The Publication For The Grocery Trade

BCP helps SPAR introduce self-checkout, ESELs and sophisticated deals

SPAR Dundonald, a six lane forecourt store in Northern Ireland, owned and serviced by the Henderson Group, has gone live with Electronic Shelf Edge Labels, Self-Checkout and an improved Deals offering, giving it one of the most advanced convenience store solutions in the UK. Self-checkout offers customers a fast and convenient checkout option. Quick and easy to operate, it can be used by any customer, but is ideal for those who are in a hurry or buying only a few items. Customers simply go to one of the special self-checkout stations, scan the goods they are buying, pay by cash, credit or debit card and receive a printed receipt. Each item is automatically weighed as the customer bags it and compared to the scanned purchase to minimise the risk of theft and maximise security. Electronic Shelf Edge Labelling (ESEL) ensures shelf prices are always up to date, and delivers paper and labour savings plus flexibility in pricing to optimise sales and revenue. All products at Spar Dundonald now use ESEL. The new advanced SPARPOS Deals Engine is able to handle multiple competing deals containing the same products. On each scan, it re-evaluates all possible deals that can be made up from the basket to ensure the customer gets the best deal available. The software driving these enhancements has been developed by SPAR's long term IT partner BCP (Business Computer Projects Ltd) in the latest version of its SPARPOS software. Behind the scenes, this software contains a completely revamped method of communications between till and back office and allows for mixed HYDRAPOS (fuel) tills and SPARPOS tills on the same site. Neil Granleese, IT Manager at the Henderson Group, says: "We are continuing to drive forward new ways of improving the customer experience in our stores and believe self-checkout offers the convenience shopper a quick, easy and relaxing way of shopping. In addition, the new Deals offering is a market leader and ensures our customers will always get the best value for their money." The Dundonald store is piloting the new technology which, if successful, will be implemented in other stores in the Henderson group and, potentially, to stores across the whole UK SPAR estate. Roy Ford, SPAR IT Controller, says: "Self-checkout is not just for larger stores. We believe that many smaller express type stores could benefit from it, using it to smooth the peaks at lunch time or any other busy period within the store." Indications are good to date, with some 20% of sales, on average, already going through the two Wincor Nixdorf self-checkout tills at SPAR Dundonald. Business Computer Projects Ltd Pauline Higgs Tel: 0161 355 3000 www.bcpsoftware.com