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Convenience and quality have become the watchwords for today’s busy consumers. As the world’s largest international food retail chain, SPAR is the ultimate in convenience shopping. With over 16,000 stores across 30 countries, it’s become a well-known face at the heart of many communities.
A ‘one-stop-shop’ offering everything for time conscious shoppers, SPAR aims to be the best for local shopping, priding itself in providing customers with attractive stores, long opening hours, wide product ranges and excellent service. Carrying a variety of branded groceries, frozen and chilled foods, and even housing national lottery terminals, ATMs and off-licences, SPAR also has its own product range.
SPAR’s network of 2,600 franchises across the UK is served by a Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) depending on where the store is located. Forward thinking and innovative, each RDC is committed to providing the best products with a particular emphasis on value for money and good customer service. To this end, each RDC is rolling out to its SPAR retailers a new EPoS system driven by Epson’s MR-800 modular register.
The requirements were clear - an EPoS solution with a totally open architecture, capable of running the very latest software technology. Roy Ford, IT Controller at SPAR UK Ltd explains, “Our business needs are constantly evolving and we recognised that the previous system we had in place was simply unable to cope. It was clear that we weren’t achieving the stable platform which the business demanded going forward.” With SPAR’s aims to move to a totally electronic distribution system and eliminate the need for store visits, Roy Ford observed, “this is the first step - getting the hardware right.”
The high-performance Epson terminals, with ultra-slim touchscreen monitor and built-in Magnetic Stripe Reader (MSR) run SPARPoS scanning software specifically developed for SPAR by its software partner, Stockport-based Business Computer Projects (BCP). Featuring Epson’s fast TM-T88III thermal receipt printers, the EPoS system enables SPAR retailers to improve the efficiency of operations and make better use of staff time through faster transactions, real-time stock information and suggested ordering. In addition, features such as in-store promotions, customer accounts and news management give retailers the opportunity to enhance sales and increase profitability. In total there are six SPAR RDCs each responsible for specific areas; John Henderson Ltd, founded in 1897, supplies almost 300 SPAR stores in Northern Ireland. Based in Newtownabbey, County Antrim with a 240,000 sq foot warehousing space, John Henderson implemented the system in April this year. “It was vital that our system comprised the latest technology and hardware from a well-recognised supplier. Tailor-made to our specific requirements, and therefore future proof, we are confident in its longevity, reliability and efficiency," commented Neil Granleese, Retail Technology Manager. “For example, a real benefit to the SPAR group is the touchscreen technology; it speeds up the process of software updates and eliminates keyboard related call-outs.”
In-store, at the point of sale, easy-to-use touchscreens replace traditional keyboards. Not only does this free-up more counter space, but staff training times are kept to a minimum due to the user-friendly technology. Martin Rushton, Retail IT Development Manager at Tates Ltd, a division of AF Blakemore, the largest SPAR RDC in the UK, said of the roll-out, "With more features and services available at the point of sale, the touchscreen solution is much more intuitive and easier to use than a keyboard because it only displays the options available at any moment during the transaction. This reduces till errors and ensures we have the most accurate sales and stock information."
In addition to its superb connectivity, which enables retailers to choose whatever peripherals or upgraded applications they need, the modular MR-800 also gives SPAR retailers the complete freedom to lay out their point of sale hardware in the way which suits them best.
"It's an extremely reliable system," enthused Roy Ford. "Peace of mind, security, and continuous service were top of our priority list when selecting a solution the bespoke software and Epson hardware certainly tick all the boxes."
For further information contact:
David Ormerod, Epson Tel: 01442 227318
Email: dormerod@epson.co.uk. |
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