Grace, Kennedy's Hi-Lo Food Stores has begun testing its new point-of-sale software system that the company says will bring greater efficiency to a range of its services.

The software, called Retail.net, representing investment of $132 million, is being tested at Hi-Lo's Barbican Square, Kingston supermarket, ahead of its instalment in all 14 stores.

Grace says it will lead to faster checkouts of shoppers, improved in-store pricing and item ticketing, and more reliable product availability.

Hi-Lo says it will run the pilot project for two months, then expand it into a full retail reform programme for all its 14 food stores.

The system forms part of Grace's 'retail-in-real time' infrastructure in which the company will use an integrated retail and financial management software to streamline its widely distributed retail enterprise.

Hardware and Lumber, Rapid and Sheffield, Agro Grace and Medi-Grace are the other non-Hi-Lo retail operations that will benefit.

"Retail.net provides us with a single view of all our operations across Jamaica in Real Time," explains Hi-Lo's managing director, Cameron Bisland. "We can then use that view, and the data we get from it, to develop a retail strategy that will enhance our customer experience."

By incorporating high-end in-store technologies as part of its growth and market consolidation strategy, Hi-Lo stores stand to benefit from the full automation of such core processes as:

* physical inventory and receiving;

* forecasting and replenishment;

* order management and purchasing; and

* pricing and promotions.

Retail.net's full reporting and analytical capabilities and its customer management applications will also simplify back-room operations, helping Hi-Lo's staff to better manage the business.

"We are excited by the introduction of this software," said Richard Humphreys, Grace, Kennedy's manager for information systems. "Our customers can now expect a shopping experience on par with that offered by the finest food retailers in the world."

Hi-Lo Food Stores (Jamaica) Ltd, incorporated 1954, is the third largest chain of Supermarkets in Jamaica. There are 14 stores islandwide, including three not operating under the Hi-Lo banner: SDA Wholesale; The Dome Wholesale and Value Master.

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