IT supports retailer's growth programme

Rollout of handheld devices to follow head office and warehouse overhaul

Outdoor retailer Blacks Leisure has started a major IT transformation programme to support its business growth plans.

The company, which owns high-street brands Blacks, Millets and Free Spirit, is updating its ageing IT infrastructure to support the opening of 50 out-of-town, retail park stores, a format which has been outperforming its high-street shops.

Kath Roach, Blacks’ chief information officer, says the transformation is reflecting changes to the way the business is run.

‘There has been a lot of organisational change, and with this has come new processes that IT needs to support,’ she said.

‘Infrastructure-related factors are around expansion plans and an upcoming move to new head office and warehouse locations, and links with new human resources and payroll projects.’

Blacks’ relocations involve moving the organisation’s entire IT infrastructure, including its data centre and its central operational systems.

A new telephony network will be installed as part of the head office move, to improve communication links with stores.

And Blacks will implement technology from IBM and Retail-J in its stores, with support from Retail Business Solutions, to help prepare for further initiatives to boost shop productivity.

‘We plan to roll out mobile handheld devices that could be put to use for queue-busting or for updating and improving stock file accuracy, but it will be a case of walking before you run,’ said Roach.

IT recruitment and third-party development of Blacks’ web sites will be the first initiatives to go live, helping to build up in-house skills and to establish a consistent brand presence across all sales channels.

‘The transformation is not just about stores,’ said Roach. ‘Two new sites for Millets and Blacks will be launched in early March, with Free Spirit following later in summer.

‘We are basically future-proofing the systems from an infrastructure, back-office and client point of view to support business growth. But there are also significant benefits associated with the transformation that will add to the bottom line.’