Staples Business Depot Completes RFID Inventory Tracking Pilot Expands To Additional Stores
Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. recently announced that Staples Business Depot will install additional stores with AbsoluteSKY's (OTC: ABSY) intelliTRACKER™ inventory tracking system. The announcement comes on the heels of strong results from an initial five-store pilot of the system.
During the pilot, the intelliTRACKER system proved more accurate than physical counts, and shrinkage for the tagged inventory was eradicated. The system also allowed for quick balancing of Staples' master inventory system, while becoming a critical tool for locating merchandise.
"Results from the five-store pilot confirm the positive outcomes we witnessed during our proof-of-concept phase," said Joe Soares, director of process engineering at Staples Business Depot. "Supported by broader data collection and intense scrutiny, we again experienced 100 percent inventory accuracy, reduced shrink, and increased sales and reduced store labor costs – all against an extremely compelling ROI."
Working with Fujitsu, Staples Business Depot, Canada's largest supplier of office supplies, deployed AbsoluteSKY's real-time, long range inventory tracking system in five stores in early 2008. The business relationship began with a proof-of-concept test in early 2007.
"Staples has seen how the intelliTRACKER system can significantly benefit their business plan, and has asked us to help them press forward with this strategic initiative," said Peter Sciberras, general manager and vice president of sales, Canada, for Fujitsu Transaction Solutions. "The pilot results are conclusive and encouraging, and we're excited to roll this system out to additional locations."
Fujitsu and AbsoluteSKY formed their strategic relationship in 2006 to help retailers get the right product, to the right place, at the right time. The intelliTRACKER system uses radio frequency identification (RFID) to accurately track inventory to the item level in real-time, while providing an extensive range of customer benefits that includes increased inventory turns; elimination of missed sales as a result of out-of-stocks; reduction of in store operating costs; and extensive control over loss prevention.
About STAPLES Business Depot
Founded in Toronto in 1991, The Business Depot Ltd. is Canada's largest supplier of office supplies, business machines, office furniture and business services for the small business and home office customer. The company is an everyday low price retailer. The chain operates stores in all provinces across Canada under the banners STAPLES® Business Depot™ and Bureau en GrosMC with over 13,500 employees serving customers through 300 office superstores, catalogue, and e-commerce. STAPLES® Business Depot™/Bureau en GrosMC is committed to making shopping easy by offering customers three ways to shop: online, by catalogue and in-store. STAPLES Business Depot was recently ranked number one by the 2008 Marketing/Leger Corporate reputation survey. More information is available at www.staples.ca.
About Staples
Staples, the world's largest office products company, is committed to making it easy for customers to buy a wide range of office products, including supplies, technology, furniture, and business services. With $27 billion in sales, Staples serves businesses of all sizes and consumers in 27 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. In July 2008, Staples acquired Corporate Express, one of the world's leading suppliers of office products to businesses and institutions. Staples invented the office superstore concept in 1986, and is headquartered outside Boston. More information about Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com.
About AbsoluteSKY, Inc.
AbsoluteSKY, Inc. (OTC: ABSY) specializes in the design, development and implementation of the intelliTRACKER Product Suite that provides real-time, long-range, item-level inventory tracking for retail customers. Based in Montreal, Canada, the Company's business model combines strategic, creative and technical skills to deliver end-to-end RFID-enabled solutions that help its clients achieve their business objectives through the use of AbsoluteSKY's breakthrough technology and extensive knowledge of their business operations.
For more information, please see: www.absoluteSKY.ca
About Fujitsu Transaction Solutions
Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702), collaborates with retailing companies to relentlessly reduce their costs and facilitate consumer interactions that improve their profitability. Fujitsu's Pervasive RetailingTM approach enables companies to minimize the time; cost and risk of creating interoperability between disparate applications and devices that support a multitude of consumer touch points. Fujitsu's offering includes solution software, point-of-sale store technology, U-Scan® self-checkout systems, U-Serv® self-ordering systems and multi-vendor lifecycle services. Customers include Canadian Tire, Chevron Corporation, Hallmark, H-E-B, Kroger, Loblaws, Nordstrom, Payless ShoeSource, Regal Cinema, Staples, Stop & Shop and The TJX Companies, among others. Web site: us.fujitsu.com/retailing.
SOURCE: Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc.