Success Story

WELCH ALLYN IS A PERFECT FIT FOR CLARKS SHOES

In recent years, the use of barcode scanners has revolutionized many activities within the supply chain - particularly in areas such as distribution, logistics, warehousing and many retail Point Of Sale (POS) applications. One company which relies heavily on scanners is Clarks, the UK based shoe retailer and manufacturer which has established a worldwide reputation for quality.

Clarks has been using scanners in its stores since 1988. In 1998, the company changed its keyboards - into which its original scanners were plugged. This led to a decision to search for more sophisticated scanners. A team from the company therefore began a thorough evaluation of the different products available.

Alistair Smith, Store Systems Project Manager for Clarks International, explains: "We were looking for scanners that were tough, durable, programmable, versatile and reliable, with standard connectors and from a company with an established client base."

He continues: "After we had put the entire hardware contract out to tender, we received six responses, all of which proposed Welch Allyn scanners - with five of them being the same model! We were also impressed by the company's products when we saw them at the Retail Solutions exhibition. As Welch Allyn met all of our criteria - including an impressive floor drop test to demonstrate durability - we opted for its SCANTEAMTM 3400 HD scanners for all of our stores."

Welch Allyn UK is based in Warrington, and is the Data Collection Division of Welch Allyn Incorporated. The company is a leading data capture specialist, and offers a comprehensive suite of automatic identification input devices, peripherals and decoders.

Welch Allyn˜s SCANTEAM 3400HD is a hand-held CCD (charge coupled device) scanner, designed specifically to read high density bar codes at short distances - although a long range version is also available. Welch Allyn offers both non-decoded and decode output versions, with interfaces for over a hundred PCs and terminals. The unit can be used in full sunlight, and can read extra long bar codes with ease.

Clarks opted for the Welch Allyn units in early 1998. Alistair Smith comments: "The implementation has proceeded very well so far, due to the easy configurability of the scanners. This has enabled us to test a range of different set-ups until we found the one which best suited our needs. We were even able to change this set-up a few months later, when our requirements changed."

The new scanners are used on the shop floor to capture product details from shoe boxes at the point of sale. This information is used for checking prices; accurate product number entry; stock replenishment; management and sales reporting; and planning. The units are also used in the stock room for processing goods inwards and outwards, to enable the company to maintain an accurate stock database.

The information from the scanners is captured by an in-store system, and is then transferred across a Wide Area Network to Clarks' Data Centre in Bristol. Clarks' current systems are bespoke, but are now being replaced with leading package-based solutions.

"The scanners save a considerable amount of time and trouble, and provide us with the accuracy we need, as well as a host of useful and detailed information," says Alistair Smith. "Two of our key criteria were durability and versatility. The units have to be rugged because they can often receive some very rough treatment in the shops.

"They have to be versatile because we may need to alter the scanning speed, or enable check digit features to ensure that the correct number has been captured. We may also need to send special characters before every scan to allow the software applications to accept or reject the scan, depending on the screen being used. All of this requires programming, which is ridiculously easy with the SCANTEAM 3400HD."

A total of over 7,000 employees will be using the scanners when they have all been installed. So far, there have been no comments - and Alistair Smith remarks, "If the users don't mention the scanners, that means that we have got something right!"

He adds: "There is little doubt that these are the best scanners available. At Clarks, we believe in a 'best of breed' approach to all of our choices of hardware and software, rather than choosing one overall systems integrator. Although this can sometimes prove difficult, it is well worth the effort, as the stores receive the maximum benefit from this approach."

With the continuing and remorseless pressure that companies face to produce 'results', fast, reliable and accurate information is vital. It seems that with the new Welch Allyn scanners, Clarks have once again found the 'perfect fit'!

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