Author: Rakel

A PCG article can be set up as a voucher. With this function, the article remains hidden in the shop and will not be searchable, but it will be displayed if it is, for example, in an order.

Or, in the case of the coupon: it becomes visible as soon as the customer enters its code (secret or not so secret). If coupons are available in the article data, the shop will display a corresponding field in the shopping cart.

A voucher will have a value, which is registered in the Merchandise Management module of the PCG, and also other useful properties of the articles, for example a description or a specific order deadline.

Examples of vouchers :

Welcome offer: 5€ discount on your first order!

For companies: a weekly voucher to reward your best team

Thank you voucher: 10€ for being our customer for one year!

Marketing offer: 5 € discount when you come to pick up your box from us!

Delayed voucher: Use this 5 € voucher if you order up to 12 hours! 
Or: This voucher will be cancelled if it is not used before Friday.

A voucher can only be used once per customer.

To advertise certain items, you can combine them with vouchers:

Encouraging subscriptions : Special summer pack: 5 € voucher for each Veg/Fruit box ordered in August!

Cross promotion : your code for a smoothie pack : fitness - < here the name of the fitness center>

One feature of the Customer Manager module should be highlighted: the possibility to import the CSV file from an accounting software into PCG.

To do so, a dialog is started in the Customer Manager module under “Import Transfers”, which defines the structure of the file in terms of headers, separators and masks. The CSV file can then be checked, linked semi-automatically and assigned to the corresponding customer and invoice numbers. Several filters such as “already paid” can also be applied, allowing a quick overview to be obtained.

The steps can be found in the text “Import bank transfers” in the internal Wiki („Überweisungen importieren“ in German).

These are the most relevant new features:

Search

Search results have been displayed sorting the product categories and results score. What is new is the possibility to present the results also according to article number or article sorting.

Also we are working on the functionality of the shop with helpful links, e.g. to the Delivery Pauses window.

The search algorithm has been modified to better find compound terms and product names with hyphens.

If a filter is set, e.g. according to the origin of the article, the search also considers this.

Locked orders, shop consultation

It was long-planned to improve the presentation of locked orders (e.g. for school fruit) and to allow consultation access in the online shop.

It is also possible to define other settings, such as restricting changes in the subscriptions. This can be set globally for the shop – but this function is rather intended for individual customers (in the PCG customer settings).

(These are new features for the Shop2016 model)

Privacy – (Unexpected) staff changes – Optimize processes

Once again we would like to point out a feature that is often missed. For reasons that apply to all companies:

• Since 2018, the GDPR has required us to document processes and tasks to make data protection aspects checkable.
• This also has the advantage that these processes and tasks for the training of new employees do not have to be documented first, but are already stored in the system, making it easier to preserve fundamental know-how.
• The employees are informed automatically and regularly on the PC that a task is pending.

For example, the individual steps in sending serial mails.

The employee’s interaction with the “computer” also becomes easier if, for example, rare process steps that cannot be carried out automatically end up as appointments or todos in the list.

The tasks module can be found under Utilities in the PC Garden start menu.

The Ökobox order module has one new function: under “Search order” you will find not only:

• Search by box number
• Search by order number

It is also possible to search for invoice numbers in the current PC Gärtner, which makes it easier to quickly answer customer queries.

The Farm shop module also provides the Shopping list App, which is especially designed for farm staff.

Paper notes that would otherwise hang around in the shop near the cash desk and would have to be typed in separately are now obsolete.
Members of the farm and employees are normally listed in the customer database and marked with a check mark “Farm shop customer”. In addition, a PIN is required under the employee master data.

In the app, you can then search for specific articles or for the articles you have purchased previously. Of course, the barcode scanner can also be used, so nothing important for dinner is forgotten.

If there is no connection, it is still possible to continue shopping temporarily offline, when the connection is re-established purchases will be saved.

We remind you of this application so useful for inventories at the end of the year, for example. It has been operational for a few months now.

It works independently of Windows network and WLAN, so you can use it freely in the cold store. Decimal numbers in the inventory can be entered.

Windows tablets and Android-based devices can generally be used for this purpose.

On January 2020, about 60 PC Garden users and over 20 members of the PCG team (picture in text below) attended the user meeting. The topics were the completed and planned new developments in the PCG world, new hardware (here in the picture) as well as information about the shop and marketing aspects.

The breaks and the evenings in the Kilians Bar were used creatively for exchange. The program was supplemented by an alternative film program in the evening and a yoga class in the morning. We are looking forward to welcoming you again in Schmerlenbach in 2021 (03-05/02/21).

“I am Ralf, I am 47 years old and have been part of the PC Gärtner GmbH team since the beginning of 2017.
Before joining PC Gärtner, I worked for many years in an office equipment company in customer service. In addition, I worked as a robot programmer in the automotive industry for two years.
The first contacts with PCG were during my free time in a regional organic boxes business, as a part-time driver. Since then I have been responsible for IT and telecommunications in this business.

My work for PC Garden focuses mainly on:

• Hardware and IT Infrastructure consulting
• Support for the connection of devices for the PCG module Shop on the farm, the packing module and the PLU scale
• Collaboration with the telephone assistance service

I live with my family in Glauchau (Saxony). In my spare time I like to go on excursions with my two children (14 and 16 years old) and my wife. We do hiking, climbing and cycling. In the family there are also about 30 rabbits, 7 chickens, 15 goldfish and 2 gerbils”

It’s Erhard’s turn:

The origins of PC Garden as you know it today have been set as early as 1990 and the actual and large project began with the cultivation planning within organic agriculture. In addition to my work in IT and software development and the management of the employees of PCG, I am a horticulturist who works with heart and soul.

My family and I are based in the Hallertau where enjoy the offspring and the fresh wind that seven grandchildren bring with them. This also makes us aware of how important local political commitment is so that the region continues to be worth living in. For example, I am actively involved in the local energy revolution. Furthermore, we do not only offer vegetables in the farm shop and by delivery service, but also workplaces to support people with disabilities as well as a kindergarten.

I’m celebrating a special birthday soon. This is a great opportunity to take a retrospective view, happy with what has grown both professionally and privately. I am aware of challenges and they occupy me. Looking ahead, I’d like to express the wish and the intention to keep on working with fun and energy for the region and the further development of our common project. Yes, and great-grandchildren would also be nice 🙂