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The Eye on Retail Information Systems
January 27, 2012
Volume 21 Issue 21


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When a customer walks into a store and gives a payment card to an associate, who charges it on a store-branded mobile device, is that customer interacting with that retailer? If that device is using Square, the answer is "no," but the customer won't know that. If an E-mail address is requested, is it for Square or that retailer?



In his keynote speech "Embracing Our Common Humanity," President Bill Clinton discussed the state of the global economy and how nations need to respectfully work together in order to get out of financial trouble.



The engineer who brought SAP's new database into the world is bragging that it has become the company's most important new product of all time.



Walk into one of about 25 Guess stores this week and you'll see customer-accessible iPads in the men's, women's and accessories departments and even in the dressing rooms. "For the cost of a kiosk, I can put in four or five of these," said Guess CIO Michael Relich. "This is the consumerization of IT."



No one wants to spend a second more than they have to paying for their purchases, so payment technology companies know a thing or two about moving quickly. PayPal certainly does: just a few days after announcing the expansion of its brick-and-mortar payments pilot with Home Depot from five stores to 51, published reports indicate that if the no-card, no-phone payment test is successful, it will be made available in more than 2,000 Home Depot stores by March.



Following a successful initial pilot, U.K.-based Tesco will commence the deployment of the Retalix 10 Store Suite software, with plans to install it in Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets, its U.S. subsidiary, within three years, said Mike McNamara, Tesco's chief information officer.



Snipping coupons from the Sunday paper, stuffing them into a wad and producing them at checkout is a weekly ritual for millions of shoppers.



At Retail's Big Show this week, Verizon is helping retailers use technology to provide a consistent experience to customers - whether they shop in store, via the store website or on their mobile phone. This approach, known as omni-channel retailing, can be a critically important asset in today's hyper-competitive retail market.



Burger chain McDonald's is using the UK as the base for a trial of four cutting-edge stores involving a raft of innovative technologies that it intends to roll out around the world.



Reuters reported over the weekend that PayPal is testing it's point-of-sale system in Office Depot Inc stores. This is the second high-profile retailer known to be working with PayPal on perfecting its POS solution.



One Network Enterprises today announced plans for a strategic alliance with Arrow Electronics, Inc., a provider of products, services and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions.



According to Reuters Monday, Office Depot is said to be currently evaluating PayPal's new point-of-sale system in several locations. North American president for Office Depot, Kevin Peters, said the company will take time to evaluate the new payment system before any nationwide roll-out happens.



ACI Worldwide, Inc. has announced that CVS/pharmacy has deployed ACI Retail Commerce Serverfor Check Management, in its 7,300 stores across the U.S., enabling the retail pharmacy chain to automate and reduce the cost of check authorization. CVS/pharmacy's deployment of ACI Retail Commerce Server is managed by ACI On Demand, ACI Worldwide's hosted service.



SysIQ announced today that Gump's San Francisco, a leading luxury retailer, reported a record setting 25% increase in online sales during the 2011 Holiday shopping season.



Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance has begun implementation of new supply chain technology that will get special order items into the hands ofservice dealers faster, more reliably, and with far less hassle. Called the Virtual Inventory Cloud" solution, it automates the special order process all the way from the partscounter to the manufacturer and back. Developed by GCommerce, the VIC will integrate with www.MyPlaceForParts.com, Alliance's eCommerce portal.



Lakeland, the creative kitchenware company, has launched a mobile commerce website with the help of its implementation partner Javelin Group, one of Europes leading e-commerce consultancy and systems integrator and a speaker at Internet Retailing Expo on 22 March at the NEC in Birmingham.



The Grupo Pao de Acucar, the largest retailer in South America, has selected the SAP Carbon Impact OnDemand solution to monitor and manage carbon emissions and energy consumption in each of its 1,832 stores.



Disney Store announced that its awardwinning store design will be in 12 countries by the end of 2012. The store opening slate includes an inaugural location in Shanghai, China opening in the fall, making it the twelfth country to receive the interactive retail model. More guests than ever before in North America will experience the immersive shopping destination as 13 new and remodeled Disney Store locations are scheduled to open in 2012, and Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Utah, and Virginia will each receive its first new concept store in the state.



March Networks announced today that a major retail customer has selected its retail solution to replace analog-based CCTV technology in select U.S. stores. The order expands the customer's existing March Networks digital video network, which currently includes more than 30,000 recording systems and software and is thought to be one of the largest video surveillance installations worldwide. March Networks will complete delivery of the solution, valued at $1 million, by January 31, 2012.



In-store promotional campaigns are only useful to convenience store operators if they can measure the results. Now, iSIGN Media Solutions Inc. using Intel Corp.'s Audience Impression Metric software is working with 5th Screen Digital Services Inc. to generate unique metrics to measure the effectiveness of in-store promotional campaigns at Mac's Convenience Stores.



Agility Metrics announced today that it has been chosen by Staples Canada to run its Customer Experience Management program at more than 300 Staples and Bureau en Gros locations across Canada. This program will help Staples maintain its leadership position as Canadas largest everyday-low-price retailer of office supplies, business machines, office furniture, and business services.



HighJump Software today announced that Batteries Plus has implemented the HighJump warehouse management system in its new national distribution center in Glendale, Wis. Based near Milwaukee in Hartland, Wis.



Epicor Software Corporation today announced Love Culture has selected the Epicor Retail Software as a Service solution.



Waitrose is rolling out contactless payments to all its stores this year as it looks to increase the number of ways customers can pay.



By the summer of 2012, Best Buy Canada customers will experience the speed and convenience of mobile point-of-sale in select Future Shop and Best Buy pilot store locations. The solution is architected to keep POS functionality independent of the mobile device and its operating system, according to a company press release.



Aruba Networks has announced a new smartphone- and tablet-based point-of-sale (PoS) solution, to support the retail migration from static to mobile PoS. The solution was developed in partnership with Infinite Peripherals and LightSpeed, and enables retail sales staff to execute sales transactions reliably and securely from any location in a store.



Brookshire Grocery Co. has successfully piloted a new platform from digital grocery solutions provider MyWebGrocer designed to create a seamless digital experience for shoppers whether they are online or using a mobile device, at home or in the store.



Companies at the National Retail Federation's convention in New York City this week explained how they're courting today's digitally wired consumer by bringing interactive technology into stores, such as the new self-service cosmetics kiosks at Macy's. But they're also working to engage shoppers on a more personal level by fashioning stores that double as social hubs, with everything from health and wellness centers to cupcake shops.



NCR Corp. recently announced that Century 21, a discount designer department store chain, will expand its use of digital signage to stores throughout the metropolitan New York area, including its flagship location in lower Manhattan. As part of its expansion, the chain will upgrade its digital signage software to the most current version of the NCR Netkey digital signage solution.



Mobile devices can ensure food safety and quality, as companies like IBM develop systems to trace and track food through the supply chain.



Intel has reported strong earnings for 2011, with full-year revenue of $54 billion, operating income of $17.5 billion, net income of $12.9 billion and EPS of $2.39 -- all records. The revenue was up 24% over last year, and marked Intel's second consecutive year of earnings increase over 20%.



Americaneagle.com, a web site design, development and hosting firm, recently partnered with retail enterprise business solutions provider, Jesta I.S., to offer a pre-integrated e-Commerce solution. Americaneagle.com's idev e-Commerce tool and Jesta I.S.s Vision Suite seamlessly integrate for a highly-efficient and valuable solution.



WPP Digital unit Possible Worldwide is making it possible for celebrity chef and celebrated merchandiser Wolfgang Puck to interact directly, and personally, with influential members of the retail trade. The agency unveiled a new touchwall installation at the National Retailers Federation Conference taking place in New York this week that enables users to touch their way into a five-minute engagement to make a pizza with a virtual Puck.



Jerry Kohl knows when to say goodbye to a certain type of technology. The old cash register is a great example, he says.



Construction is an expensive piece of the retailing puzzle. Allotted capital expenditures can exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars to create a store from the ground up. Executives managing construction and property development could typically spend weeks traveling between project sites.



In June, Family Express signed up with PeopleMatter to help with talent management, including bringing the hiring process online, as CSNews Online previously reported. At that time, Olympidis said that the c-store chain was gearing up for expansion.



Verizon and STRATACACHE announced on Tuesday (Jan. 17) a technology collaboration that will enable retailers to interact more closely with customers at the point of decision, while enhancing the shopping experience and building brand loyalty. Unveiled at Retail's Big Show in New York, the joint solution features STRATACACHE's award-winning digital-signage software and technology, powered by Verizon's 4G LTE network and infrastructure.



A Cisco survey released today identifies new ways for retailers to "catch" and "keep" channel-hopping customers to revitalize brick-and-mortar stores. Conducted by Cisco's Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG)the company's global consultancy and Cisco's retail marketing team, the study surveyed 1,000 U.S. and 1,000 U.K. shoppers.



Using SAS Analytics to develop customer profiles will help Liverpool (El Puerto de Liverpool, S.A. de C.V.) better engage its customers with targeted promotions and credit offers. The Mexican department store chain has licensed SAS to discern who is buying what in its bricks and mortar stores.



Retailers that are looking to access their store sales and foot traffic now can do so anywhere and anytime with a new, free mobile application from ShopperTrak.



AisleBuyer has unveiled the latest edition of its commerce platform and self-checkout application. AisleBuyer CEO Andrew Paradise said the platform upgrade of mShop "was designed to meet the needs of retailers at any stage of mobile commerce development."



Leading strategic and tactical supply chain consulting firm RPE (Retail Process Engineering) announced today the successful implementation and go-live of JDA Allocation for VF Corporation's Nautica and Kipling lifestyle apparel and accessory brands. The Nautica and Kipling implementation of JDA Allocation tasked RPE to ensure each brand's business process be fully represented and supported in the new system. VF Corporation will utilize the multiple tools JDA Allocation provides to enable accurate, store-specific allocations based on level of demand, plan and historical performance data.



DSW selected SAS to help improve its inventory productivity by using store size profiles to allocate and replenish inventory. By licensing SAS Size Optimization, DSW expects to see its in-stock position by size improve dramatically, and the retailer anticipates a similar uptick in customer loyalty.



Bass Pro Shops Chooses IBM and Aginity to Improve the Customer Shopping Experience



Applied Predictive Technologies announced that AutoZone has signed an agreement to license APT's Test & Learn Management System to assist in evaluating strategic initiatives across all major functional areas.



Kronos Inc. said Monday that Family Dollar is using its suite of workforce management solutions to control labor costs, minimize compliance risk, and improve productivity of more than 55,000 Family Dollar employees across 7,000 stores.



In conjunction with the National Retail Federations Big Show, we are excited to announce that Merchant Link, along with our partners Equinox Payments and Voltage Security, has implemented a cutting-edge, reliable, cloud-based solution to protect sensitive payment data.



Epicor Software Corporation today congratulated retail customer Foot Locker on being named a 'Customer Engagement Award' winner by Retail TouchPoints. The inaugural Customer Engagement Awards program honors retail innovators that have successfully implemented unique and creative customer engagement strategies.



The perfect home is only a click away with Homebase's revolutionary 'Create Your Own Look' tool. The new online technology allows customers to transform the look of their home instantly at the click of a mouse, with access to over 1,000 paints, 200 flooring and tiling choices and over 900 wallpaper options.



More than 40 Buffalo Wild Wings franchise restaurants have deployed QSR Automations kitchen display software installed by 24-7 Hospitality Technology, which is believed to to help ensure consistency, food quality, and optimum ticket times. The stores find that they are running better ticket averages and higher volumes than established stores running paper systems.



BJ's Wholesale Club will use transportation management technology from RedPrairie to streamline its transportation operations and reduce costs. Using RedPrairie's Transportation Management System, BJ's will be able to better monitor carrier performance and shipment activities throughout the supply chain.



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