Retailers talk shop in London

From supply chain to Web 2.0 up for discussion

IT leaders from the struggling retail sector are gathering this week to discuss how technology can help businesses cope with the credit crunch and general economic turmoil.

This year’s edition of Retail Solutions encompasses three days of discussions on core areas for investment in IT – supply chain, retail technology and multichannel retail – led by decision makers from the sector.

The first day of discussions focused on supply chain, which underlined the increased importance that retailers place on management tools as they seek to optimise assets and processes, as well as knowledge, human and financial resources.

Speakers discussing their success stories and challenges included Mosaic Fashions’ CIO John Bovill, who recently told Computing about the group’s strategy to streamline supply chain processes after the purchase of peer Rubicon Retail.

At a time when supply chain centralisation is a hot topic, Borders is going in the other direction. The bookshop chain also spoke at the event and commented on how products will make their way to shops via a combination of delivery via wholesalers and direct from publishers after the closure of its Cornwall distribution centre. The process will be co-ordinated by a new supply system which aims to reduce delivery time by two to three days.

The show’s retail technology segment saw Tesco’s group technology and architecture director Mike Yorwerth discussing the IT agenda at the supermarket chain. It recently started the roll-out of a £100m IP network as the platform for a datacentre consolidation programme, a new HR system and customer-facing projects such as in-store kiosks offering live interaction with consumer experts.

Convenience store chain Spar has taken part in the same event stream. The business also told Computing about its large-scale IP network project, which will support a new electronic point-of-sale (Epos) system to be used by 2,500 franchised stores nationwide.

The last round of discussions will see IT managers from a pool of retailers handling multichannel operations speaking at the event on Thursday, including online fashion store Asos, as well as Argos Direct and John Lewis.