Point-of-sale solutions developer DigiPoS Systems Africa is preparing to roll-out its Retail Blade system technology in SA by the end of July, with several deals with local retailers in the pipeline.
Retail Blade is a point-of-sale platform based on blade technology, which allows for easy maintenance, or replacement of motherboard and hard drive by non-technical in-store personnel.
The Johannesburg-based company will seek to replicate the success of its UK parent, DigiPoS Systems Group, which concluded a deal with UK retail giant Next, in April, for the implementation of Retail Blade in its outlets.
DigiPoS System African business development manager Regan Atkins tells ITWeb that the group is looking at opportunities to conclude deals with several local retail groups, with a potential value of more than R5 million.
"These are not first-tier retailers, but they could be classed as the top of the second-tier," Atkins explains, adding that there are plans to target SA`s retail majors in the near future.
For the past few weeks, DigiPoS Systems Africa has been running a pilot programme with a limited number of retailers to test the Retail Blade technology in a live environment. This programme should be concluded within the next two months.
"The response has been positive. This is the same technology that captured Next, in the UK, and we are now keen to move from marketing to roll-out in SA," Atkins states.
One of the main advantages for retailers, claims Atkins, is that the Retail Blade system is versatile and can be tailored to the individual requirements of clients.
He points out that system uptime directly impacts a retailer`s bottom line and the DigiPoS Retail Blade is designed to be serviced and upgraded - in-store by non-technical staff, with no tools, in less than three minutes - without uncabling any peripherals or moving the installation of the system.
The Retail Blade has a replaceable motherboard and hard drive, enabling quick upgrades, repairs or maintenance. Atkins says that, with Retail Blade, retailers can maintain a core stock of replacement motherboards and replace or upgrade in-store in less than 60 seconds.
He points out that the technology allows for none of the peripherals to be disturbed and the "host" system to remain in place, cutting the downtime and virtually eliminating the costs of conventional maintenance.
"Currently, there is no technology in SA that is similar to what the Blade Retail system offers," Atkins argues.
The DigiPoS Systems Group was established in 1994 and has subsidiary operations in 16 countries worldwide.
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