National supermarket giant rolls out 1,500 new devices, maximising sustainability and cost efficiencies
National supermarket giant rolls out 1,500 new devices, maximising sustainability and cost efficiencies
The Swiss Coop Group has updated its entire store mobile device estate, reusing key infrastructure and software components to help the company improve supply chain effectiveness.
The national roll out of almost 1,500 Intermec CN50 mobile computer devices to its retail outlets was supported by Zetes autoID Systeme AG.
Managing an essential supply chain tool
The Coop-Genossenschaft, including all its subsidiaries, currently employs approximately 78,000 people. The group has expanded rapidly in recent years: The Coop Group owns supermarkets, warehouses, restaurants, DIY stores, pharmacies, filling stations and convenience stores. The 'co op@home' online shop allows customers to order products from the Coop range for home delivery. Furthermore, it also owns two home entertainment chains, a furniture store, a specialist lighting retailer and perfume and jewellery stores. Since January 2011, the Coop Group has been the sole owner of the Transgourmet Group. As a result of this takeover, Coop now records annual turnover of around CHF 28 billion (£18.7bn).
Since the beginning of the last decade, when SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) was introduced to replace the existing stock management system, the 1,400 or so retail outlets across the country have had high performance handheld hardware, which can be used to access the key functions of the SAP system. Mobile computers are used on-site to check goods in, manage stock and to check the 'ideal stock' – the desired minimum stock levels on the product shelves, so that goods are always available to customers.
Managing the retail device estate
Since 2005, Coop has been using the CN2 mobile computer from Intermec. After more than half a decade of use, Coop decided in the summer of 2010 to add the latest CN50 mobile computers, in addition to over 5,000 CN2 models currently in use to support its sales outlets. Old mobile computers were exchanged for new ones, especially in particularly busy branches and warehouses. But the used devices are still in operation.
Around 500 devices were used as extras in smaller branches, while around 400 CN2 models now make up the device pool at the Coop Setup centre, where they are used as replacement devices. The group takes very seriously the responsibility for sustainability throughout the entire value creation chain, there is no throwaway culture. They even found a clever solution for the old device mounts: The docking stations from partner company Doli Elektronik were altered, while the entire infrastructure behind them was left unchanged.
Updated mobile technology features
The new Intermec CN50 uses 3.75G mobile communications technology and is designed to be small and lightweight with a robust design. A 3.5-inch quarter video graphics display (QVGA) ensures good legibility, even in direct sunlight. And the device is equipped with a Bluetooth v2.1 enhanced data rate (EDR) module, which ensures a secure and reliable connection to headsets, mobile printers and other Bluetooth devices.
The technology ‘solution’ for Coop after a competitive tender process consisted of the new Intermec hardware combined with IT services and skills from Intermec partner, Zetes. "We received a very compelling offer from Zetes," said Beat Pfister, head of worldwide processes and sales at Coop AG and the project manager responsible the store mobile update.
The implementation of the project started with the configuration of the hardware in Coop’s own IT centre in Kloten. A complete replacement of all devices was carried out by Zetes staff in selected Coop branches. And the Coop service centre informed the branches of the imminent replacement in advance. Employees were also provided with brief information on how to use the new devices via the Intranet. "In definitive terms, it was a great advantage to us that these new devices worked in a very similar way, so that branch employees were already very familiar with how they functioned," explained Pfister.
Meeting specific client requirements
To ensure that everything remained the same for the users Zetes used a non-hardware dependent software tool so the same user interface and applications could still be used. A real-time clock had to be added and the manufacturer, Intermec, also made small alterations. The implementation partner also provided a troubleshooting service and, with the final roll out, created an image of the basic requirements to ensure smooth integration and continuing operation of the current system. After the on-site exchange of devices, the new technology was fully usable in each branch after around 30 minutes.
However, after every replacement ‘on the fly,’ Zetes specialists were also available to deal with any questions or problems: as an Intermec repair centre, its teams can quickly replace any damaged hardware. Zetes also liaises between the Coop IT centre and the setup centre and provides a point of contact for both sides that can be on-site rapidly in an emergency thanks to its regional distribution. Pfister concluded: "In addition to the clever bundle of hardware and services, the physical proximity of Zetes was also valuable. What's more, we have also worked successfully with them in the past."
