Note: This duplicate tip calculation error was first reported by Logic Forte to the Sonic Mobile Tipping Team in April 2021, then escalated to Sonic Corporate in October 2021. This duplicate tip calculation error had not been resolved as of February 2022.
Overview
This white paper describes how the official Sonic Mobile Tip Report (aka "Payroll Mobile Tip Report") from the Partner Net Reporting website can show inaccurate Mobile Tip amounts, and how to work around the issue.
Logic Forte collects daily Mobile Tip totals for each employee at each of your Sonic Drive-In locations so that we can show daily Mobile Tip amounts on your Logic Forte payroll reports and per-employee Mobile Tip amounts in your Logic Forte payroll exports.
How does Logic Forte collect Mobile Tip amounts?
- Micros POS: Mobile Tip amounts are received from the "Payroll Mobile Tip Report" on the Partner Net Reporting website, since the POS is not currently aware of Mobile Tips.
- Infor POS: Mobile Tip amounts are received from the POS, since the POS is aware of Mobile Tips.
NOTE: This article is specific to Sonic Drive-In locations using Micros POS, since the duplicate tip issue only appears in the "Payroll Mobile Tip Report" on the Partner Net Reporting website. Infor POS locations are not affected by this duplicate tip issue if they are relying on Mobile Tip amounts shown in the POS.
When we first began supporting Sonic Mobile Tips in early 2021, we would download a separate "Payroll Mobile Tip Report" as a CSV file from the Partner Net Reporting website for each customer every day. We would then import each of those CSV files into our system. We quickly realized the Mobile Tip amounts in our system did not match the Mobile Tip amounts shown on the PDF version of the "Payroll Mobile Tip Report" due to a calculation error in the CSV version of the "Payroll Mobile Tip Report".
Calculation Errors in Payroll Mobile Tip Report
Logic Forte discovered that the "Payroll Mobile Tip Report" on the Partner Net Reporting website would show different amounts, depending on which version/format of the report you ran. The "Excel Data", "CSV", and "XML" versions would show inflated/duplicate tip amounts if an employee received multiple tips at two locations on the same day. The HTML preview, "PDF", and "Excel" versions of the report do not appear to be affected by this bug.
Example. Duplicate Mobile Tip Amount
Employee receives Mobile Tips amounts of $6.00 at Location A and $4.00 at Location B on the same date. When we run the "Payroll Mobile Tip Report" for that specific date, we see the following:
- The HTML, PDF, and Excel versions correctly show $6.00 at Location A and $4.00 at Location B.
- The "Excel Data", CSV, and XML versions incorrectly show $10.00 at Location A and $10.00 at Location B, resulting in an overpayment of $10.00 (double payment).
Logic Forte was downloading the CSV version of the Mobile Tips report every day. Since very few employees receive Mobile Tips at multiple locations in the same day, our Mobile Tip amounts were rarely affected by this bug.
Franchisees who download the CSV version of the report for an ENTIRE payroll period and who often have employees working multiple locations will overpay HUNDREDS or THOUSANDS of dollars in Mobile Tips each pay period. Employees who work at 2 locations during the report period will show an incorrect DOUBLE tip amount. Employees who work at 3 locations will show an incorrect TRIPLE tip amount.
Example. Check for Duplicate Mobile Tip Amounts
- Open the "Payroll Mobile Tip Report" on the Partner Net Reporting website
- Select the report Begin Date and Ending Date (e.g. 02/01-02/15), then click "Run Report"
3. Click the Play (triangle) drop-down menu and choose "Run CSV" to download a CSV version of the report
4. Open the CSV file in Microsoft Excel (or a similar Spreadsheet application)
5. Highlight the Total Tip column. The sum of Total Tips should appear at the bottom of your screen (e.g. 5502.09)
6. Compare to the amount in the "Total (Tip Amount)" column at the very bottom of the CSV file (e.g. 5270.23)
If the totals do not match, the CSV report is showing incorrect Mobile Tip amounts (e.g. 5502.09 - 5270.23 = $231.86 (+4.4%) overpayment)
Solution. Avoid Certain Report Formats
Avoid using "Excel Data", "CSV", or "XML" versions of the "Payroll Mobile Tip Report" until this problem is resolved. Logic Forte is now downloading the "Excel" (not "Excel Data") version of the "Payroll Mobile Tip Report" every day, and we are importing the Mobile Tip amounts from each Worksheet in that report. The Mobile Tip amounts on Logic Forte payroll reports and Logic Forte payroll exports now perfectly match the amounts shown on the PDF version of the "Payroll Mobile Tip Report".
Solution. Outsource Your Data. Focus on Your Business.
Logic Forte is constantly working to deliver complete and accurate data to our customers. We go to great lengths to identify and resolve data issues for Sonic Drive-In franchisees so that you can focus on your business.
We review your data daily and work with your vendors and your store managers to resolve data issues. We provide a consolidated reporting solution that automatically combines data from your various technology platforms, so that you have a single view into your business operations. We also prepare and deliver data directly to your accounting and payroll systems.
Contact Logic Forte to discuss how our solution can reduce your time (and expenses) related to data and to arrange a risk-free demo. We can help improve insights into your business while reducing operational costs.