Tripp Ecommerce Web Design
Interim IT/MIS consultancy, Ecommerce Web design and network multimedia delivery.
Background
Tripp Ltd has evolved from the Equator group - a well established luggage manufacturer and retailer. Tripp was already committed to an ambitious rollout of PC based till systems to all (80+) of its Debenhams in-store franchises. This was linked via an overnight dialup to the daily sales data provided by the Debenhams MIS via EDI to the in-store stock management systems, allowing Tripp to replenish its stores daily via automated stock profiling. The deliveries electronically processed and handled directly via its logistics partner Exel.
Brief
However, management was not satisfied with the end of day modem dial-up operation that, at best, delivered only a 60-90% success rate of stores contacted and updated on the overnight "polling" basis. They commissioned a study to improve this even further, with a demand that the proposed solution had a clear, rapid and workable ROI.
Iconography were involved early in this process and worked in close co-operation with the Tripp MIS team to develop a professional database driven website design that combined the benefits of broadband, the flexibility of the Internet and the linking of diverse data sources.
Solution
The principle of "one source" of data was the foundation. Each data element was mapped to its origin and a matrix of databases, housed on servers at Tripp and partner locations, was linked via the Internet and other secure routes. The usage and reporting of all data was then mapped back to the databases and appropriate routines were written to interrogate and update this information.
Stage one will see each Debenhams based store connected 24 X 7 to a broadband based WAN, delivering the following immediate benefits:
- Continuous access to HO stock systems for updates and reporting ( no dial up)
- New PC hardware that will support interactive multimedia, better security and other enhanced functions (high reliability pc's means new hardware and support will cost the same per annum as just the maintenance of existing units)
- Real-time e-mail to/from stores (better, faster communications at lower cost)
- Fixed cost per annum (AND at a lower cost than existing charge per minute dial-up costs)
- Ability to add VOIP (Voice over IP calls to stores with no additional running costs)
Stage two has seen the roll out of updated stock and management software based on an IE browser interface - in fact the store sees all applications converging onto a browser based desktop - Tripp have also deployed:
Access to the Tripp transactional website, this will enable staff to help customers pay for bulky or out of stock items and process home delivery instructions that will be entered directly into the Exel Logistics systems - normally for delivery the next day. Wireless networks to stores with VIP (Video Interactive Posters) allowing point of sale information and images to be transmitted instantly from The HO merchandising team to the stores retail displays (which can be LCD, plasma, data projection or touch screen) via the WAN, with the flexibility to update individual, a group or all of the displays with a variety of compelling marketing messages.
For example; it is possible to link the stock systems to sales adverts alerting customers that "only (10) left in stock at this offer price" was accurate and is adjusted automatically with every sale!
The benefits the improved systems have bought include:
- Faster and better communications within the Tripp organisation
- Improved ecommerce shopping cart software
- An improved customer service with increased efficiency and sales handling
- Marketing and promotional offers delivered to stores without the usual print run delays
- Capped and predictable costs, with the benefit of "free" internal calls via VOIP
- A secure and flexible data communications infrastructure that will facilitate further enhancements without major cost.
