Dear Pioneer Software Client,

As of November 1, 2006 Jim DAlessandro rejoined Pioneer as President and CEO. I am excited by the opportunity to rejoin a team project that was started in early 1981 and that continues today. Over the years Pioneer’s work has taken a number of turns that were not totally expected at the beginning of the journey. One major element grew into the ISP. It was never Pioneer’s intention to develop an ISP. Our intention was to complete the Back Office project and then link up with the POS systems and transfer the Cash, Payroll, Hourly Sales and Inventory data from those machines to our machines. In July of 1981 we published a design for a comprehensive data processing environment for the McDonald’s Franchisee that is still valid and complete today (See Attached).

When we finished our Back Office software, we sought out the POS providers of the day to see what would be required to access their data. It was then that we discovered that there was no data. In the mid 1980’s when Traniti Systems or Par or Panasonic printed the tapes at the end of the day the data was pretty much gone. It was held in a revolving daily backup file for seven days but that was it. It was obvious an administrative, in store computer, linked to the POS systems was required. It would catch the daily data and refine it before sending it on to the back office system for processing and then archive the data for reporting and historical purposes. No such system existed in the McDonald’s Approved POS world. At that time Pioneer had a back office package that was already designed to process the “POS I - World Wide Data Specification” that the McDonald’s approved POS systems were then producing. Pioneer had a working technical relationship with every approved POS vendor as well as every unapproved vendor of any importance. Without exception Pioneer was aided and encouraged, by everyone involved, to develop a Microsoft compatible ISP. We had the means, we had the talent, and we had the opportunity. But times change, 2007 is not 1987. Technologies evolve, policies and administrations change and the time for Pioneer’s ISP has passed.

December 31, 2006, marks the final day the Pioneer “Front Line, In Store Processing System” will be offered for sale. There will be no additional software updates issued by Pioneer beyond that date. Maintenance and support for all installed systems will continue as long as any systems remain in service. Provisions have been made with John D’Alessandro, the senior Pioneer ISP support tech, to provide continuing support directly to the operator community for as long as required. John, most of you know him as JayDee, has been supporting the stores for over 25 years. He has written most of the in-store software and he has worked on and supported all of it. He is the most capable and experienced person in the world to support the ISP software. If additional reports or other modifications of the software are required feel free to work directly with JayDee on any custom programming you may require. You will see no change in Pioneer’s support. Jim Rigione and myself will handle “Bottom Line and payroll support and JayDee will handle ISP support. My daughter Beth has joined the company and will handle check and supply orders and billing questions. The same support number (1-800-633-0046) will be in service for both “Bottom Line” and normal “Front Line” support.

January 1, 2007 marks the first day of a newly focused Pioneer. Starting in 2007 Pioneer is going back to its roots, and will start offering Payroll Processing services primarily to the McDonald’s community. Pioneer can process payroll for any client but for “Bottom Line” Clients, Pioneer can offer many different levels of Payroll Processing assistance. We can poll the stores directly for the hours and handle “New Hires and Changes” through a quick phone call. Pioneer could also provide a “Production and Distribution” service. You collect and edit the data, when the payroll is ready to run Pioneer can pick up the file, produce the checks and reports, direct deposits and handle any banking interfaces, then return the file to you when the processing is done. You have all the payroll information live on your system at all times and after the last payroll for the month you process the “Payroll Month End” and the payroll data is interfaced directly to the General Ledger system.

In addition to Payroll Processing, Pioneer will continue to offer “The Bottom Line” central office accounting system along with various supported ISP interfaces. We are able to collect store data from the corporate ISP using a third party polling package from “Nite Manager”. Pioneer has been using this software for many years with great success.

Since 1981, Pioneer has provided the McDonald’s Franchise community with innovative software products and services. We have every intention of continuing that track record using new evolving technologies to meet your current and future needs.

As 2006 comes to a close, I am looking forward to renewing old relationships and making new ones. Enclosed please find our new office address and phone numbers.

PS: Pioneer has been invited to the East and Central Division CROA’s in March.
I hope to see all of you there.

Happy Holidays,

Jim DAlessandro, President
e-mail: jimd@pioneerbusinesssystems.com