Inventory season can be one of the most challenging times of the year for businesses. Whether you’re managing hundreds or thousands of SKUs the accuracy and speed of your inventory counts directly impact your operations and customer experience. That’s why having the right tools is crucial. At TAM we’re committed to helping you simplify this process. By pairing HandHeldLink with the Zebra TC22 inventory devices, you can transform inventory season from a stressful chore into a seamless, productive workflow. Why HandHeld Link is a Game Changer for Inventory Season HandHeldLink is designed to take the stress out of inventory season by giving you flexible ways to capture your counts, whether through handheld scanners like the Zebra TC22 or other supported devices. Once collected, the data flows seamlessly into TAM, ensuring fast, accurate reconciliation and reducing the risk of manual entry errors. The result is a more efficient inventory process that saves time for your team and keeps your inventory records reliable. Why The TC22 Device Is The Perfect Partner The Zebra TC22 is built for the demands of busy inventory seasons. Its combination of performance and durability makes it an excellent choice for organizations of all sizes. The speed, and reliability of your handheld devices directly affect how smoothly your counts go and the Zebra TC22 delivers on all fronts making it the smarter choice for any organization. Ready To Make Your Next Inventory Season Your Most Efficient Yet? With HandHeldLink powering seamless data capture and the Zebra TC22 delivering fast, and reliable performance, your team can complete counts more quickly, reduce errors, and keep your operations running smoothly. At TAM, we understand that every minute saved during inventory season means more time focused on your mission and your customers. By equipping your staff with the right tools, you’re not just simplifying the process, you’re boosting productivity, and setting your organization up for long term success. If you’d like more information or have questions about this module and device, please contact TAM Sales at 888-843-1476 or email sales@tamb2cc.com .
We’re excited to introduce a new enhancement to eTAM that gives your customers more control and flexibility when it comes to managing their digital gift cards. With an update to TAM version 12.10.2, customers can now view and resend previously purchased gift cards—all on their own, directly from their eTAM account. No need for them to contact your staff or wait for assistance. It’s a simple feature, but one that makes a meaningful impact on your customer experience and internal efficiency. Why This Matters Let’s face it—mistakes happen. Maybe a customer typed the wrong email address for the recipient. Maybe the gift card landed in a spam folder. Maybe Grandma never saw it in her inbox at all. Until now, resolving those situations meant a phone call, an email, or even a refund and repurchase. But not anymore. With this update, your customers can handle it all themselves—easily, quickly, and with full confidence—right on your eTAM website. That means fewer calls to your team, faster resolutions for your guests, and a more polished, self-serve experience that today’s shoppers expect. This enhancement is part of our ongoing effort to make eTAM as flexible and customer-friendly as possible. What’s New? The new resend feature gives your customers the ability to: View a complete list of the e-gift cards they’ve purchased through your eTAM site Resend a gift card email to the original or a new recipient at any time Edit the recipient’s name or email address before resending, just in case anything was entered incorrectly Complete the process independently, without needing to contact your support team or wait for assistance This added functionality gives your store the kind of polish and professionalism that builds trust and loyalty—especially during busy seasons like the holidays, when gift cards are a popular choice. The entire process is quick, intuitive, and mobile-friendly—designed to make the experience as smooth as possible for your guests. Need Help? If you’d like a demonstration of this enhancement or assistance enabling this feature, our team is happy to help. Just send us a note at Training@tamb2cc.com , and we’ll walk you through the setup or answer any questions. Empower Customers, Streamline Support This enhancement is a small change with a big impact: Customers get more control Staff get fewer support requests Your site offers a more modern and convenient shopping experience It’s another step in helping you deliver the kind of retail service today’s customers value—flexible, fast, and frustration-free.  Let’s make your e-gift card experience even better.
At TAM, we believe that effective training is key to unlocking the full potential of our system and ensuring your organization operates smoothly. That’s why we offer a variety of training solutions designed to meet your needs and help your team stay confident and proficient with TAM. Why Invest in Ongoing Training? Staff turnover, new team members, or changes in your workflow can create knowledge gaps. Whether you're onboarding new staff or looking to refresh existing skills, our comprehensive training options are tailored to support your organization’s growth and efficiency. Benefits of Our Training Programs Our training sessions provide an excellent opportunity to deepen your team's understanding of TAM's features and best practices. We can help you explore how TAM integrates into your current processes and offer ideas on workflow adjustments to maximize productivity. These sessions are especially beneficial when you want a broad overview or hands-on guidance to ensure your team is fully equipped to leverage TAM effectively. How Our Training Supports Your Goals While our Help Desk excels at technical support questions, organized training sessions focus on providing a broader understanding of the system, workflow optimization, and the strategic use of TAM’s features. Whether it’s a refresher for seasoned users or onboarding for new staff, our training programs are designed to empower your team. Stay Ahead with Ongoing Education Investing in ongoing training helps your team stay up-to-date with TAM software updates, new features, and best practices, ultimately driving greater efficiency and success. Get Started Today Are you interested in scheduling comprehensive training sessions for your staff? Contact us today at training@tamb2cc.com to learn more and schedule a program tailored to your organization’s specific needs. We’re here to support your continued success with TAM.
Memberships are the heartbeat of thriving organizations, powering museums, attractions, and nonprofits by fueling engagement, loyalty, and long-term sustainability. But keeping members engaged and renewing year after year can be a challenge. That’s where SmartCRM™ , part of The Assistant Manager (TAM) platform, steps in to make the process easier, smarter, and more effective. The Challenge of Membership Renewals Traditional renewal campaigns often rely on manual reminders, generic emails, or staff phone calls. These approaches can be time-consuming for your team and less engaging for members. Without the right tools, renewal rates can slip, leading to lost revenue and missed opportunities for long-term relationships. How SmartCRM™ Helps SmartCRM™ is designed to take the stress out of membership management while driving better results. Here’s how it works: Automated Reminders : Send timely, personalized email reminders before, during, and after membership expiration dates. Targeted Messaging : Segment members based on membership level to deliver communications that truly resonate. Self-Service Renewals on eTAM : Provide members with a link you’re your eTAM site for an easy online renewal process they can complete in just a few clicks. Centralized Data : Track engagement, communication history, and renewal status all in one place. The Benefits for Your Organization By using SmartCRM™ for membership renewals, you can: Increase Renewal Rates : Personalized, automated outreach ensures no member slips through the cracks. Save Staff Time : Free your team from manual follow-ups so they can focus on building relationships and other revenue generating tasks. Boost Member Satisfaction : A simple, user-friendly renewal process keeps members happy and engaged. Drive More Revenue : Higher retention means more predictable and recurring income for your organization. Real Impact Organizations using SmartCRM™ have reported automated engagement not only reduces workload but also creates a consistent, professional experience for every member. Membership renewals don’t have to be a headache. With SmartCRM™ , you can turn what was once a manual, time-consuming process into a smooth, automated system that drives results. More renewals, less effort, and happier members; that’s the power of SmartCRM™.
Keeping track of inventory can feel like a big job, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. That’s why we’re excited to host our upcoming webinar, Smarter Inventory Made Simple with TAM HandHeld Link . In this session, we will walk through Inventory Basics and show you how TAM HandHeld Link can help streamline your workflow with flexible options that fit your needs. · Inventory Entry Program · TAM Inventory App (Apple & Android) · Zebra Scanner · 3 rd Party Count Whether you’re new to TAM or looking to optimize your current process, this webinar will provide you with practical tips and hands-on insights to simplify your inventory management. 📅 Choose the session that works for you:  · Monday, October 14 th at 10:00 AM EST · Wednesday, October 23 rd at 4:00 PM EST 👉Register today by emailing training@tamb2cc.com with your preferred session. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to make your inventory process smarter, faster, and easier with TAM HandHeld Link!
In today’s fast-paced dining environment, customers expect speed, convenience, and a seamless experience. The TAM Self-Serve Dining Kiosk delivers exactly that, an intuitive solution designed to streamline operations while boosting revenue and lowering labor costs. How It Works The TAM Self-Serve Dining Kiosk empowers guests to take control of their dining experience. Using a simple touchscreen interface, customers can: * Browse menu items with photos and descriptions * Customize their orders to match preferences or dietary needs * Pay securely with multiple payment options Once the order is placed, it is transmitted directly to the kitchen display system or printer, ensuring accuracy and speed. Guests then receive an order receipt, making the process smooth from start to finish. Why It’s Beneficial For customers, the kiosk offers: *Faster Service- Reduced wait times and no need to stand in line *More Control- Ability to review and customize orders without feeling rushed *Enhanced Experience- A modern, tech-driven interaction that feels effortless Positive Revenue Impact The TAM Self-Serve Dining Kiosk isn’t just about convenience; it’s a revenue driver. The engaging and interactive nature of the kiosk often encourages customers to explore the full menu, leading to greater sales of high-margin items. This increases the average transaction value and ultimately drives higher revenue for the business. Reduction of Labor Costs One of the most immediate benefits for operators is the reduction of labor costs. With kiosks handling the ordering and payment process, fewer staff members are needed at the counter. This allows team members to be reallocated to higher-value roles, such as food preparation, customer assistance, or upselling in other areas of the business. By reducing dependency on front-line order takers, businesses can operate more efficiently and save significantly on staffing expenses without sacrificing service quality. The TAM Self-Serve Dining Kiosk transforms the dining experience for both customers and operators. Guests enjoy a faster, more personalized ordering journey, while businesses benefit from increased revenue and reduced labor costs. It’s not just technology—it’s a smarter way to run your dining operations. If you’d like more information or have questions about this feature, please contact TAM Sales at 888-843-1476 or email sales@tamb2cc.com .
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.
