Blackberry at Rectella

Andy Hughson

Commercial Manager

Agenda1. The Company

2. The Problem

3. The Alternatives

4. The Solution

5. The Technology

6. The Benefits

The CompanyThe Company

Background

• UK’s leading importer & distributor of ready-made soft furnishings

• Privately owned limited company

• Established in 1947• 80 employees at head

office in Blackburn• 140 employees in retail• Small office in China

Business Profile• Limited UK production• Finished products sourced from abroad• 6,500 SKUs• Fashion – 1/3 range replaced every year

Sales ProfileAnnual Sales• £14 million turnover• 1.2 million units

Customers• 300 accounts, 1300 branches• Chain stores, large multiples,

mail order & independents• John Lewis, Debenhams,

CWS, Dunelm, Littlewoods• Concessions – TJ Hughes

IT Infrastructure• AS400 P10 machine

– Movex v12.5 RPG– Live in August 2003

• 12 servers– MOM– MEX– BPW– Payroll– ADS/Firewall– MS Exchange– Blackberry– Web intranet/extranet– File share server– Backup server– Telephone switchboard– Voicemail

The ProblemThe Problem

Challenges Faced• 30+ TJ Hughes concession outlets throughout UK• Limited POS feedback• Poor communication between head office & stores• Budgetary & practical constraints on IT/telecoms install• Stock mix managed by part-time in-store staff• Optimisation of stock mix• Labour intensive stock checking• In-store restrictions on telephone/fax use• Limited head office resource• Varied IT literacy amongst retail staff

The AlternativesThe Alternatives

Competing Technologies• Full POS data exchange with TJ Hughes

– Request declined

• In-store pc installation– Expensive– IT Overkill– Space & logistical implications– Part-time staffing problems

• Handheld data terminal with GPRS– Long payback period– Costly development– Connection Lag– Scope limitations– Part-time staffing problems

The SolutionThe Solution

Blackberry In Action

The TechnologyThe Technology

How It Works

Rectella Network

WWW

IBM iSeries

SQL Server RunningM3 Integrator

Blackberry Server Running MS Webserver

FIREWALL

Blackberry DevicesAround the UK

• Web based form on Blackberry

• User enters order/count data

• Data sent to SQL server to create transaction record

• Confirmation sent to Blackberry within 1 or 2 secs

• M3 Integrator from eVentura picks up new transaction

• M3 Integrator updates Movex using standard M3 APIs

Stock Management Automation• Stores set up as warehouses

• Table of stocked ranges by store

• Safety stock rules by product group

• Safety stocks recalculated at least monthly

• Aim to maintain 6 weeks stock in store

• Stock levels reflect demand patterns

• Demand = stock check net variances

The BenefitsThe Benefits

The Pay Off• Improved stock mix

management• Increased stock turn• Higher sales revenue• Lower lost sales• Reduced work content in

store & at head office• Increased Staff Job

Satisfaction• Speedy, cost effective,

intuitive solution

• Encouraged cross-store dialog & job satisfaction

• More frequent and accurate stock taking

• Better sales information• Ad-hoc stock valuations• Re-key errors eradicated• Counting errors rectified

within 7 days• Quicker, more effective

staff communication

QuestionsQuestions

THANK YOUTHANK YOU