Magazine and newspaper distributor WHSmith News has
completed a comprehensive £3.5m systems upgrade to cope with rapid
changes in patterns of retail distribution and demand.
The overhaul, which was managed by consultancy Capgemini, has
introduced new core business systems, with hardware and software
from IBM, EMC and SAP. New systems are expected to be operational
this month.
WHSmith News will also now offer specialised IT services to
supply chain partners, including publishers and retailers, on an
application service provider basis.
Richard Webb, IS director at WHSmith News, said: “Our new
systems will give us the agility to support whatever innovations
our management team decides to make in any part of our
business.
“They will also enable us to accommodate any amount of external
change in our markets and environment, and to further strengthen
our policy of constantly improving the quality of service and value
for money that we offer our customers.”
Following the year-long upgrade process, Capgemini will support
the new systems on an outsourcing contract that has been renewed
until 2010 and extended to include management of third-party IT
suppliers.