Tech goes the billing

Now, a technology that will help retailers weave information technology into their billing system and store management.

If Wal-Mart or Carrefour had to configure an item like bhujia on its product billing or inventory system, all it would have to do is ask its store manager to alter the code for the billing or inventory software.

The same for an Indian retailer, however, would be a cumbersome task, with chances of the entire system crashing down.

But, if Technopak is to be believed, then Indian retailers are beginning to weave information technology intricately within their stores so that getting a new item on the billing system, rolling out parallel promotions across geographies, or even managing stores remotely will no longer be a big deal.

For an industry that was estimated to be $330 billion in 2006 and is growing at 6 per cent annually, creating an IT infrastructure that is at par with its global counterparts has become a priority for a chunk of the 14 million domestic retailers.

While retailers typically invest a measly 2-4 per cent of their revenues in developing their IT infrastructure, Atul Ahuja, principal consultant, Technopak Advisors, feels, "managing multiple stores, call centres, delivery channels and designing campaigns, based on real time data from stores requires retailers to take cognisance of IT tools and solutions."

Taking the cue, Sun Microsytems has launched a comprehensive integration platform that enables realtime application connectivity, data syncronisation, and process centric composite applications.

Essentially JavaCAPS, Sun's latest addition, will enable retailers to achieve a single customer view.

Priyadarshi Mohapatra, general manager (retail practice), Sun Microsystems, explains, "This way, customer's data is cleansed and distilled into a single best record view so that it can be used for future programmes around valuable customers, and serve as the foundation for a new generation of customer centric services."

So, any customer who walks into a store that uses JavaCAPS, will be allotted a universal customer ID and his shopping preferences recorded. This way, the next time the customer walks into the store, he will be pampered with customised shopping catalogues and even promotional offers on favoured brands!

For retailers who are hoping to cut the long queues at the billing section, Sameer Parekh, managing director, Intellicon, has the answer.

Point of Sales (POS) equipment or the billing machines are expected to undergo a change, with Intellicon bringing in "future proof" POS equipment that, Parekh claims, "decreases the total cost of ownership by 30 per cent".

Although priced between $1,000-2,500, which is 10 per cent higher than the available POS solutions, Parekh is hopeful of selling 2,000 such units in the first year itself. With retailers expected to pump more than $22 billion within the next two years developing their businesses, Intellicon and Sun stand a good chance to cash in.

Ahuja says, "Keeping systems up and running and secure is critical in retail. Hence, the concept of managing stores remotely will also emerge strongly for larger retail formats."

Sun will be working to provide retailers with a sound technical infrastructure with built-in safeguards like a safe failover and defenses against things like viruses, insists Mohapatra, adding, "If one system fails, another is already in place to pick up the workload seamlessly."

Intellicon is also pioneering the concept of wireless and mobile printing technology within the retail sector. "Mobile bill printers lend flexibility, thereby saving a store assistant's time and improving customer service. We have given demos to a large retail chain and expect to provide them the solutions soon," was all that Parekh would say.

Intellicon is banking on "Radio Frequency Identification and POS equipment as they directly relate to enhancing customer experience".