Big opportunity in smaller bar codes

GS1 UK, the independent global supply chain standards and solutions organisation are recommending suppliers and retailers start planning for the 2010 adoption date of the new smaller, GS1 DataBar bar code. The date marks when the bar codes - previously known as 'Reduced Space Symbology'- will start to appear at retail checkouts to save time and improve efficiency. Both Nestlé and Tesco are backing the adoption in the UK.

"We are already having to find more room for additional details on packaging, such as nutritional labelling, allergens, detailed product information, and, in the future, the likelihood of having to record carbon labelling, said Chris Tyas, supply chain director at Nestlé and vice chairman of GS1 UK. "Increasing the available space on products by using smaller symbols such as the GS1 DataBar will help us achieve this."

The GS1 DataBar will enable the identification of small and difficult to code products, such as cosmetics and loose fresh fruits and vegetables, which will help improve check-out speeds and provide more accurate sales data on a greater range of products. GS1 DataBar is also being developed with the option of carrying serial numbers, batch numbers, and expiry dates, all of which will support product authentication and traceability initiatives.

Most modern bar code scanning equipment is able to read the GS1 DataBar, but retailers will need to check their systems for compatibility. Older scanner models, however, may need to be replaced to read the new bar codes.

GS1 UK recommends that retailers take the following steps now to ensure that they are prepared for the introduction of the GS1 DataBar:

• Contact equipment suppliers to ensure scanners and point of sale technology are GS1 DataBar compliant - recent scanners will be.
• Test the scanning equipment - GS1 DataBar sample test cards are available from GS1 UK.
• Don't forget to check electronic point of sale (EPOS) software and systems to ensure that they can present the data from GS1 DataBar to the relevant computer application.

"While larger retailers often have the IT resources available to put a GS1 DataBar readiness programme in place, there is concern that smaller independent retailers might act too late," said Gary Lynch, chief executive of GS1 UK. "There are 40,000 retail outlets in UK, and our role is to help all retailers, large and small, to be ready for the 2010 adoption date."

www.gs1uk.org

McDonald's to put free wi-fi on the menu

McDonald's customers will soon be able to connect to the Internet free of charge in almost 1,200 UK locations following a strategic reorganisation of the restaurant chain's telecoms and ICT services by Aurora Kendrick James (AKJ) and McDonald's internal IS department.

Telecoms Management specialists AKJ who are long term advisors to McDonald's were asked to review the opportunities to deliver free public wi-fi across the company's restaurants.

After a comprehensive review, AKJ and McDonald's formalised a solution that was capable of supporting both corporate and customer requirements within the requested cost constraints.

Based on a new converged network, the solution is able to offer secure, private corporate access as well as free wi-fi for customers, with the potential to deliver a wide range of additional services in the future.

The solution was conceived and developed in partnership between AKJ and the McDonald's IS team who recognised the importance of working with a partner on the roll out of the programme. Following a formal review, wi-fi specialists The Cloud were selected to support the roll out and ongoing management of the free wireless network access. This service will be made available in almost every McDonald's restaurant in the UK.

Darren Burne, UK infrastructure manager at McDonald's, said: "Providing free wi-fi access is seen as an exciting and important innovation for McDonald's. Our partnership with AKJ has allowed us to arrive at a solution that not only meets our wi-fi objectives, but also offers a significant improvement to our corporate communications."

www.akjl.co.uk

Putting the shop into the pocket of consumers

Broadcaster Media have announced the UK availability of its new technology Broadcaster, an interactive mobile software application that delivers catalogues, news, event details and special offers on-demand to mobile phones, BlackBerrys and smart phones.

Broadcaster Media, a division of Australian IT firm Absolute Data Group, has developed a java-driven mobile phone application that connects on demand via GPRS to an online fulfilment and subscriber management system.

Broadcaster provides the consumer with a low cost, real time service that isn't restricted by an individuals' mobile provider's portal.

Broadcaster Media's CEO Tammy Halter commented, "What's unique about Broadcaster is that, for the first time, consumers won't have to rely on website links or a permanent connection to WAP in order to access their favourite brands from their mobile".

"Companies are learning what it takes to gain customers and the need for multi channel marketing. But multi channel marketing is just the beginning. Today's consumer is sophisticated, experienced and content hungry. They expect to use multiple channels for purchasing."

"The challenge for companies is to deliver relevant, personalised content at a time when buying impulses are high, Ms Halter said"

Aimed at large lifestyle brands wanting to create a loyal fan club of consumers, Broadcaster enables companies to engage one-on-one with consumers, receive qualified, dedicated marketing leads, and respond to customer-driven requests, 24/7.

"It's also consumer-driven, low cost and user-paid marketing, and an extremely cost-effective way to connect to consumers. Ultimately, it puts the shop into the pocket of consumers, all day, every day," said Ms Halter.

www.broadcastermedia.com

French catalogue and online retailer to deploy supply chain solution

Manhattan Associates, have announced that 3 Suisses France has selected their supply chain platform to modernise its French and international multi-channel fulfilment operation. The Manhattan Associates solution will be deployed at 3 Suisses France's five distribution centres located in Croix, Northern France. The solution implementation will be jointly led by Manhattan Associates and SI3SI, the IT services subsidiary of 3 Suisses International (3SI) Group's Textile and Household Goods Division.

3 Suisses France has become one of France's leaders in multi-channel distance selling, offering a wide range of goods including clothing, cosmetics, household items, audio visual equipment, computer and office supplies and financial products, which can be bought via the internet, by mail-order or over the phone.

Each year, 3 Suisses France delivers more than 17 million consignments to its customers, representing a total of more than 60 million individual items. With a presence on the Internet since 2000, the multi-channel retailer now generates 30% of its revenue through this channel. Their supply chain is characterised by a round-the-clock distribution operation that is supported by 20 regional distribution hubs from where goods are delivered either directly to customers' homes or to a network of 3,500 'Relay Points' (in-store collection points found in convenience stores throughout France).

3 Suisses France had previously used a proprietary supply chain system, developed by SI3SI. Despite being very stable and reliable, the system became too difficult to maintain and develop. 3 Suisses France consequently decided to adopt a third party solution that could both manage its supply chain operation and support its overall business objectives.

"Manhattan Associates' supply chain platform is a highly configurable solution and so they could deliver exactly what we were looking for," comments Jean-Luc Vandenbussche, logistics manager at 3 Suisses France. "We were also swayed by the level of expertise, experience and professionalism demonstrated by the Manhattan Associates team during the selection process. We felt that the Manhattan Associates' solution, approach, and staff, combined with the project management expertise of our own IT services subsidiary, would give us an extremely high level of confidence in delivering a successful project that would help us achieve our over-riding objective of enhancing our customers' service experience."

www.manh.com