HEMA Torex Retail
Dutch Retailer Raises Stock Availability and Customer Services with Mobile Solution
Business Situation
The organisation wanted a mobile stock control solution that meant staff could immediately re-order stock oncethey saw a shelf low on items without leaving the shop floor.
Retailer HEMA, based in the Netherlands and running more than 280 stores, wanted a mobile stock controlsolution. With such a system staff could re-order stock at the moment they saw a shelf low on items, and remainon the shop floor to help customers. HEMA rolled out a personal digital assistant device, running MicrosoftWindows CE as the operating system, across all stores. The devices connect to an in-store server solution thatautomates the re-ordering process and includes a point-of-sale system that runs on Microsoft Windows XPEmbedded. Using Windows CE, the devices have helped HEMA ensure that shelves consistently achieve thecompany’s target of holding at least the minimum of stock. As staff can manage stock without leaving the shopfloor, customers gain assistance quicker. In addition, the familiarity of the interface means HEMA avoids expensivetraining in using the devices.
Solution
HEMA rolled out a personal digital assistant device that ran on Microsoft Windows CE and connected to anin-store re-ordering solution that included a point of sale system powered by Microsoft Windows XP Embedded.After evaluating the marketplace for devices and software environments, HEMA chose the Symbol PPT 8846enterprise personal digital assistant (PDA) with Windows CE as the operating system. For HEMA, the advantages ofselecting Windows CE were clear. Microsoft solutions already cost-effectively supported increased productivity acrossthe whole organisation.
Benefits
- Minimal training required among staff
- Better stock management
- Increased customer service levels
- Advanced reliability of software environment
- Peace of mind over software maintenance by vendor
Apart from Windows XPe supporting the POS system, the in-store softwareinfrastructure ran the Microsoft Windows Server� 2003 operating system,part of Microsoft Windows Server System� integrated server software, withMicrosoft SQL Server� 2000 providing database services. For administrators,Active Directory� directory service delivered a low-cost solution for managingnetwork user groups.
To develop the interface for the PDAs, HEMA worked with Microsoft GoldCertified Partner Torex Retail (formerly Anker Systems). The partner, whichhad a long-standing relationship with HEMA, used the rapid out-of-the-boxdevelopment tools within Windows CE, such as Microsoft Platform Builder,to create the devices’ image and implemented Microsoft Internet Explorerversion 4.0 as the core application.
For HEMA, the Windows CE deployment signifies an increasing commitment toMicrosoft technology that results from the efficiency gains that the softwaredelivers. Today, the in-store server stack is powered by Microsoft solutionsengineered to deliver increasing business benefits over time. The infrastructure,for example, now runs Windows Server 2003 with Active Directory, which givesadministrators an efficient system for managing network users. In addition,the stack also includes SQL Server 2000, a database solution that introducesbusiness intelligence into data management. Kuite says:
�Our experience of Microsoft technology and Microsoft asan organisation has been good. Not only is the technologyrobust and reliable, the vendor has shown a commitmentto maintenance that ensures the solutions will developwith the changes in your business needs.�