RETAILPROCESSES 31
QD STORES OVERHAULS BACK-OFFICE SYSTEMS
Q
D Stores Group, the independently owned chain of value retail outlets, is working with Wincor Nixdorf on a SAP Business All-in-One
deployment to improve its business processes and support expansion plans. The QD Stores Group business model is based on being able to offer its customers more value by selling quality product lines at lower prices than other retailers. And it needed a back-offi ce system that would allow it to operate effectively now and through its aggressive growth plans to expand out of its core East Anglia stronghold. In addition, it will deploy SAP Business Objects to provide it with intelligence to better understand its customers and their needs. This, combined with consultancy from Wincor Nixdorf, will enable QD Stores to better fulfi l client demands and ultimately grow as a business. The group aims to grow to the number of stores to 50 across the UK by the end of 2010. Justin Farrington-Smith, managing director of QD Stores Group said: “This is the biggest investment we have made in technology to date so we need to see a direct return on investment. Working with Wincor Nixdorf, we know that this is achievable as their consultants understand our business processes. They also know that the key to our success is being able to spot a good deal on some goods and
knowing whether we can get those goods onto shelves while they are in fashion and season.”
As it grows, the importance of
understanding which products will sell in which locations and gaining real-time intelligence on what stock levels are like in different stores will become even more critical. “It was felt that SAP was a proven business
tool and Wincor shared a lot of the same values. The point is that you can’t manage want you can’t measure,” added Farrington-Smith. “It is essential that the products we buy are the
very best and that there is demand for them. A good deal is only a good deal if the customer wants it. Previously, gathering this intelligence without software was very time-consuming. Moreover, we are facing increasing competition as discount retailers look to enter the value space, so we need to be able to offer the best products at the best price.” Using its Accelerator approach, Wincor Nixdorf is working with the QD Stores Group to a fi xed price for consultancy and installation services in the run up to going live by the end of April.
TRAVIS PERKINS TARGETS DATA QUALITY
UK supplier to the building and construction industry, Travis Perkins Group is using the DataFlux data management platform to improve the quality of data within its product database. This purpose-built database supports its UK-wide network of 1,200-plus merchant and retail outlets operating under multiple brands including Travis Perkins, Wickes and Tile Giant and underpins a product data optimisation strategy to manage almost 200,000 product lines. Sean Sinclair, group head of data
development at Travis Perkins Group, told Retail Technology that improving the value and
accuracy of product data will enhance the effectiveness of the 200 million-plus product searches conducted each year. “We’re making it easier for staff to fi nd products and serve the customer quicker,” he said.
One of the main goals of the product data optimisation project is to improve the quality of product descriptions Travis Perkins receives from more than 1,200 suppliers. Product descriptions arrive from suppliers in varying formats, using a wide range of abbreviations and categorisations, which can lead to duplications if not detected and corrected. The company will use the dfPower Studio platform to standardise product descriptions
across the enterprise to improve the in-store, call centre and online product search processes, which are fundamental to delivering an enhanced customer experience. It also expects that data quality automation will signifi cantly reduce the amount of time taken to manually fi x errors throughout its store network. Sinclair said Travis Perkins would take a phased approach to its product data optimisation project, initially exploring and analysing its existing product data set. The company wants to standardise the results, creating a roadmap to improve data quality and is in the process of rolling out to live systems.
MARCH/APRIL 2010 RETAIL TECHNOLOGY
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