Handheld Solutions essential element of our retail solutions

Handheld Solutions in a retail environment were once the preserve of the larger multiple symbol type retailers such as Tesco. The technology was outside of the reach of the small to medium retailers. Thankfully, this has all changed in recent years. Just as smartphones have become common place with consumers access to handheld systems is growing among all retailers.

IT Providers researches, designs and develops handheld solutions for the retail and distribution sector. We have successfully implemented our MobileData™ suite of solutions in over 500 retailers in Ireland and the UK. We have currently over 1000 satisfied handheld end-users. Our handheld solutions give measurable efficiencies with fast return on investment.

Handheld Systems – Q&A with Shelflife Magazine by Managing Director, Niall Cannon, October 2009

What level of technological innovation has occurred within the handheld and mobile solutions sector in recent years?

A lot of research and development expenditure by the large handheld manufacturers has resulted in cheaper, more robust and functionally richer devices. The larger players in the market, such as Motorola and Intermec, have made a strategic decision to focus more on the retail sector. Consequently, we are seeing more value and choice in the handheld systems marketplace. 

On the software side we now see the emergence of database systems that were originally developed for the personal computer being made available for use on handhelds. From an application developers perspective, the release of smarter development tools has meant we can create more succinct reusable code. This results in faster application development. All of these elements combine for a faster ROI for end-users.

What innovations on a worldwide level are you most excited about?

The convergence of the handheld and other mobile technologies will bring exciting new opportunities for developers of handheld systems for the retail and distribution sectors.  Bluetooth and other wireless connections to mobile printers make on-demand printing on the shop floor a reality. Stores with a wireless local area network in place can now begin to exploit this infrastructure more with handheld computers.

I see the single most exciting development in handheld hardware being the emergence of handheld devices that combine credit card processing and retail operations into the one small device. These devices will revolutionize self-shopping and queue busting applications as they have the potential to place a fully functional point of sale into the hand of the retailer or indeed the consumer.

What products do you offer retailers within this sector?

We offer retailers the handheld systems to perform all the key store operations. Retailers currently use our MobileData™ handheld software to review store performance, order stock, manage waste, stock take and print shelf edge labels. All of our solutions are bar code driven. We also provide integration of the handheld with key business management applications and accounting systems.

What specific benefits can each product offer retailers?

The MobileData™ order placement application allows retailers to review performance, scan and order at the shelf or in the store room. This compares favorably with the archaic paper based analysis and manual ordering systems used previously. The retailer can choose to smooth their order out over a number of deliveries. All of these types of critical supply chain decisions can be made with our handheld ordering application.

We give the retailer the ability to stock take with ease thereby allowing them to perform faster more accurate stock takes without interrupting trade. The retailer can also choose to continuously monitor high value or perishable items more closely using continuous cyclical counts.

How much will it cost retailers to employ such technologies? Has the cost come down significantly in recent times?

To benefit from the full potential of handheld systems retailers must consider investing in a wireless in-store network. The investment required to carry out a proper site survey and the subsequent implementation of a wireless network are costs that should be borne in mind. As with all technologies the cost of handheld hardware is reducing all of the time – in line with the reduction people see in other computing hardware. The harsh retail environment will always demand that the retailer pays a premium for rugged handheld devices. Some of our so called competitors purporting to offer handheld solutions attempt to keep the specification of the handheld hardware low. They deliver solutions on inferior non-rugged handheld devices. In the long run these devices will break down and need to be replaced. An investment in rugged hardware specifically designed and rated for use in retail stores will pay back in the long term.

Handheld Software – Q&A with Shelflife Magazine by Managing Director, Niall Cannon, October 2009

 

What clients have you supplied these technologies to within the retail sector & what feedback have you received?

We supply handheld software used in Supervalu and Centra stores in Ireland. We also supply handheld software as part of our point of sale applications which are implemented in independent fashion and specialist retailers. We have been supplying handheld software to Irish retailers since 2004 and have built up an end-user base in excess of a thousand. The last end-user survey of our users resulted in very positive feedback. We won a Best Retail Technology Shelflife award for the first version of the MobileData™ ordering application. Since then the user base for our handheld software has trebled in size.

 

How easy is your handheld software for retailers to use - do they require much training?

Anyone with experience of using Windows personal computers and/or a mobile phone can easily make the transition to handhelds. The majority of handhelds now use a mobile derivative of the Windows operating system. All of our applications are created by developers experienced in applications for the retail sector. We use feedback from retailers at all stages ensure that we provide solutions that are easy to use. Our support program ensures that ongoing feedback is taken on board for new releases of our handheld software.

 

How long will it take a small - medium retailer to see a ROI?

This will depend on many factors. There is no straight answer to the question because it will depend what store operations they decide to migrate from the back office personal computers onto a handheld software solution. It also depends on what their initial investment is; keeping capital investment to a minimum will result in a faster return on the initial investment.

To achieve the fastest return on investment a retailer has to have the vision to see what existing store operations can be mobilized and then demand partners like IT Providers give them the solutions, as efficiently as possible! We are a company entirely focused on retail and as such are looking for new opportunities for mobilizing retail workers. However, the most innovative suggestions always come from retailers working at the coal face.

We have been offering our handheld solutions on a pay-per-use and software-as-a-service model for many years. This means that the upfront capital costs are greatly reduced and the retailer pays for the software, service and support on an ongoing monthly basis. This significantly reduces the upfront capital investment required and eases cash flow difficulties. None of these models are delivered with the interference of any third party financial institutions – the agreement is between us and the retailer.