Large Microsoft Retail Management Implementation

De Bradelei Stores Ltd required a new Electronic Point of Sale system (EPOS) to replace the existing MS DOS based system they were currently running. The new system should be fully Windows based and provide the following key functions:

• Offer support for multiple stores
• Use standard off the shelf hardware
• Provide a easy to use intuitive interface to ease implementation and staff adoption
• Allow for internet based communications between stores
• Deal with stock, reordering, stock control , inter store transfers in a single application
• Offer a intuitive and flexible reporting and analysis options
• Allow for the product to be extended to support 3rd concessionary sales
• Be provided by a manufacture who will be around in years to come

After an extensive search we chose Microsoft Retail Management System (RMS). Once the decision was approved by the client and training courses attended etc we set about planning the initial implementation. This consisted of the following :

• ADSL and VPN connections between stores and head office
• Data migration of approximately 60,000 products from the existing system
• Design of department and category hierarchy
• End user training on Head Office functions
• End user training on Store Manager functions
• Train the trainer training on Point of Sale functions
• Creation of the 1st store (De Bradelei Belper)
• Creation of the initial Head Office database
• Rollout to other stores
• Hardware and software build / setup

Over a two and a half week period we worked side by side with senior staff from De Bradelei to roll out the solution to all four stores connecting each one back to head office before moving on.

In November 2006 a new store (Lutterworth) was added into the solution bringing the number to five stores and some 28 registers / lanes.

Since the initial implementation we have developed several modules to provide additional MIS and reporting information both at the initial point of sale and at headquarters using Microsoft Reporting Services.

All day to day support is now carried out remotely via the internet and recently a new transactional website (Powered by Nitrosell) have been added. This new website integrates fully with MS RMS to provide a complete and customisable web store. Why not see the store in action visit http://www.debradelei.com/store/.