The Challenge
With stores Australia-wide and experiencing rapid growth leading retailer decided its paper-based store communication method was no longer up to the task for which it had been created. Used to guide day-to-day store activity, it was becoming increasingly inefficient and costly to run. Considering the prospect of continued swift expansion, the existing paper-based system needed to be replaced with a scalable alternative that could reduce expenses, while providing measurable improvements in store productivity. Our client subsequently announced a key strategy for improving this process in their Annual Report and during their Annual General Meeting.
The Solution
The retailer approached Hyperware Consulting to assist in the design, develop and implement a WebSphere Portal based Retail Operations System, with a primary focus on the delivery and completion of Tasks by stores.
A Service Oriented Architecture was adopted to keep the solution scalable and reliable, while a host of new technologies provided features translating to efficiency and ease of use.
The Result
The Retail Operations System provided this retailer’s head office with the means to improve the level of communication with stores (150+), while greatly reducing the steps involved in this process. It also better allowed stores to prepare for and handle their day-to-day activities, and this was made evident by their positive response to the introduction of the system. The Retail Operations System remains one of this retailer’s most critical store systems.
