Virgin Megastores expects its thin-client system to have paid for itself within two years. The £500,000 project has given all 93 outlets access to the corporate intranet and has replaced a costly and time consuming paper-based system.

Thin-client architecture dramatically cuts maintenance costs by reducing the complexity of access points, explained head of IT Mitchell Edmond.

"It gives control and consistency and offers huge savings in terms of service and support. All stores have access to the intranet which has brought the business together and created a real team," he said.

Weekly promotion and sales information used to be collated on paper at head office, photocopied and posted out to individual branches in heavy packs. The information is now handled by a single intranet, reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

"Everyone now gets the same information at the same time. It's hard to put a figure on it, but we expect that efficiency to generate better sales," said Edmond.

He added that the consistent platform throughout the chain of stores has allowed the company to take advantage of new commercial opportunities such as concert ticket sales. "This is an achievement from a technical point of view but more importantly the business people are very happy," he said.