25/01/2010
By Scott Thompson
The Co-operative Group is launching a drive to sell its EPoS and store management system, developed in-house, to other retailers.
The system, InControl-Evolution, was created by the Group's software development team and is operational in 3,000 stores around the UK, including food and pharmacy branches. The programme led to the Food Retail Information Services team becoming the winner of the inaugural Environmental Initiative of the Year prize at the 2008 Retail Systems Awards.
The plan to go to market is a first for the Group. The system enables users to mix and match a range of applications including stock control, shelf replenishment and mobile terminals that allow back office tasks to be carried out remotely. A dedicated website - http://www.incontrol-evolution.com/ - has been created, which enables potential customers to find out more about what the system has to offer, and allows the applications to be selected and downloaded, so that end-users can cherry-pick programmes.
Ian Dyson, director of information services at The Co-operative, says: "We are extremely proud of our InControl-Evolution system and in particular the benefits that have been leveraged from its utilisation within our businesses through improved control, management information and scalability. There is a professional and dedicated software development team underpinning the success of the product that is focussed on maintaining and developing InControl-Evolution and associated solutions."
