Many retailers are leveraging information technology to address the competition, shrinking margins, and push for larger shares of the consumer's pocketbook. Most of these technologies and applications require better communications with the stores, either because they are consumer facing or they require faster access to more data. Most retailers also have an existing investment in site connectivity that has evolved incrementally with the individual needs of the applications. Investing in site connectivity upgrades must be well planned out, from a financial, architectural, integration, migration, and support perspective.

With this in mind, W. Capra offers Retail Site Connectivity Selection and Implementation (CSI) services. CSI helps retailers assess their connectivity needs and current solutions and deploy extendable solutions required to meet the needs of current and future applications. It could help to expedite the planned deployment of site connectivity that will enable new applications or it could bring focus to a hodgepodge collection of site connectivity that has incrementally grown with each new application or device.

CSI is an assessment and delivery methodology targeted at retailing operations. This methodology has been used at many clients and has been proven to assist customers in reducing ongoing operational costs for site connectivity and with successful and rapid implementations of site connectivity solutions.

Robust integration requires knowledge of business requirements and processes, technologies, vendors and best practices. W. Capra's consultants have extensive experience in creating congruent systems.

A successful implementation can be measured by delivering the solution on time, within budget, and meeting defined organizational critical success factors.

CSI Implementation Phases
The CSI process combines methodology and techniques to produce deliverables and results. There are six logical steps to the process and the service may begin or focus on any of these steps depending on the retailer's needs.

Assessment
This phase can have considerable value just by itself. Because connectivity solutions have typically evolved over time, there are frequently opportunities to consolidate services and reduce costs or optimize services that may be underutilized. Since technologies and rate structures have changed so much, a quick analysis of the existing services and cost structures could result in considerable savings with minimal investment.

Barriers to implementing new applications will be identified. Performance and operational support implications of expanding services using the existing connectivity infrastructure will be presented. Options for moving forward will be documented.

Project Initiation
Translate the business strategy into an over-arching site connectivity plan. Align with the business strategy and plans by confirming and prioritizing requirements. Define scope and any business, financial, architecture or channel-of-trade constraints. Define vendor strategy. Establish project management procedures and define project critical success factors.

Architecture and Design
Develop or confirm architecture for site connectivity, in-store processing, wide area network integration, inter/intranet access, and security. Complete high-level design of network based on application and operational requirements.

Selection of Connectivity
Use appropriate sourcing process to identify possible vendors, execute RFI/RFP process, participate in negotiations, and select vendor(s). Ensure that appropriate service level agreements (SLAs) are defined and agreed to.

Integrate and Test
Integrate connectivity solutions with store systems, back office systems, payment processor, web-based applications and any other applications that will use the connectivity. Design and execute integration tests that cover the normal and exceptional operating conditions. This will include stress situations due to high volume and due to recovery from outages.

Deployment
Design and implement operational support processes considering integration with existing Help Desk and problem and change management processes. Identify key metrics that will be periodically monitored and reported for SLA assurance. Develop deployment plans and processes. Consider channel-of-trade and funding model differences. Pilot at a few sites with a focus on deployment and support processes. Develop training materials if appropriate. Schedule, communicate, and execute deployment.

Benefits to Using W. Capra
W. Capra's experience in the retail industry is extensive and our retail consultants have proven implementation experience. We have a strong knowledge of the requirements, vendors, and technology within the retail environment. By leveraging W. Capra's retail experience in your site connectivity decisions you can achieve the following benefits:

• By using our experienced-based CSI model, you will reduce the time to selection increasing your Return-on-Investment.
• We will help you expedite decisions - we know the right questions to ask and the right rocks to look under.
• It will get done right - we understand that your business depends on this connectivity and we'll take a holistic approach to your systems and processes.
• Project will get done as quickly as possible - your ROI will be maximized if you can get the project to "done" as quickly as possible.
• We will strive to minimize site disruption. This technology is consumer facing and your revenue depends on up-time.
• We have total life cycle experience with VSAT as well as terrestrial solutions.
• We have experience establishing QA, operational support, and management processes around large retail networks.
• We have extensive experience with POS, store systems, card processing, and web-based applications and understand the criticality of a robust integration with site connectivity.
• By using technologists with retail expertise, we will reduce your risk with selecting and implementing new connectivity solutions.
• Flexible sourcing options - purchase, lease, ASP. We will help you understand which is best for you and your franchisees.

W. Capra's partnering approach ensures that client personnel are equipped to assume responsibility for ongoing system implementation and support after the CSI is complete. W. Capra also leverages the knowledge and expertise of the vendor during this process to maximize efficiency when working with the vendor's solutions.

For more information on W. Capra services, click here to contact us or call 1-312-873-3270.