Introduction

Promotions are powerful tools retailers use to boost sales by encouraging customers to purchase more items. However, ensuring promotions work correctly is crucial for a seamless customer experience. This article provides a step-by-step guide to monitoring and troubleshooting promotions in iVendNext, helping you identify and resolve common issues efficiently.

Prerequisites

Before monitoring or troubleshooting promotions, ensure the following are set up correctly:

• Promotions are created and marked as Active.

• Items, Item Groups, and Customer Groups are properly configured.

• Stores where promotions apply are specified.

Step 1: Verify Promotion Setup

Check Promotion Status

1. Navigate to: Home > Retail > Items and Pricing > Promotions.

2. Open the promotion you want to monitor.

3. Ensure the Active checkbox is ticked. Inactive promotions will not apply at the POS.

Review Promotion Details

• Confirm the Promotion Type (e.g., Bonus Buy, Fixed Price, Spend X Save Y).

• Verify the Buy Side and Get Side configurations match your intended offer.

• Check the Applicability settings to ensure the promotion applies to the correct stores and timeframes.

Step 2: Monitor Promotion Performance

Track Redemptions

1. Navigate to the Promotions List View Screen.

2. Check the Maximum Redemption Count Per Store and Promotion Applicability Count to see how often the promotion has been used.

3. If redemptions are lower than expected, investigate potential issues (e.g., incorrect targeting, inactive status).

Analyze POS Transactions

1. Open the POS Invoice List View Screen.

2. Filter transactions where the promotion should apply.

3. Expand the Items or Additional Discount section to verify discounts are applied correctly.

Step 3: Troubleshoot Common Issues

Issue 1: Promotion Not Applying at POS

Possible Causes:

• Promotion is not active.

• Buy Side conditions (e.g., minimum quantity, spend amount) are not met.

• Promotion is excluded for certain items or customer groups.

Solution:

1. Verify the promotion is Active.

2. Check the Buy Side settings (e.g., "Buy 2 shirts" or "Spend $100").

3. Review the Exclusion List for conflicting items or customer groups.

Issue 2: Incorrect Discount Applied

Possible Causes:

• Discount Type (percentage vs. fixed amount) is misconfigured.

• Lowest Value or Can Repeat In Transaction settings are enabled incorrectly.

Solution:

1. Revisit the Get Side settings to confirm the discount type and value.

2. Disable Lowest Value if the promotion should apply to all eligible items.

Issue 3: Promotion Applies to Wrong Items

Possible Causes:

• Item Groups are incorrectly assigned.

• Exclusion List is missing items that should not qualify.

Solution:

1. Review the Item Groups linked to the promotion.

2. Add problematic items to the Exclusion List.

Step 4: Test Promotions Before Launch

Simulate Transactions

1. Use a test customer account to simulate purchases.

2. Verify the promotion applies as expected.

3. Check the POS Invoice for accurate discount calculations.

Validate Time-Based Promotions

1. Confirm the Start Date/Time and End Date/Time are correct.

2. Test the promotion outside the active window to ensure it does not apply.

Step 5: Document and Resolve Issues

Log Errors

• Note any discrepancies between expected and actual promotion behavior.

• Capture screenshots of misapplied discounts or errors.

Escalate to Support

If issues persist, provide the following to iVendNext support:

1. Promotion Name and ID.

2. POS Transaction ID where the issue occurred.

3. Screenshots of the promotion setup and invoice.

Conclusion

Monitoring and troubleshooting promotions ensures they run smoothly, maximizing their impact on sales. By following these steps, you can quickly identify and resolve common issues, ensuring a seamless experience for both staff and customers.

Key Takeaways:

• Always verify the Active status and Applicability of promotions.

• Test promotions thoroughly before launch.

• Use the Exclusion List to fine-tune promotion targeting.