Leading global travel retailer completes successful rollout of SaaS solutions for merchandising, warehouse management, sales audit and analytics.
WHSmith North America has recently gone live with multiple SaaS-based solutions from Aptos to support optimal inventory performance and data-driven decision-making across its retail network.
As part of this technology initiative, WHSmith North America upgraded to the latest versions of Aptos’ Merchandising, Warehouse Management and Sales Audit solutions – and transitioned from on-premises to a cloud-based SaaS model. Additionally, WHSmith North America deployed Aptos Analytics to gain a comprehensive view of its enterprise-wide data.
WHSmith is a leading global travel retailer with more than 1,700 stores across 30 countries. In 2018, WHSmith acquired InMotion, the largest airport-based technology retailer in North America, and in 2019, it acquired Marshall Retail Group (MRG), America’s leading specialty retailer in the airport and casino-resort marketplace. WHSmith North America, incorporating MRG and InMotion, now operates 340+ specialty retail stores located in airports and resorts across North America.
Looking to build upon its strong market presence, WHSmith is focused on driving growth in North America with a significant pipeline of new stores. With expansion as a top priority, WHSmith North America turned to Aptos – and the cloud – to bring greater levels of speed, agility and efficiency to its retail IT ecosystem.
“WHSmith North America is charting an exciting path forward – and that path requires a technology foundation that is scalable and modern,” said Joshua Bellendir, CIO and SVP of IT, WHSmith North America.
“Having relied on Aptos’ Merchandising, WMS and Sales Audit solutions for years, we recognized the significant benefits of migrating these applications to the cloud while also enhancing our capabilities with Aptos Analytics.”
According to Bellendir, after deploying Aptos solutions in the SaaS environment, WHSmith North America saw an immediate improvement in the speed of data loads and transfers, providing internal stakeholders with quicker access to critical data, enabling them to make more informed decisions in less time. Additionally, the move to the cloud enhanced system stability, ensuring consistent performance and reliability across the retail network.
“By embracing a SaaS-first approach, we can accelerate innovation, reduce on-premise infrastructure costs and seamlessly scale to support new locations, formats and channels as needed,” said Bellendir.
“Aptos’ merchandising, warehousing and analytics solutions work together to provide precise visibility into inventory levels and demand. With these capabilities, we can strategically position products closer to where they are needed, ensuring strong on-shelf availability. This not only enhances customer experience but also can drive measurable business results.”
Aptos General Manager Jeremy Grunzweig said: “Aptos provides retailers with the tools they need to effectively manage inventory across their entire operation and swiftly adapt to evolving business conditions. We deeply value WHSmith North America’s trust in Aptos technology and are excited to support their continued expansion and momentum in North America and beyond.”
