STAPLES Business Depot Makes Bigger RFID Commitment
14 January, 2008
category: RFID
STAPLES Business Depot will equip four additional stores with AbsoluteSKY’s intelliTRACKER Product Suite in early 2008.
According to a news release dispatched this morning, STAPLES’ decision follows a highly successful installation of the automated, long-range inventory tracking system by the Fujitsu/AbsoluteSKY team in May 2007.
“The results have been so impressive that we want to validate that they can be replicated throughout the chain,”said Joe Soares, the director of process engineering for Staples Canada and Business Depot.
Founded in Toronto in 1991, STAPLES Business Depot Ltd., is a supplier of office supplies, business machines, office furniture and business services for the small business and home office customer.
STAPLES Business Depot Commits to Next Phase of AbsoluteSKY’s RFID Inventory Tracking System from Fujitsu
TORONTO, Jan 14, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) – Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. has received an order from STAPLES Business Depot to equip four additional stores with AbsoluteSKY’s intelliTRACKER Product Suite in early 2008.
STAPLES’ decision follows a highly successful installation of the automated, long-range inventory tracking system by the Fujitsu/AbsoluteSKY team in May 2007 that has continued to reliably produce significant results.
“We tested the system on 1,500 SKUs in one store and we are expanding the project to additional stores,” said Joe Soares, the director of process engineering for Staples Canada and Business Depot. “The results have been so impressive that we want to validate that they can be replicated throughout the chain.”
Mr. Soares added that the intelliTRACKER(TM) system continuously delivered a 100 percent accurate read-rate and delivered a 21 percent reduction in out-of-stocks for the items that were tracked in a solid closed-loop. His team also concluded that the cost-per-use of the reusable RFID-enabled intelliTAGs(TM) over a five-year lifespan was barely eight cents.
Fujitsu and AbsoluteSKY formed their strategic relationship during 2006 to attack the ever-elusive goal of retailers of “getting the right product, to the right place, at the right time.” The feature-rich intelliTRACKER(TM) Product Suite, introduced in 2007, accurately tracks inventory to the item level in real-time while providing an extensive range of customer benefits that includes: increased inventory turns, virtual elimination of missed sales as a result of out-of-stocks and extensive control over loss prevention.
“This project has accomplished everything we set out to do,” remarked Peter Sciberras, general manager and vice president of sales, Canada, Fujitsu Transaction Solutions. “The system met all the performance markers for our customer and did so against a very compelling ROI. STAPLES commitment to expand its RFID project demonstrates the value of RFID technology for the retail industry.”
“We’ve been exceptionally fortunate to work with such an innovative retailer as STAPLES in introducing our solution and are truly excited at what lies ahead for all involved,” added John Frabasile, president and CEO of AbsoluteSKY.
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 (R) Business Depot(TM) and BUREAU EN GROS(TM). The company has over 13,500 employees serving customers through more than 280 office superstores, catalogue, and e-commerce. STAPLES (R) Business Depot(TM)/BUREAU EN GROS(TM) is committed to making shopping easy by offering customers three ways to shop – online, by catalogue and in-store. More information is available at www.staples.ca.
About Staples
Staples, Inc. invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and today is the world’s largest office products company. With 74,000 talented associates, the company is committed to making it easy to buy a wide range of office products, including supplies, technology, furniture, and business services.
With 2006 sales of $18.2 billion, Staples serves consumers and businesses ranging from home-based businesses to Fortune 500 companies in 22 countries throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia. Headquartered outside of Boston, Staples operates more than 1,900 office superstores and also serves its customers through mail order catalog, e-commerce and contract businesses. More information is available at www.staples.com.
About AbsoluteSKY, Inc.
AbsoluteSKY, Inc. (OTC: ABSY | news | PowerRating | PR Charts ) 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 visit: 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 Retailing(TM) 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, 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.
EDITOR’S NOTE: For sales and product information call 1-800-340-4425.
SOURCE: Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc.