28
INTELLIGENTRETAILER
SAVE 30% ON WHO ARE THE
LIGHTING BILLS
INTELLIGENT RETAILERS?
C
all it ‘intelligence,’ ‘savvy’ or ‘nouse,’ but identi� cation (RFID) and mobile identi� cation
whatever it is, those retailers that have or tracking of consumers, an explosion of data
it will do better than those do not and importantly a need to harness it into useful
during dif� cult trading ahead. This is because insight appears inevitable.”
these are the retailers who have � gured But intelligent retailers must also have agile
out how to harness technology and all that enough systems to react to those external
transaction and customer data residing in their in� uences Roberts recognised were just as
systems to gain a competitive advantage. important drivers as innovation.
To Siôn Roberts, European director of Jon Pyke, managing director of business
consumer industries and retail at systems process management (BPM) software vendor,
integrator EDS, retail has always been an Cordys UK focused on the need to optimise
information hungry industry. “The fast the use of technology to improve their business
Retail outlets could be missing out on responsive nature that is characteristic of margins and performance at a time when fuel
savings of up to 30% of lighting costs successful retailers also demands that access and energy prices are high.
according to the Carbon Trust, with the to information is very fast; in some cases Pyke added: “Through research and the
potential for simple lighting ef� ciency instantaneous, as retailers strive to react to successful deployment of BPM, logistics
initiatives to have a dramatic impact on the actions of competitors and other external operations can make substantial improvements
energy bills. in� uences,” he said. in competitiveness by increasing their
To help retail businesses take In this year’s Intelligent Retailer feature, Retail operational ef� ciency and responsiveness to
advantage of these savings, the free Technology aims to highlight the variety of ways the constantly changing market.”
Display Lighting Technology Guide is retailer’s are putting their IT to work more, well, But it is not only process agility that will
designed to offer advice and tips on how ‘intelligently’. “Indeed,” Roberts added, “as we help retailers rise out the tough times, as the
retailers can reduce energy costs, while look to where new technologies are emerging, examples of energy ef� ciency, web innovation
cutting carbon in the process. such as cost effective item-level radio frequency and business intelligence (BI) that follow prove.
The guide, which is particularly
relevant for the retail sector, highlights
opportunities to reduce energy use WEB MIRROR IS RIGHT
through lighting, without losing the
visual impact that is so important to
FIT FOR SPECSAVERS
driving sales in a retail environment. Specsavers recently launched
By implementing no-cost and low- ‘digital mirror’ technology on its Specsavers.
cost energy saving measures, such as
co.uk website.
upgrading to energy ef� cient light bulbs
It’s success, based on development designed
or making use of natural lighting, retailers
to allow easy and rapid translation into multiple
can not only save money and reduce
languages to support Specsavers aggressive
market expansion, will now see the functionality
carbon emissions, but also comply with
rolled out other operating countries.
relevant legislation such as Part L of
Mark Trustum, Specsavers acting
building regulations.
e-commerce director told Retail Technology
Hugh Jones, The Carbon Trust solutions
that technology was part of a bigger online
director said: “Retailers are increasingly
development project to enable customers to
under pressure to demonstrate their buy frames and glasses online.
environmental credentials to carbon- The digital mirror application, developed
conscious customers and staff. Increasing
with Chichester-based specialist technical web
the ef� ciency of display lighting offers the
development agency Unipro, allows visitors to
perfect opportunity to both save money
upload a photograph of themselves and try on the full range of spectacles available at Specsavers.
and reduce carbon. The Carbon Trust’s
“The prototype was well received, so we didn’t have to make many changes,” said
Trustum. “The challenge was the multichannel development of the site, like making sure it
technology guide is another tool that
integrated to our warehouse systems.”
can be easily incorporated into a simple
But he added: “Now, as of up to the end of September, 25% of visitor traf� c was using
energy management programme.”
the digital mirror and it’s our feeling that it’s a great way of promoting the brand by making
The Carbon Trust is urging retail outlets
the whole buying experience as easy as possible.”
to download the publication free at
Nigel Dufty, Specsavers IT director added: “Feeling is that we’re ahead of the rest and
www.carbontrust.co.uk/publications. so we’re looking to develop the functionality further.”
RETAIL TECHNOLOGY NOVEMBER 2008
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