This article, written by Alan Morris, outlines how Archean, our stock management system, seamlessly integrates alongside a retailer’s legacy technology, rather than disrupting it.
A decade or so ago, retailers typically processed their sales overnight, leaving stock information inaccurate throughout the day. Shoppers couldn’t rely on accurate stock availability, leading to frustration with services such as Store Fulfilment and Click and Collect. As the demand for seamless omnichannel experiences grew, retailers had to make tough decisions about upgrading or replacing their outdated systems.
Many retailers opted for the ERP route. On the surface, it might seem easy to implement an ERP system across the board, but replacing legacy setups with a new ERP solution is a monumental, risky and costly endeavour. We’ve all heard stories of businesses wasting millions and even collapsing due to ERP implementation gone wrong.
One critical aspect of any major transformation is how to seamlessly integrate new elements into existing technology frameworks. It’s understandable; retailers have established routines, and it doesn’t make sense to complicate them unless the benefits outweigh the risks.
This is where our clients find comfort when deploying our stock management system, Archean. By processing transactions in real time, Archean allows legacy systems to provide a constant, up-to-date view of stock and stock-related transactions, all in one place. Instead of disrupting a retailer’s current infrastructure, Archean adds an ‘enhancement layer’ to offer a real-time view of stock while managing disruptions and enhancing visibility. It meets the need of legacy systems and facilitates the swift implementation of new solutions and services.
Stock isn’t just a single number; it exists in various states, and not all are available to sell. Archean is highly adaptable in how it defines stock states, transactions, and their impact on stock states, making it suitable for addressing various business challenges.
In its initial deployment, Crew Clothing utilised Archean stock management system to optimise their stock segmentation and enhance distribution centre efficiency. In October 2023, Archean became the primary point of visibility and stock transaction management for stores, creating a single, accurate view of stock.
The key to Archean’s success is its flexibility. To explore our innovative stock management system further, please don’t hesitate to reach out or schedule a call by emailing archean@retail247.com.
Or to sum up this blogpost in the words of our CEO, “Retailers often have pretty crap systems, it costs shed loads to replace them and Archean can make things better.”
