The retailer previously used ISDN videoconferencing for ad-hoc internal communications, but found that video quality was inadequate and the price per call was prohibitive.
Since the system from BCS Global was introduced earlier this year, Sainsbury’s has used it in a variety of situations, including multi-location project management and team meetings. Rather than using e-mail or the phone, staff are now choosing to get together over video, Sainsbury’s said.
The logistics division will be looking for ways to enhance the application for monthly briefings, presentations and training.
Sainsbury’s logistics communications manager Nigel Hough said: “We weren’t interested in videoconferencing just for the sake of it. We wanted a solution that encouraged greater colleague collaboration and faster decision-making and that reduced travel.
“Doing our part to protect the environment is just as important as making sure colleagues can finish their meetings and get home at a reasonable time.”
He added that fixed costs also made the service attractive. “Within the logistics divisions, we have 24/7 availability and constant connectivity, allowing simultaneous meetings with no drop in quality,” he said.
“We pay a monthly managed service fee under one umbrella, so we can use as many hours of videoconferencing as we want without having to worry about costs.”
Martin McColl signs five-year network deal
Newsagent Martin McColl has entered into a£4 million five-year managed services agreement with Azzurri Communications for a wide area network.
The retailer will adopt Azzurri’s Retail Application Network (RAN) across its 1,300 stores, headquarters and partner sites.
With its acquisitive growth strategy, Martin McColl required a new communications infrastructure with a network that could be expanded to meet business growth.
Martin McColl general manager for IT Neil Hodge explained: “We struggled to unify our services and keep up with new technology and needed to modernise our systems to help us keep pace with the constantly changing demands of our customers. We looked to integrate all our applications and services onto one single platform to support our increasing consumer services.”
He continued: “Across our convenience, newsagent and post office facilities, we are constantly striving to improve consumer services in the community, and it’s critical our technology acts as an enabler not an inhibitor.”
He added that, by using Azzurri’s RAN model, the retailer is not tied to one single carrier or technology, meaning the network can flex and change with its business needs.
“The RAN ensures we can keep pace with technological advancements by constantly adapting our technology to our customer needs throughout the contract,” he said.
Caroll opts for mobile EPoS
French womenswear chain Caroll has added mobile devices to its EPoS system to improve efficiency in its stores.
The solution was tested with successful results over a period of two months at the end of last year.
At the start of this year, Caroll rolled out Columbus Ret@il Pocket software from VCSTIMESS on PDAs to all 250 stores in France in just one month. Now it has started to deploy the system internationally.
With only one PoS terminal normally for each outlet, the till would often become busy previously, especially during the Sales, and also when inventories or delivery processing was being done.
The mobile system has improved customer service and information anywhere in stores or back offices.
It has also increased the efficiency of in-store staff greatly.
Republic and Uniqlo pick NCR
Two fashion chains have picked touchscreen EPoS hardware from NCR so they can run applications more quickly.
Fashion chain Republic has rolled out touchscreen EPoS units from NCR in eight of its 90 stores.
The devices will deliver the additional memory and processing power needed for new customer service applications.
Republic’s IT manager Nick Rennardson said: “NCR RealPOS consists of a single, more minimalist unit, helping us to de-clutter our sales and service desks. NCR’s hardware will help to ensure we serve customers quickly at the point of sale in our busy stores nationwide.
“It will also enable us to introduce new customer service initiatives, such as gift cards, which are a critical part of our growth strategy.”
Meanwhile, Uniqlo is using NCR’s RealPOS 80XRT in three of its London stores and its one Paris flagship.
The units are running Itim’s Chameleon EPoS system, which enables real-time store and head office data exchange and offers powerful analytics and web-based mapping and data transportation tools for store communications.
Uniqlo UK chief executive Simon Coble said: “NCR has worked with our other information technology partners to ensure the new checkouts in our flagship stores function flawlessly.
“With unprecedented performance, scalability and systems manageability, the new system enables us to accommodate more customer needs in these very high footfall outlets.”
Notcutts rethinks PoS for PCIDSS
Garden centre chain Notcutts is to change its point-of-sale system to help meet its PCIDSS requirements.
K3 will deliver a system based on Microsoft Dynamics at its 13 garden centres.
Notcutts IT director Jason Moon said: “K3 gave us the confidence that it could provide a full ERP solution based on the Microsoft platform.
“In our landscape design division, we will use K3’s customer relationship management solution to manage enquiries through our web site.”
Red Cross to adopt EPoS for in-depth information
British Red Cross is to roll out an EPoS system to its 330 stores before the end of this year.
The move comes after an 18-month review of the charity’s retail operation, which concluded that technology and management information at store level needed to be improved.
British Red Cross general manager Paul Thompson said: “We have been operating with very basic cash registers and have not had the benefit of any system-generated management intelligence. It’s now time to move to a system that will provide accurate and in-depth information that will enable British Red Cross to monitor and analyse our business more thoroughly.
The Cybertill system will be delivered as a service to each store, over a broadband connection, with the functions and data all hosted at the provider’s data centre in Glasgow. From here, it will link to the charity’s finance system.
Thompson added: “Cybertill provided the best all-round package. We will soon be able to benefit from real-time information, a safe and secure environment and the ability to have a great communication tool between head office and our shops.”
US grocer chooses European software
US supermarket Price Chopper has selected a suite of supply chain applications from Finnish-listed software company Aldata.
The GOLD retail supply chain suite will be used by the 116-store grocery firm to centralise merchandising and procurement and to improve its replenishment management operations.
Price Chopper stores include pharmacies, bakeries, butchers’ shops, seafood departments, full-service floristry and natural and organic product ranges.
The retailer will use the system to gain real-time inventory visibility across all of its stores.
Price Chopper president of enterprise business systems Greg Zeh said: “Price Chopper continues to be responsive to growing market pressure and tighter margins.
“As such, we needed to select a business partner with vision and an agile, competitive system that will allow us to streamline our procurement processes and enhance our supply chain efficiencies.”
Aldata’s European retail customers include Auchan, Carrefour and, in the UK, Musgrave and Midlands Co-op.
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