UCS Software Manufacturing (UCSSM), well positioned as the first retail software 'factory' of its kind globally, has signed a contract with the JSE-listed JD Group - to replace Hi-Fi Corporation's legacy point of sale system with assemble-to-order (A2O) software for its 19 stores.
This contract is seen as critical by UCSSM because it represents the first stage of a group-wide replacement of in store software. This is according to Neels van Tonder, CEO of UCSSM.
UCSSM - the outsourced retail application software development house within the JSE Securities Exchange listed UCS Group Limited - is spearheading the group's drive to increasingly sell world-leading retail software manufacturing services globally.
Commenting further on the Hi-Fi Corporation contract, UCSSM's Van Tonder said: "Our company is a synthesis of software engineering skills from various UCS Group owned companies. We recently concluded a multi-year programme where we standardised our processes, designs and component libraries. We give our developers ways to encapsulate their knowledge as reusable assets that others within the manufacturing supply-chain can use effectively."
"The JD Group's decision to choose A2O - amid strong international competition from leading package and bespoke software vendors - is market vindication of this software strategy as we move aggressively into targeted markets."
Ian Child, JD Group CIO, said: "Through the application of domain-specific software patterns, software factories hold the promise of industrialising software development with the concomitant benefits of speed to market, business agility and lower costs. The UCS software factory (UCSSM) is a CMMI level three certified software factory specialising in retail specific domain languages. The UCSSM factory has the ability to rapidly assemble and configure almost any retail configuration; this was absolutely necessary given the heterogeneous systems landscape within the JD Group. The factory has helped us cope with a large number of integration points and custom business processes within Hi-Fi Corporation. This project is due to go live early in 2007 and will enable significantly streamlined business processes within Hi-Fi corp."
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UCSSM provides complete software design, engineering and manufacturing services that are vertically integrated with component capabilities to optimise its OEM customers' time-to-market, and overall operations. The company boasts two decades of software development experience within a wide range of retail sectors, including clothing, DIY, forecourt, convenience stores, quick service, sit-down restaurants, pharmacies and furniture retail companies.
The JD Group
The JD Group is one of SA's largest retailers. For the six months ended 28 February 2006 the company posted revenue of R6.1 billion. Operating margin improved from 18.2% to 18.3% and headline earnings per share were up 22% to 458.3 cents. Operating income was up by 18% to R1.1 billion. Hi-Fi Corporation is the largest audiovisual and warehouse in the Southern Hemisphere, selling a wide range of retailing products, electronic goods, as well as office equipment and household appliances. It was acquired by the JD Group in 2003 and boasts 17 stores in SA, one in Botswana and one in Namibia.