REDMOND, Wash. — April 11, 2012 — Intelligent systems have become one of the retail and hospitality industry’s most strategic assets, helping retailers respond to changes in the market, drive greater efficiencies in their processes, and provide customers with a shopping experience that is personal, seamless and differentiated. Retailers as diverse as toy companies, cruise lines and grocery stores have embraced the power of intelligent systems to personalize the products and services they provide.
By connecting POS terminals, scanners and other common devices to back-end IT, retail and hospitality companies are using Windows Embedded products, such as Windows Embedded Standard, Windows Embedded POSReady and Windows Embedded Compact, to improve operations and customer service through pervasive business intelligence.
Recently, Nakajima USA, the company behind the popular “Hello Kitty” brand, wanted to replace its outdated retail management solution with an integrated platform to improve customers’ shopping experiences and to generate more business insight. Company executives knew an intelligent system that connected employees with data would help build long-term, profitable customer engagement and loyalty, while also streamlining and maximizing efficiencies across store functions.
Another company, Korail Tour Services, aimed to create a smart and affordable credit card reader for travelers buying refreshments. Using a Windows Embedded solution, the company was able to manage costs while enhancing the system’s payment capabilities, which led to a 10 percent increase in sales.
These and other retail and hospitality companies turned to Microsoft to upgrade their operations. In each case, connecting people, data and systems allowed the companies to deploy innovative solutions and drive business opportunities. Read on to see how companies have boosted customer service while enhancing business intelligence across their organizations.