Nuance-Watson (HK) unveils POS upgrade

Gavin Lipsith

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A new state-of-the-art sales system will help the retailer improve the implementation of promotions and enhance customer service

Nuance-Watson (HK) has introduced a new point of sale (POS) system across its Hong Kong International airport (HKIA) outlets that it believes will speed up the check-out process, offer greater flexibility in promotions and allow the company to launch a customer loyalty programme. The company claimed that the new multi-million dollar system is the most advanced in the retail sector at the airport, and said that through the investment it hoped to build a foundation for future growth as it enters the latter half of its second concession term at the airport.

The new system, which is used at over 110 check-out stations across the retailer's stores, is powered by a central processing unit 10 times more powerful than the previous system. A transaction can be completed in less than five seconds, and the units have been tailored for Nuance-Watson to accept over 30 currencies.

Nuance-Watson (HK) managing director Alessandra Piovesana told RavenFox.com: "This major initiative reflects Nuance-Watson's full commitment to our business at HKIA with a long-term view into how to respond to passengers' demand and further improve the efficiency of our operation. It is also a useful learning curve to prepare and gear up for development. To achieve this, it requires technical people with commercial sense and our team was able to deliver within this requirement. They've done a great job which we need now to maintain."

All pricing and promotions are programmed through a central office, allowing stores to run multiple promotions. Nuance-Watson said it plans to extend the function to offer customers even more choices of promotions.  A "mix and match" application will allow the company to make two or more different promotional offers at the same time on one product item.

Nuance-Watson said that the new POS system would enable it to establish a more proactive approach to monitoring performance and maximising sales.