James Hall, a UK distribution centre for convenience group Spar, is rolling out DigiPoS Retail Systems` Retail Blade Server across its entire scanning estate of 300 stores. The hardware, with its dual PoS and server functionality through RAID mirroring and SATA dual drives, is being installed in all lanes and in all back offices. The install commenced in January 2005 and to date approximately 300 units have been installed across 86 stores.
When choosing the retail system, James Hall was looking for flexibility, reliability and uniformity. Following rigorous testing, DigiPoS` Retail Blade Server scored highest on all three points: the flexibility of the system allows the company to develop its IT over time and at minimal cost; the blade technology offered increased reliability through reduced downtime and maintenance costs; the dual functionality of the system as a server and PoS has created uniformity across front and back office.
Stuart Lockhart, scanning manager at James Hall, comments: "To really test the capabilities of the system, our first set of implementations were in our most testing environment - a city centre store operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The reliability that the system demonstrated in this store has exceeded expectations."
An additional benefit found by James Hall was the back office space saving ability of the Retail Blade Server. Lockhart continues: "We are constantly looking to increase storage space which means that office space is at a minimum. Therefore the physical size of the Retail Blade Server was a massive benefit of the system."
Supporting the installation and providing a seven-day call out service for James Halls` Spar stores is Vista Retail Support, part of the same group as DigiPoS. The leading UK IT services company has worked closely with James Hall to create a `call reduction strategy` where PoS analysis is used to target the top four most commonly recurring problems. This proactive strategy has seen reductions in maintenance charges for James Hall.
Ian Patterson, MD of DigiPoS, said: "We worked closely with James Hall to understand their requirements for both a PoS and back office system. Spar stores offer some of the most testing retail environments and the system we were asked to provide had to address issues of heat, space and downtime. We are delighted that the Retail Blade Server is providing such and effective solution for the UK`s leading convenience store group."
The implementation of the Retail Blade Server across the complete James Hall Spar estate is due for completion in 2010.
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