what would you say to the young people who might aspire to have their business? In my opinion, in everything that we want to do, we must be resilient. We must persist. Every time you dream about something or wish to learn something new, many people will say to you “NO.” It can be your family members, friends, people you trust, but my advice is to be resilient, be persistent and go further than you ever imagined, trust yourself. During the way, you will face a lot of challenges, discouragement, but have a goal and go towards that goal with everything. Believe in your dreams and do anything to realize them. Thank you for this message, and I wish you great success for your business.