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Blackberry at Rectella
Andy Hughson
Commercial Manager
Agenda1. The Company
2. The Problem
3. The Alternatives
4. The Solution
5. The Technology
6. The Benefits
The CompanyThe Company
Background
• UK’s leading importer & distributor of ready-made soft furnishings
• Privately owned limited company
• Established in 1947• 80 employees at head
office in Blackburn• 140 employees in retail• Small office in China
Business Profile• Limited UK production• Finished products sourced from abroad• 6,500 SKUs• Fashion – 1/3 range replaced every year
Sales ProfileAnnual Sales• £14 million turnover• 1.2 million units
Customers• 300 accounts, 1300 branches• Chain stores, large multiples,
mail order & independents• John Lewis, Debenhams,
CWS, Dunelm, Littlewoods• Concessions – TJ Hughes
IT Infrastructure• AS400 P10 machine
– Movex v12.5 RPG– Live in August 2003
• 12 servers– MOM– MEX– BPW– Payroll– ADS/Firewall– MS Exchange– Blackberry– Web intranet/extranet– File share server– Backup server– Telephone switchboard– Voicemail
The ProblemThe Problem
Challenges Faced• 30+ TJ Hughes concession outlets throughout UK• Limited POS feedback• Poor communication between head office & stores• Budgetary & practical constraints on IT/telecoms install• Stock mix managed by part-time in-store staff• Optimisation of stock mix• Labour intensive stock checking• In-store restrictions on telephone/fax use• Limited head office resource• Varied IT literacy amongst retail staff
The AlternativesThe Alternatives
Competing Technologies• Full POS data exchange with TJ Hughes
– Request declined
• In-store pc installation– Expensive– IT Overkill– Space & logistical implications– Part-time staffing problems
• Handheld data terminal with GPRS– Long payback period– Costly development– Connection Lag– Scope limitations– Part-time staffing problems
The SolutionThe Solution
Blackberry In Action
The TechnologyThe Technology
How It Works
Rectella Network
WWW
IBM iSeries
SQL Server RunningM3 Integrator
Blackberry Server Running MS Webserver
FIREWALL
Blackberry DevicesAround the UK
• Web based form on Blackberry
• User enters order/count data
• Data sent to SQL server to create transaction record
• Confirmation sent to Blackberry within 1 or 2 secs
• M3 Integrator from eVentura picks up new transaction
• M3 Integrator updates Movex using standard M3 APIs
Stock Management Automation• Stores set up as warehouses
• Table of stocked ranges by store
• Safety stock rules by product group
• Safety stocks recalculated at least monthly
• Aim to maintain 6 weeks stock in store
• Stock levels reflect demand patterns
• Demand = stock check net variances
The BenefitsThe Benefits
The Pay Off• Improved stock mix
management• Increased stock turn• Higher sales revenue• Lower lost sales• Reduced work content in
store & at head office• Increased Staff Job
Satisfaction• Speedy, cost effective,
intuitive solution
• Encouraged cross-store dialog & job satisfaction
• More frequent and accurate stock taking
• Better sales information• Ad-hoc stock valuations• Re-key errors eradicated• Counting errors rectified
within 7 days• Quicker, more effective
staff communication
QuestionsQuestions
THANK YOUTHANK YOU