Carpetright re-signs store IT contract with Fujitsu

This article is brought to you by Retail Technology Review: Carpetright re-signs store IT contract with Fujitsu.

Carpetright plc, the European specialist carpet and floor covering retailer, has extended its partnership with Fujitsu for three years for the ongoing support, maintenance and supply of IT for its 586 stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland. The contract follows Fujitsu being awarded the original contract in 2005 for the supply, install and maintenance of the in-store hardware, working in partnership with a leading supplier of Microsoft-based in-store solutions for POS. The full rollout was completed in 18 months, with 20 stores per week being brought onto the new IT system at the height of the deployment. The extended relationship continues the high service levels while delivering a flexible agreement with 22% cost savings through the use of Fujitsu's Lean and Sense & Respond methodologies.

The original system deployed in 2005 moved the Carpetright business on from a largely manual and heavy administrative ordering and stock control system to one where there is complete store and central visibility of stock and ordering at any point in the process. This has not only enabled the stores to become more efficient in how they run, but has also significantly improved the overall customer experience.

The system in place has been designed so that it can enable the smooth addition of store applications at any point in time such as timesheet and expense systems.

Commenting on the relationship and new contract award, Ian Woosey, group IT and e-commerce director at Carpetright, said: "The last six years have marked a significant change in the way the company operates day to day in store and with customers. The overhaul of the store IT system has brought the business bang up to date and has meant a much more efficient and streamlined operating model something that was critical as the company made key acquisitions, such as Sleepright, to expand the business.

Ian Woosey continued: "Throughout the last six years Fujitsu has shown its experience, professionalism and flexibility in being able to respond to the fast paced and hugely pressured retail environment in which we operate. We look forward to continuing to work with them."

Gavin Bounds, managing director, business operations, Fujitsu UK & Ireland, added: "The project to transform and support Carpetright's store IT has been an exciting one over the last few years.  The retail environment has its own challenges in terms of minimising store downtime whilst avoiding key trading periods.  The next few years isn't simply about maintaining the organisation's IT, but also about working together to identify new technologies that can ensure that Carpetright stays at the forefront of retail IT in the future."