Toshiba scoops EPOS Innovation of the Year with Thorntons project

2 November 2009 - Toshiba and Thorntons have won the EPOS innovation of the year at the 2009 Retail Systems Awards. The project that saw 1,000 Toshiba ST-A10 TouchPOS tills installed in nearly 400 Thorntons stores, beat off competition from a strong shortlist including Asda and Tesco.

Roll-out of the Toshiba ST-A10 TouchPOS to Thorntons stores commenced in September 2008, with all stores completed by the end of October 2008 in time for the Christmas rush. Toshiba’s in-house installation team worked 7 days a week, installing 10-12 stores per day to ensure completion within the project timescales. All of Thorntons initial objectives were met, with selected transaction times improving by 67%, against a target benchmark of 44%. Steve Harris, Head of IT at Thorntons commented: “We were impressed with the Toshiba team and their ‘can do’ attitude to the project.”

Jim McLauchlan, Programme Manager for Thorntons, commented on the implementation phase, ‘Toshiba’s professional installation team, seamlessly completed the project, without disruption to trading in the stores. The tills were built, installed, and staff trained before each of the stores opened at 10am’. Toshiba’s team worked days, nights and weekends to achieve our timescales.’

“We are delighted to win EPOS innovation of the year,” said Peter Dodd, Retail Sales Senior Manager, Toshiba. “The Thorntons project is a perfect demonstration of how our professional installation team can work with customers to deliver on-time, cost-effective, quality EPOS solutions whilst also allowing for further business developments and innovations.”

Thorntons have been using the solution now for 10 months and as well as the cash transaction times improving by 67%, the chip and pin transaction times have improved by 56%. Customers and staff provided feedback that queues were shorter and moved faster than the previous year.

Toshiba won this award, for fully meeting the needs and requirements of Thorntons EPOS project, and exceeding Thorntons expectations in-terms of Delivery, Quality, Cost and team-work. Whilst also providing a future proofed solution to allow for further business developments and innovations, for example, the Toshiba TRST-A15 printer, for dual sided receipt printing (ideal for promotional marketing).

Steve Harris concluded, ‘A solution designed by ‘retail’ for ‘retail’, delivered on time and under budget.’

About TOSHIBA TEC Europe

TOSHIBA TEC Europe (TERIS) manages product planning, marketing, sales, service support and distribution of point of sale systems, cash registers, scales, barcode printers, peripherals and software information systems throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. As a total solution provider, TOSHIBA TEC Europe offers a complete package from consulting and system design to system installation, operation and maintenance.
Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium TERIS has three divisions: the Retail division; the Auto ID & Printing division and the Services division.
TOSHIBA TEC is an independent operating company of Toshiba Corporation, a world leader and innovator in pioneering high technology, a diversified manufacturer and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products spanning information & communications systems; digital consumer products; electronic devices and components; power systems, including nuclear energy; industrial and social infrastructure systems; and home appliances.
Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 730 companies, with 199,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing US$67 billion.
For more information on TOSHIBA TEC point of sale systems, cash registers, scales, barcode printers, peripherals and software information systems, or for a dealer in your area, call +44 (0)870 890 7200 or visit the TERIS web site at www.toshibatec-eu.co.uk.

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