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Accessibility is Easier than Ever to Implement For the past several months, TAM Retail has thought long and hard over how to provide assistance to our partners over the issue of website accessibility. After considerable research and study, TAM Retail is excited to announce its partnership with accessiBe. But First… What does “website accessibility” mean? It means accessible to persons with disabilities, which makes good sense. As we’ve said in past blogposts, online shopping will continue to have substantial importance even after isolation restrictions are removed. The disabilities community is a large percentage of the population, with spending power, that both needs and wants to be online. The World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Accessibility Initiative developed guidelines and success criteria organized around four principles for web content: Perceivable – presentable to users in ways they can perceive; Operable – must be operable by the user; Understandable – understand the information as well as the operation of the interface; and Robust – content should remain accessible as technologies and user agents evolve Their Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) include text and time-based media alternatives, keyboard functionality, and compatibility with assistive technologies. WCAG is the go-to standard. The problem is: How to tackle the herculean labor of compliance without undue burden or financial hardship? Our recommended solution? accessiBe! What AccessiBe does, and why we like it. accessiBe utilizes two components that, together, achieve WCAG compliance. The foreground application handles the UI (user interface) and design accessibility requirements, allowing persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI and design to their individual needs. This includes font and color handling, animations, content highlighting, audio muting, and a search engine allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of words and phrases. The background application is AI, machine learning powered, which optimizes the accessibility level of your website every 24 hours. This AI engine remediates the website’s HTML accessibility issues, as well as functionality and behavior, to the use of blind people using screen readers, and people with motor impairments using a keyboard to operate websites. This makes it comprehensive and cost-efficient, two traits TAM Retail believes in. accessiBe works with all browsers. It is a session-based tool that adjusts the website on the fly after it’s been fully loaded and rendered. There will be no difference in browsing experience for someone who has not activated any accessibility features. With one line of JavaScript, your website will be fully accessible in less than 48 hours. Upon completion you will be given an Accessibility Statement for your website, the first sentence of which reads as follows: We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance and ability. We’d be happy to tell you more, and probably will in the next few months. In the meantime, we’re excited to start this journey with you. Contact our sales department to get started, at (888) 843-1476, or sales@tamretail.com .

Happy Labor Day ! TAM Intelliware Holiday Hours We wish you all a safe and relaxing Labor Day. TAM Intelliware’s holiday hours of operation will be as follows: Closed Monday, September 1st for the Labor Day Holiday. As always, the Help Desk is available for emergency support 24/7/365 at 866-435-7826. If you need assistance feel free to call the number listed or click the button below for help! Our administrative offices will be closed on Monday, September 1st. Our office will reopen for normal hours on Tuesday, September 2nd.

Get Ready for the Back-to-School Tax-Free Season with Confidence! As the back-to-school rush approaches, many customers will take advantage of tax-free shopping events to save big. These events often lead to a surge in foot traffic and transactions. That’s where TAM comes in—to help you manage the rush with confidence, accuracy, and full compliance. Simplify Your Tax-Free Event Management with TAM If your organization participates in a tax-free event, our software provides built-in tools to streamline the process of managing temporary tax changes: Easily remove or apply tax designations to qualifying SKUs before and after the event. Use the Mass Tax Change program to update multiple SKUs at once efficiently, minimizing manual effort and reducing errors. This structured approach ensures all eligible SKUs are handled correctly, allowing you to maximize your promotional efforts during tax-free events. Learn More and Get Support Whether you're new to TAM or want to optimize your current process, visit the TAM Online Learning Academy for comprehensive resources. For step-by-step instructions on using the Mass Tax Change program, review our Tax-Free Event Fact Sheet—a straightforward, user-friendly guide - or watch the video below! Prefer live assistance? Contact our trainers at training@tamb2cc.com for personalized support. Here’s to a successful, organized, and profitable back to school tax-free season!

The Hidden Challenge Facing North American Zoos Picture this: It's a busy Saturday at your zoo, families are streaming through the gates, your gift shop is bustling, and the café is packed. But behind the scenes, your staff is juggling multiple disconnected systems just to process a simple transaction. Sound familiar? You're not alone. With 238 AZA-accredited facilities across the United States serving 195 million visitors annually and generating $22.5 billion in economic output, the zoo industry represents a significant economic force. Yet research reveals that less than 10% of American zoos are AZA-accredited, meaning over 90% face minimal oversight and lack streamlined operational guidelines. This fragmentation creates a domino effect of operational challenges that impact everything from staff productivity to visitor satisfaction—and ultimately, your bottom line. The Real Cost of Operational Fragmentation :When Systems Don't Talk to Each Other Modern zoos operate complex financial structures that would challenge any business. Research shows that about 60% of zoo operating budgets come from earned income, including: Admissions (ranging from $55-65 for family visits at major facilities) Membership programs requiring continuous renewal management Food and beverage operations with complex commission structures Retail sales dependent on visitor traffic patterns Educational programs requiring separate scheduling and payment systems Donation management across multiple campaign types When these revenue streams operate in isolation, facilities miss critical opportunities for cross-promotion, bundled services, and integrated customer experiences. The Hidden Operational Costs The zoo management software market, valued at $289 million in 2025, reflects growing recognition of technology needs. However, implementation challenges persist: System Integration Problems: Multiple disconnected platforms creating data silos Staff spending significant time on manual data reconciliation Inconsistent customer experiences across touchpoints Limited ability to track visitor behavior comprehensively Training overhead for seasonal staff across multiple systems The Staff Challenge: Research identifies staff turnover as one of the biggest challenges facing zoo leaders. When team members leave, it increases workload and stress on remaining staff, particularly in facilities operating on a primary keeper model where knowledge becomes siloed with individual employees. The Solution: Unified Zoo Management with The Assistant Manager One Platform, Every Revenue Stream The Assistant Manager addresses the fundamental challenges facing North American zoos by providing an integrated platform that manages admissions, retail, memberships, donations, inventory, and reporting—all in real time, all in one place. Core Integration Features: Unified ticketing system handling general admission, timed entries, educational events, and group passes Real-time inventory management across multiple zoo locations Integrated membership management with automatic discount application Consolidated donation platform with round-up capabilities Comprehensive reporting providing board-ready financial analytics Addressing Your Specific Challenges Staff Training Made Simple TAM's built-in training modes directly address significant staff turnover challenges. The platform enables efficient onboarding of seasonal employees while maintaining service consistency across all departments. Performance Management Support Learning from successful zoo performance management transformations, TAM provides the data infrastructure necessary to support accountability systems. Consolidated reporting enables managers to track performance metrics across all revenue streams and operational areas. Revenue Optimization With 60% of zoo budgets dependent on earned income, TAM's unified approach enables: Cross-promotion opportunities between admissions, retail, and food service Bundled service offerings to increase per-visitor spending Real-time inventory management preventing stockouts and overages Integrated membership benefits increasing retention and satisfaction The Financial Impact: What to Expect Direct Cost Reduction Opportunities Research on integration platform implementations shows zoos can expect significant cost savings through: Technology Consolidation: Reduced licensing fees through platform consolidation Lower training costs via unified system interfaces Decreased maintenance expenses through single-vendor relationships Eliminated data reconciliation labor through automated integration Operational Efficiency Gains: Reduced manual processing time across all revenue streams Improved inventory turnover through better demand forecasting Enhanced staff productivity through streamlined workflows Decreased error rates in financial and customer management processes Revenue Enhancement Potential Industry analysis shows that with major facilities managing $50-180 million in annual operating revenue, even modest efficiency improvements generate substantial impact: 5% operational efficiency improvement = $2.5-9 million annual savings 3% revenue increase through integration = $1.5-5.4 million additional income Combined annual impact = $4-14.4 million improvement in financial position Your Roadmap to Unified Operations Phase 1: Assessment (Month 1) Comprehensive audit of existing systems and associated costs Staff impact evaluation focusing on training overhead Revenue stream analysis to identify integration opportunities Phase 2: Core Integration (Months 2-4) Deploy unified ticketing, membership, and POS systems Implement systematic training protocols using built-in capabilities Establish performance metrics following successful zoo management models Phase 3: Advanced Optimization (Months 5-6) Leverage comprehensive analytics for strategic decision-making Use unified systems to support expansion and facility improvements Position your facility as an operational excellence model Why Unified Management Isn't Optional Anymore The evidence from North American zoo operations clearly demonstrates that system fragmentation creates significant operational and financial challenges that directly impact both facility sustainability and visitor experience. Research from leading facilities shows that unified operational systems deliver measurable benefits in terms of staff productivity, financial performance, and visitor satisfaction. The implementation of systematic operational management creates "a culture of high performance, high engagement and high productivity." By unifying ticketing, dining, membership management, donations, gift shop operations, and all other ecommerce services into a single platform, zoos can: Eliminate operational silos that create inefficiencies and increase costs Reduce system complexity and associated training overhead Improve staff productivity through streamlined workflows and automated processes Enhance visitor experiences through integrated services and consistent interactions Generate comprehensive analytics for strategic decision-making and board reporting Ready to Transform Your Zoo Operations? The transition to unified zoo management represents more than a technological upgrade—it's a strategic transformation that positions your facility for sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive landscape. The research consistently demonstrates that the question isn't whether to unify operations, but how quickly you can implement integrated solutions to capture the significant benefits of consolidated management. Ready to see how The Assistant Manager can transform your zoo operations? Schedule Your Demo Today → Discover how our unified platform can streamline your operations, boost revenue, and create exceptional visitor experiences—all from one comprehensive system designed specifically for attractions like yours. The Assistant Manager powers operations for zoos, museums, parks, attractions, hospital POS systems and entertainment venues across North America. From ticketing to retail, memberships to donations, we provide the integrated platform you need to thrive.

Enhance Member Engagement We’re excited to introduce a new feature that streamlines membership management and boosts member engagement: TAM now supports digital membership cards through integration with multiple membership management platforms. This enhancement allows your members to access their membership information conveniently and securely on their smartphones. Why Digital Membership Cards Matter Digital cards can be stored on any smartphone, including Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, providing members with instant access wherever they are. This convenience encourages members to keep their cards readily available for event check-ins, proof of membership, or quick entry, significantly improving their overall experience.

Benefits of Integrated Systems for Cultural Institutions Integrating ticketing, memberships, and retail sales into a single unified system provides museums with transformative operational advantages that address critical challenges while unlocking new opportunities for revenue growth and visitor engagement. This comprehensive integration creates a foundation for streamlined operations, enhanced data insights, and superior guest experiences. Operational Efficiency and Cost Reduction Museums implementing integrated systems experience significant operational improvements through the elimination of redundant processes and manual data reconciliation. Unified commerce platforms reduce manual workload through automation of previously disconnected processes, enabling staff to focus on mission-critical activities rather than administrative tasks. The consolidated approach eliminates the need for staff to switch between multiple platforms to complete transactions, reducing wait times and streamlining operations . This integration particularly benefits museums suffering from what researchers describe as "task saturation," where staff members feel overwhelmed with more responsibilities than time and resources allow. By automating routine processes such as membership renewals, inventory tracking, and financial reporting, integrated systems help alleviate operational stress while reducing the likelihood of human error that occurs during manual data transfers between siloed systems. Enhanced Financial Management and Revenue Optimization The financial impact of system integration extends beyond simple cost savings to encompass sophisticated revenue optimization strategies. Museums utilizing integrated platforms can implement dynamic pricing strategies for special exhibitions and peak times, maximizing revenue while maintaining accessibility. The unified data view enables cross-selling opportunities by identifying relationships between different revenue streams — for example, targeting exhibition visitors with relevant merchandise or membership upgrades based on their visit patterns and preferences. Integrated systems simplify financial management by consolidating transactions in one place, making it easier to track revenue streams, optimize pricing, and streamline reporting. This eliminates the complexity of managing multiple merchant accounts with different terms and conditions that release funds on different schedules. Museums report significant cost savings through reduced redundancy and improved resource allocation, with operational cost reductions that can be redirected toward mission-critical activities. Comprehensive Data Integration and Analytics One of the most significant benefits of system integration is the creation of a unified data ecosystem that provides unprecedented insights into visitor behavior and preferences. Museums with fragmented systems experience five critical data problems: duplicate data copies that skew sampling efforts, inconsistent search capabilities across different systems, limited analytical insights due to fragmented data, increased operational complexity, and missed opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration. Integrated platforms enable museums to track the complete visitor lifecycle, from initial awareness through repeat visits, facilitating sophisticated customer relationship management that builds long-term loyalty and support. The comprehensive data view allows institutions to understand visitor behavior patterns across all touchpoints, identifying trends that inform exhibition planning, retail strategy, and operational optimization. Museums implementing integrated data management systems experience improved decision-making capabilities through access to real-time metrics spanning visitor flow, sales performance, membership engagement, and operational efficiency.

Learn how to adjust retail prices in The Assistant Manager in response to rising cost of goods.

Converged Commerce Solutions for Museums

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase. We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.