Modelo Continente Selects Fujitsu's U-Scan; First Portuguese Retailer to Use Self-Checkout; Rapid Integration Cuts Normal Implementation Time by Half
11/15/2005 12:00:02 PM
{The relevant point is in the bottom of the PR}
FRISCO, Texas, Nov 15, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Modelo Continente SGPS, the leading Portuguese retail arm of the Sonae Group, is the first retailer in Portugal to implement a self-checkout system, from Frisco, Texas-based Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc.
Modelo Continente operates a total of 480 stores, including hypermarkets, supermarkets and specialty retail stores in Portugal and Brazil with consolidated gross sales of about 4 billion euros ($4.8 billion USD) as of Dec. 31, 2004.
"Self-checkout will help further differentiate our stores and offer our customers new shopping services and options," said Paulo Magalhaes, chief information officer of Modelo Continente. "We selected Fujitsu's U Scan system because it was the solution that best fit our criteria: functionality, usability, cost and implementation deadline."
In fact, the initial store implementation time was reduced by more than half, due in part to a virtual point-of-sale (VPOS) messaging framework that had previously been created by Fujitsu's U-Scan engineers. The VPOS is a piece of software code that enhances communications between the front-end cash registers and the self-checkout systems, speeding up the integration process. Once the Sonae in-house IT team had embedded the interface into the POS, Fujitsu modified the self-checkout software and the first system was live in the store just 57 days from the point of decision.
"Self-checkout has arrived in Portugal and we expect to see continued growth throughout Europe, Asia and the rest of the world," said Austen Mulinder, president and chief executive officer at Fujitsu Transaction Solutions. "As self-checkout systems continue to grow in global popularity, leading retailers are selecting Fujitsu for its quality U-Scan technology and smooth implementation services."
Magalhaes says the self-checkout systems are currently limited to Modelo Continente's Hypermarkets, but the company is considering expanding to other food and non-food chains under the Modelo Continente umbrella.
About Modelo Continente
Modelo Continente is a subsidiary of the Sonae Group in the retail sector and has a wide range of food and non-food retail chains in Portugal and Brazil. Based in Matosinhos, Portugal, the company is the leading operator in the retail market in Portugal and the fourth largest in the Brazilian retail market with 480 stores and consolidated gross sales of about 4 billion euros ($4.8 billion USD). The company's Portuguese portfolio includes Continente hypermarkets; Modelo mini-hypermarkets; Modelo Bonjour supermarkets; Worten electronics chain; Modalfa clothing and apparel; Maxmat DIY and construction; Sportzone sport equipment and accessories; Vobis computer equipment; Zippy kid stores and Worten Mobile cell phone and mobile computing. Modelo Continente's Brazilian portfolio includes hypermarkets under the brand name BIG; supermarkets under the brand names Nacional and Mercadorama; and non-food retail chains under the names Big Electroelectronico and Hello.
About Fujitsu Transaction Solutions
Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) and the IT "lifecycle solutions" provider for consumer transaction environments. The company creates and manages high availability store environments and collaborates with customers to reduce their costs and improve their profitability. Fujitsu's offerings include multi-vendor lifecycle services, point-of-sale hardware and software, mobile devices, networking solutions and self service systems including U-Scan. Customers include Canadian Tire, Chevron Corporation, Loblaws, Nordstrom, Payless ShoeSource, Regal Cinema, Ross Dress for Less, REI, Staples, Stop & Shop and The TJX Companies, among others. The company also has a 50/50 joint venture with Retalix Ltd. (RTLX) in StoreNext Retail Technologies LLC, the No. 1 supplier of retail technology to independent grocers and regional chains. Web site: www.ftxs.fujitsu.com
Dubi
