Summary of the story

Customer's profile

A UK based giant store selling books, CDs, DVDs, videos, computer games and accessories, magazines, stationery, etc. The store is the interactive arm of multi-channel retailer WHSmith. WHSmith Co. has over 200 years retail experience and is one of the best-known retail brands on British high streets.
"WHSmith.co.uk" is mentioned in the Henley Centre Survey as being the fourth most trusted website in the UK and also voted website of the Year at the E-tail 2000 Conference. In June 2001 "WHSmith.co.uk" was ranked 5th (by unique visitors) in the MMXI top 10 online retailers.

	A Queue Buster (a store clerk) is with the IT-700 on her left side hand and a portable printer on her belt waiting to process transactions.
	A Queue Buster is scanning a product bar code using the IT-700 (with DT-5057CBCR CF card scanner installed).

The IT-700 Series (with the IEEE802.11b compliant RF module integrated and the optional CF card scanner, DT-5057CBCR installed) is a wireless bar code scanning Pocket PC with color touch screen and numeric keypad. The product is ideal as the Microsoft software is easily customizable and also built rugged making it suitable for heavy use and harsh handling. It can be linked to a portable 2D code receipt printer from Zebra Technologies, worn on the belt of clerk.
Using a simple Mobile EPOS consisting of the Pocket PC and the printer linked together, WHSmith staff can now scan the products in customers' baskets while they are waiting in the queue, and print off a single transaction receipt to speed up the paying process at the actual EPOS terminal.According to WHSmith business systems manager Mr. Mark Bramwell this is already helping to cut waiting time dramatically, "Feedback so far from staff and customers has been enthusiastic and we are reducing customers' time at the EPOS terminal by about half."

"Our market and customer research has shown that in the past shoppers have perceived queuing as a barrier to either coming into the store in the first place or to buying anything once they are there. It is one of our strategic goals to change this perception."

The application has been particularly well-received by staff who find the CASIO handheld Technology and the handheld terminal itself easy to use and are now suggesting spin-off benefits based on their experience. They have found that they can also use the handheld terminals to check price enquiries and product files and there are plans to extend its functionality to include checking and monitoring stock levels and suggesting alternatives when certain products are out of stock.

The queue busting technology is currently being used at WHSmith stores at Brent Cross, Birmingham, Liverpool, Croydon, Meadowhall, Kingston-upon-Thames, Cribbs Causeway, Watford, Bluewater Park, Exeter, Reading, Thurrock, Cheltenham, Guildford, Chester, Trafford Park, Gateshead Metro, Newcastle, Bath Union Street, Nottingham, Solihull, Romford, Southampton, Sheffield and Portsmouth.
The Mobile EPOS is just one type of applications already in use on the Pocket PC. CASIO along with selected partners can offer a wide range of hardware and software solutions including bar code scanning and data capture, field force automation, sales force automation and transportation applications.

The Mobile EPOS is just one type of applications already in use on the Pocket PC. CASIO along with selected partners can offer a wide range of hardware and software solutions including bar code scanning and data capture, field force automation, sales force automation and transportation applications.