Remote tool keeps stock up to date

Retailer extends store network access

Shoe retailer Faith has completed a networking technology upgrade across its branches and head office to improve management processes.

Luke Philips, IT director of Faith, says the previous remote networking structure and management software supported the business but did not provide head office with real-time data.

‘We thought that getting better remote networking management at the same time as moving data files between our stores and head office would be possible by upgrading our existing software,’ he said.

Faith has just completed the infrastructure upgrade using Afaria remote management software from distributed networking vendor iAnywhere.

The software has already allowed more timely delivery of key sales data, to help with the planning of promotional and stock-routing related activity.

‘It will run client-side programmes where the code that runs on an electronic point of sale machine as a scheduler triggers the transfer of the data to head office,’ said Philips.

Before the upgrade, data from tills would only be synchronised with central data records at certain times each day.

Now Faith uses the remote management tools for real-time data transfer, software deployment and patch management.