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The Changing Face Of Retailing

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DQI Bureau
New Update

Retailers

are constantly looking for devices that will make store procedures easy and

efficient for store associates.

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Retail companies are constantly

evaluating wireless technologies, new handheld devices and emerging client

technologies available from a slew of vendors.

Wireless LAN

An interesting

feature of wireless local area network (LAN) is wireless voice over internet

protocol. For example, the Symbol NetVision Data Phone incorporates a scanner, a

HTML browser-based user interface and a wireless LAN radio providing voice

communications, data capture capabilities, bar code scanning and an embedded

thin client.

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A store assistant can use this

device to respond to customer calls and scan a product for availability and

price. Using an internet browsing function, these devices can be used to access

email and web pages to process full transactions and manage information

including internet, database and purchase orders.

Another application would be to

tie the phone to a call center through a database that will record the associate’s

availability through a time clock type. This would enable a centralized call

center to determine an associate’s availability by querying the database.

Web enabled checkout

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POS vendors are

providing web capabilities in order to make it a more productive place for

vendors and consumers. By using a credit card terminal, retailers can deliver

value-added applications beyond accepting credit card payments.

Virtual storefronts can now be

created right on the credit card terminal. Retailers can run a browser to the

card terminal, enabling them and consumers to access the website in the store

through the device. When customers reach the checkout counter, retailers can use

the web browser to filter targeted messages and promotions to a specific

customer. Customers can click directly on the device and redeem the promotions.

The web-based POS can deliver advertisements and promotions that can be matched

to the customer’s specific tastes based on current and historical orders. The

units also allow retailers to manage online shopping in-store.

When customers sign for credit

card purchases, the unit can print the customer copy and store the electronic

version in the device. At the end of the business day, all receipts can be

loaded on to a server to enable easy retrieval at any point in time.

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POS transactions for

e-replenishment

The

e-replenishment solution allows retailers to monitor and manage the

replenishment process in real time over the internet. The IBM-Industri-Matematik

solution for supply chain management, designed for highly automated retail

environments, provides scan-based store replenishment model for both

direct-to-store and warehouse environments. The solution uses advanced order

management and fulfillment center system. It has a messaging backbone of IBM’s

MQ Series middleware products, which leverages IBM Business Intelligence and

WebSphere technology. This will help retailers manage supply chains better to

have products available wherever the customer shops, which is a direct result

created by ebusiness The US grocery industry is

developing a new initiative whose impact could be as revolutionary and global as

that of the universal product code (UPC) and retail scanning. This would allow

secure, inexpensive transfer of such items as pricing, promotions and delistings

on one level, facilitate such initiatives as collaborative planning, forecasting

and replenishment, and scan-based trading on another and ultimately be used in

initiatives like consumer-direct. The e-replenishment system allows retailers to

restock store shelves based on consumer purchases rather than forecast demand.

Palm as POS register

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Retailers who

have limited store space need a checkout solution to handle high sales volume

through a limited space. Wireless palm pilots are a solution for retailers who

want to shorten the check out process without adding new registers. The palm

pilots are light in weight and emulate the retailer’s POS. Such hand held

devices are equipped with a radio frequency bar code laser scanner and printer

and, like the stores traditional registers, operate on a LAN network. The

flexibility of the wireless units enable conducting credit card and debit card

transactions either at a designated area of the checkout desk, or as the

customer stands in line.

Web-based thin client network

as POS

Retail

applications are centrally hosted from a headquarters and stores access them

through web browsers on thin clients and wide area networks. Thin clients help

gain consistency across all stores. Each user has only pieces of application

they need to do their job. By integrating the POS data, one sales report can be

produced at the end of the day. The reports can define products which sell, peak

time sales and staff productivity. Access to daily data enables timely, informed

decisions.

The new devices are making POS a

valuable ebusiness tool that is enabling stores to offer consumers point of

service in addition to point of sale.

Bala

Subramaniam

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