Halfords' new IT delivers rise in profit

Halfords has invested in new IT

Retailer Halfords has reported a rise in profit and improved productivity thanks to the rollout of new IT systems.

The firm said in its financial results today that staff productivity is reaping the benefits from an investment in better in-store systems, completed earlier in the year.

In December, Halfords also completed a major integration project to boost its online offering and meet customer demands for a multi-channel retail operation. As part of the project, web site design and product search were also improved and Web 2.0 functionality was added.

Online call centre support has also been introduced to assist customers through advice, ordering, payment and store reservations.

Despite the slowdown in high street retail sales, Halfords has performed better than most, due to the growing popularity of cycling and exposure to must-have spending areas such as car maintenance.

With a 2.4 per cent increase in full-year profit, Halford’s chief executive David Wild said he saw “significant opportunities” for growth in the UK.

"We naturally remain cautious given the continued fragility of the economy and consumer confidence. There are, however, clear indications that Halfords is well positioned to deliver further earnings growth in the year ahead," said Wild.