Business Automation

PSK Supermarkets, a 14-unit Mount Vernon, New York-based grocer that operates stores under the Foodtown banner, needs to run at maximum efficiency in order to compete with national rivals and keep food prices low for shoppers Controlling expenses is a big part of PSK’s efforts to ensure optimal operations. To stay on top of finances. the retailer leverages cloud-based Dayforce Human Capital Management (HCM) technology from Ceridian.

Online retail platform eBay Enterprise is entering a new partnership to help its retail users directly serve the needs of customers.

eBay Enterprise is teaming up with OpenSpan Inc., a provider of contact center automation and intelligence technology, to provide solutions designed to automate, simplify and integrate applications to improve the way contact center agents work.

Retail cloud technology deployments have been getting a lot of attention lately. However, the most publicized retail uses of cloud technology tend to be flashy, front-end implementations.

But the cloud is not just suited to running customer-facing systems. Cloud technology can also serve as an ideal platform for back-end systems and functions, such as workforce management, according to Liz Moughan, director, retail and hospitality practice group of workforce management software and services provider Kronos Inc.

Gap Inc. is reportedly steering its store networking strategy away from hardware such as switches and routers.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Gap network architect Snehal Patel told attendees at a recent New York University networking conference that the retailer is transitioning its store network traffic to software-defined routers from Vipeta Inc. The new routers allow Gap to route traffic over the public Internet, maintaining security with encrypted connections.

Paragould, Ark. – Even smaller retailer still have to handle big issues relating to effectively managing workforce management processes. That’s why small-to-mid-sized supermarket chains such as Paragould, Arkansas-based Hays Supermarkets and Brockton, Massachusetts-based Vicente’s Tropical Grocery are relying on the cloud-based Kronos Workforce Ready Suite.

Medina, Minn. - Rockler Woodworking and Hardware has improved store workflow by implementing the ReflexisPlus and StoreWalk for ReflexisPlus task management and retail store auditing solutions. Rockler, which provides woodworking and do-it-yourself supplies, tools, and media implemented the Reflexis store execution and compliance solutions in three weeks in its 29 stores located across the U.S.

Redwood Shores, Calif. – Amazon just obtained a new competitor for its Amazon Web Services cloud hosting and development platform. Oracle is going head-to-head with Amazon with a slew of more than 24 new additions to the Oracle Cloud Platform.

Oracle’s new integrated cloud services include infrastructure, platform and software delivered as a service. Specific cloud-based services include hosted Exadata-based production databases, archive storage, Big Data, enterprise mobility, and application integration.

Jacksonville, Fla. - Regency Centers, a national owner, operator and developer of 321 grocery-anchored retail centers, needed a secure, dedicated platform that would integrate Symantec LiveOffice, Cisco Unity Connection and eMailSignature with its email solution. The company selected Intermedia Private Cloud to integrate and scale its business applications, thus enabling growth.

Colorado Springs, Colo. -- Fuel price management software company PriceAdvantage announced a software integration with P97 Networks’ PetroZone Retail Fuels Module (RFM) powered by Microsoft Dynamics AX modern point-of-sale system (mPOS).

Arlington, Va. -- Data-driven energy management systems provider GridPoint announced that Boddie-Noell Enterprises, the largest Hardee’s franchise operator in the United States, has deployed GridPoint’s state-of-the-art solution at a majority of its 334 restaurants, with plans to deploy to the remaining sites in 2015 and beyond.