There is much talk about Cloud Computing
on Retail future.
For years our customers appreciate the benefit !
Retail Web Services
Retail Web Services® are the aKite brain and heart, an intelligent Hub connecting each Store to the chain HQ. It resides in the “clouds” but is constantly managed by our developers and engineers who guarantee smooth operations and evolution. Delivery from Microsoft Windows Azure assure a Service Level Agreement (SLA) and security much higher than the best private data-centre.
Central resources sharing facilitates access to common data and advanced functionalities (eg.: logistics, EDI, Business Intelligence …), simplify co-operation with other companies regardless of their hardware/software platform, and eliminates complexities from stores and HQ, reducing distractions and costs.
Sales documents arriving from stores in XML format, are immediately forwarded to the central ERP through normal Internet connections, but with maximum security by WS-* protocols.
POS.net®
Is the Front Store Smart Client that manages a wide range of customer services at the POS (Point Of Sale), by ensuring maximum reliability and service speed by means of a compact database in each workstation and direct control over different peripherals, including touch screens.
Transactions carry on also in case of external failures as documents are queued, waiting for the re-connection to the central services.
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SHOP.net®
Is the Back Store Smart Client for use in Stores as well in the chain HQ to analyse sales data through dashboards and reports, print labels, and eventually update articles, prices, promotions and ranges, when such data are not already maintained by the central ERP and provided that the user has the appropriate authorization.
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aDS (aKite Digital Signage)
Is the marketing and promotional tool allows the definition of sequences of still images and videos (playlist) and sending on screens in stores.
In addition to videos provided by manufacturers or commissioned to specialized agencies, the exclusive "aKite Video Maker" in the Clouds allows the automatic production of videos from PowerPoint animations with pictures, descriptions, transitions and animation effects. Similar to what happens in Microsoft Word "mail merge", placeholder like or are automatically substituted by corresponding values from aKite and inserted in the animation. This allows to produce in minutes promotional videos about specific products and place them directly in one or more playlist for one or more screens.
Screen Management is done in SaaS mode from the Cloud in an optimal way both for single store screens and for large international networks. When new playlist and media is downloaded, the execution is from local PC and not dependent on constant Internet connection.
aDI (aKite Document Interchange)
Is a powerful and simple link between any legacy HQ application software and aKite Retail Web Services in the Cloud, based on Windows Azure AppFabric Service Bus. The innovation is simple deployment and high security, without any system activity on firewalls or routers.
Data coming from stores in near-real-time may update a SQL database for integration and internal Business Intelligence activity. In the same way any flat or XML file produced by HQ ERP or other applications, can update aKite Hub in the Cloud and from there all stores concurrently.
Integration with Web Services based software applications is even more direct and simple.
Connect a PC and start selling !
POS.net and SHOP.net are installed from a web page and are automatically updated via the Internet, ensuring efficiency and evolution over the years, with minimum running costs.