The Foschini Group has made a strategic decision to replace outdated point-of-sale (POS) systems with a ActiveRetail, the first ever solution developed on a modern, Microsoft platform. Supplied by Ultimate Connection, ActiveRetail provides the power and flexibility to enable the retailer to meet escalating business demands on the next generation Microsoft enterprise platforms.
"Existing POS systems are between 15 and 20 years old and are unable to keep up with changing business requirements," says Mike Rees, development director of Foschini Data, the IT division of the group.
"ActiveRetail will be integrated with Foschini`s new merchandising system, which goes into production in the first quarter of 2000.
With development underway, the project is expected to go into pilot phase early in 2001.
"The key benefits of the ActiveRetail solution from Ultimate Connection, a divison of the Connection Group, are the ability to support a changing business environment, and eliminate limitations experienced with the existing system." says Rees.
Ultimate Connection president Neels van Tonder says: "The point-of-service solution and workflow automation system for Foschini provides complete in-store management, taking full advantage of integrated workflow for effective and efficient management of critical business processes."
ActiveRetail is a fully integrated enterprise retail management application, managing every aspect of a retailer`s business from point-of-service to back office accounting, merchandising, replenishment, reporting, report distribution, data mining and workflow.
Ultimate Connection`s role in the project includes a technical skills transfer, development, piloting and rollout assistance. The project also includes links into legacy credit and merchandising systems.
Ultimate Connection`s ActiveRetail point-of-service recently won Microsoft`s European Retail Applications Developer (RAD) Award for the most innovative solution, clinching the accolade ahead of competition from across Europe, Middle East and Africa.
"Winning the coveted RAD award has placed Ultimate Connection firmly on the retail software development map and demonstrates that South African Independent Software Vendors are on par with international counterparts," states Van Tonder.
"Ultimate Connection won the Foschini contract ahead of international rivals, and ActiveRetail has won recognition internationally as a leading enterprise retail management application," concludes Van Tonder.
The Foschini Group comprises 1 080 stores including Foschini, Exact, Sterns, American Swiss and Donna Clair.
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