By Lisa Burroughes, 23 April 1999 00:20
NEWS ICL has picked up a multi-million pound contract from Kwik-fit to install customer service kiosks in all its European repair centres. The systems integrator will initially upgrade the data communications and central computer system for the vehicle mechanics' headquarters and 600 centres around the UK. The rollout for its centres in France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland will follow in the first quarter of 2000. Bernard Classley, group IT director at Kwik-fit, said the current electronic point of sales system can only send and receive information between each centre and the head office - where the databases are stored - at the end of the day. With the new ICL system staff will have continual online access to the stock database and the warranty or customer database throughout the day using an ISDN connection over an intranet. They will also be able to send and receive emails over the network. Classley said there are two key business drivers behind the decision to upgrade. "We have been using the same equipment since 1981 and it's now time to renew it. But more importantly this system will replace what is currently a very labour intensive process of stock checking. Staff will use this electronic catalogue rather than looking parts up in a book," he said. He added that Kwik-fit will be able to improve its customer care services and streamline the cost of doing business because of the system.
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