Platform to tackle retail theft

Video management software firm Axxon is introducing a retail point-of-sale (POS) integration module into its Axxon Smart Pro video management platform to help UK retailers tackle the rising levels of employee retail theft, reports Info4Security.

New figures released by the Centre for Retail Research showed the value of goods stolen from UK retailers had risen by 20% to reach £4.88 billion (R61 billion) for the year ending 30 June.

The report entitled 'Global retail theft barometer 2009' also highlighted that 36.4% of the total amount stolen in the UK was through employee theft, with employees responsible for high value theft, averaging £1595.66 (R20 000) per theft incident compared to £80.31 (R1 000) for external shoplifters.

Supermarket News recently highlighted five "must-have" technology tools for grocers to manage the downturn, according to Retail Wire.

These are labour management, loyalty, price optimisation, loss prevention and business intelligence.

"In an economic climate as difficult as the current one - and with 2010 likely to be challenging as well - food retailers are leaning on new and traditional technology applications for direction, insight and control," wrote Michael Garry, the trade magazine's technology editor.

Xsilva, maker of LightSpeed, a suite of retailers' tools, will present a Mac-based POS system at the National Retail Federation's annual convention and exhibition, taking place in New York City in January 2010, says PR Wire.

Over the past decade, the Mac has experienced record market-share gains and its appeal has attracted customers across a broad spectrum of industries - a success reflected by Apple's recent record quarterly profits.

Thanks to the combined influence of a number of computing trends, such as the growing popularity of the iPhone as a viable business tool, the Mac is forging paths into new sectors, riding a growing wave of end-user affinity for the Apple experience.