UK Retailer Reduces Costs, Improves Customer Service and Reduces Training Times With
Retek Java-Based POS Running on Linux
MINNEAPOLIS — December 1, 2003 -- Retek Inc. (Nasdaq: RETK) today announced that the Retek Point-of-SaleTM (POS) solution has gone live at 280 stores at The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group, a UK retailer specializing in apparel for the over 50’s and tourist markets. The new Retek POS solution replaced a complex legacy point-of-sale system. The Java-based Retek POS solution, running on Linux, has delivered reduced cost of ownership, increased system life and flexibility in the deployment of Customer Preferred Currency (CPC).
“We require a scalable POS solution that can handle our significant spikes in transaction volume, such as when a tour coach stops at one of our destination sites,” said Ed Sansom, Director of IT at The Edinburgh Woollen Mill. “Retek has delivered an efficient solution that is saving us money, time and improving our levels of customer service. Retek’s Customer Preferred Currency is a great feature and benefit for our international clientele.”
Retek POS is an application within the Retek Integrated Store Operations™ (ISO) solution. Retek ISO is a 100% Java architected solution that supports point-of-sale, cash management, store labor management and store inventory management. The Retek ISO applications all share a common object model and core business logic framework and can be deployed individually or in concert. Retek ISO is completely hardware and operating system independent and gives retailers an opportunity to not just remove cost but to change the economics of the store.
The flexibility of Retek POS to run concurrently on a combination of POS hardware systems, IBM SurePOS 300 and old legacy terminals has enabled The Edinburgh Woollen Mill to lower its total cost of ownership.
“The Retek Point-of-Sale solution leads the market with both technical flexibility and unrivalled business functionality,” adds Sansom. “The lower hardware specifications required to run Retek’s Java-based solution on Linux will extend the life cycle of our critical in-store till hardware. By means of central control of our store systems, we are reducing the on-going maintenance and deployment costs. The direct financial benefits of the CPC, credit card costs, suggested sell features and maintenance costs is expected to fund the entire software stack, online credit authorization and Retek POS, in approximately four years. We also anticipate that the Retek POS solution will help us improve the management of our customer loyalty cards, targeted promotions and cross selling opportunities.”
Additionally, Edinburgh Woollen Mills has realized lower training costs through the intuitive use of RPOS. “With Retek Point-of-Sale, it now takes employees about two hours to master the system, whereas the legacy system took approximately 10 hours to learn basic functions,” concludes Sansom.
“We are pleased to announce The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group as Retek’s first customer in Europe to deploy Retek POS,” said Olivier Faugere, general manager of Retek EMEA. “The proven success with Retek POS can be achieved by retailers of all sizes and in all geographies. Retek POS delivers sustainable value with immediate reductions in hardware costs, dramatically reduced ongoing maintenance costs and increased revenue with improved customer service.”
About The Edinburgh Woollen Mills Group
The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group, the market leading retailer in the UK in the supply of natural fibre products to the 50+ market and traditional products in the tourist market with over 280 outlets throughout the UK, ranging from high street shops through specialist theme stores and factory outlet shops to major visitor centres. These outlets offer the customer a wide choice of classic Scottish knitwear, tartans, accessories and comprehensive gift selection; there are also exclusive ranges of garments styled by the Group`s own designers, featuring co-ordinates in pure wool fabrics woven in Scotland, complemented by a wide variety of quality knitwear for men, women and children. The Group also offers ladies` and mens` separates in a wide selection of fabrics, and ranges of casual wear in natural cottons. Outerwear, weatherwear and countrywear are a main feature of the Group`s outlets.
About Retek Inc.
Retek Inc. (Nasdaq:RETK) is the leading provider of mission-critical software and services to the retail industry. Retek solutions integrate collaborative software with patented predictive technologies, consulting services, and the best practices of customers and partners to help retailers create, manage and fulfill consumer demand. Leading global retailers including Tesco, Best Buy, Gap Inc., Sainsbury`s, Eckerd Corp. and Selfridges use Retek solutions. On the net: Retek at http://www.retek.com.
Retek is a trademark of Retek Inc. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made under the Safe Harbor Provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such factors are described from time to time in the company`s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Retek Media Relations Contact:
David Naumann
612-587-2522
david.naumann@retek.com
Retek Investor Relations Contact:
Bob Kleiber
Vice President, Investor Relations
612-587-2398
robert.kleiber@retek.com
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