For the past three years, every Scapino branch has had two Honeywell mobile computers for entering goods and checking items and prices. The devices hardly ever break down and require little management, while Scapino has all the freedom to install the apps needed on the store floor. The experiences are so positive that sister company Ziengs is also starting to use these mobile computers.
In retrospect, the decision to invest in new mobile computers came just in time.
""These devices from Honeywell run on Android and work like a smartphone. Any one who has a smartphone themselves can use it. We benefited gratefully from that when the pandemic broke out and stores had to close their doors."
The 175-store chain installed apps that allowed employees to deliver and checkout customers' orders at the door. The Facebook app allowed them to say something about the store, while Whatsapp was used to communicate directly with customers. "We were able to schedule store visit appointments with the devices. In short, we can download all the apps we need on the store floor," Jan observes.
''Honeywell's mobile computers have a long life cycle''
Switching to android
The reason for buying the mobile computers was simple: the previous devices were outdated and at the end of their lifespan. Replacement meant not only switching to a different device, but also to a different operating system. Discussions about this ended with a choice of Android. "We use the devices for booking incoming goods, for checking items and prices and for taking inventory of store stock. For that, we use an app that is linked to the point-of-sale software from Cow Hills, the supplier of our POS system. And those apps run on Android," Jan explained.
Scapino placed the demand for new mobile computers with Simac, which already provided maintenance and management of the POS systems including all peripherals. The national coverage, extensive service package and years of experience in retail made Simac a valuable partner.
"When we have an ICT issue, we knock on Simac's door. That does not mean that Simac automatically gets the order. In principle, we try to place as many assignments as possible with one IT service provider, but we also remain cost-conscious."
Fast barcode scanner
After a thorough selection process, Scapino's choice fell on Honeywell's mobile computer. "We brought in four brands and tested them extensively. The Honeywell EDA51 performed the best. In this device there is not only a very fast barcode scanner, but also a piece of software that allows us to identify the correct article even if the barcode is not quite readable," explains Jan. Simac brought Honeywell on board. "Per customer, per situation and per process we look at what the best solution is," says Johan van der Wielen, senior retail consultant at Simac IT NL.
"We pay particular attention to the life cycle of the device. If we choose a device that is no longer available after a year and cannot be maintained, we have a problem. These devices have a long life cycle, with Honeywell guaranteeing support and updates for years to come."
"When we are called in by a partner like Simac, we always first look at the customer's business process: what does it look like and how should it be supported? Once we have then found a solution, we ensure that clients can move forward with it for quite some time."
Not broken
Jan is extremely satisfied with the devices. "We have had the mobile computers for three years now and we can only be satisfied so far. They don't break down. Maybe one does fall out of your hands sometimes, but they can withstand that. We have tested them for that. And if one does break down, we exchange that device with one from the spare stock held by Simac."
The only point of attention concerns operating system updates. With Android, this is not automatic. "At some point we will have to knock on Simac's door for a round of updates. We try to postpone that as long as possible, because with every update there is a risk that the apps on the device will not function properly afterwards." To avoid such problems, new versions of Android are first examined in detail.
"We are creating a business variant of the operating system without all the unnecessary ballast that is only of interest to consumers. That variant is first extensively tested by us before we make it available. Then Simac also conducts another test to check whether Scapino's apps continue to function properly after the operating system is updated. We do not install the new version on all 400 Scapino devices until everyone is convinced that it works properly. We don't want to run the risk of disrupting the processes in the store."
Mobile computers for Ziengs
Managing the mobile computers takes very little time. When a new version of an app is introduced, store employees can install it themselves from Scapino's private app store. This contains all the apps the stores are allowed to use. Johan: "This prevents employees from installing games or other apps themselves that are not needed on the store floor."
The good experiences taste like more. At the moment Jan is busy purchasing new mobile computers for the 90 stores of Ziengs, the sister company of Scapino. Again, the choice fell on Honeywell mobile computers, only the very latest version: the Honeywell EDA52.
"What makes Ziengs' project different from Scapino's is that we are now building the apps ourselves for, for example, booking incoming goods and checking prices. For this we use OutSystems, a low-code platform that allows us to build apps ourselves very easily. This platform makes managing the devices even easier, as updates are installed automatically. For that, even the store employees don't have to do anything anymore."
