Retail Services
Secure, automate and streamline business processesRetail organisations we provide solutions and services for include…
COVID-19 has changed the face of retail. With ‘non-essential’ stores forced to close their doors during national lockdowns, online retail has spiked. Meanwhile grocery stores have battled huge increases in demand, managing stock amid huge challenges within the supply chain. Supermarkets have raced to meet increased demand for online shopping, as consumers have tried to avoid face-to-face contact.
Retailers are rapidly adapting their business models to manage demand fluctuations, capitalise on the growing demand for online shopping and next day delivery, and support their physical stores to recover, as we move beyond the pandemic. But to do so, they need a reliable and scalable IT infrastructure.
Secure managed file transfer underpins many of the retail success stories. It secures customer and payment data, supports PCI-DSS compliance, enables tight integration with other supply chain systems and gives a real-time view of data, to enable data-driven decision-making.
Here you’ll see a range of use cases demonstrating how secure, managed file transfer, automation and integration support retail organisations to meet and overcome current challenges.
About Pro2col
Trusted independent experts serving the retail sector since 2004
Trusted by global retail brands
Independent experts for 16+ years, 800+ solutions delivered
G-Cloud 12 Digital Marketplace
A Gartner business partner
FSQS registered
ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certified
Trusted by global retail brands
Independent experts for 16+ years, 800+ solutions delivered
G-Cloud 12 Digital Marketplace
A Gartner business partner
FSQS registered
ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certified
Retail solution stories
Here are some of the ways we could help youRetail organisations can save money and streamline their EDI processes by integrating with Managed File Transfer.
EDI solutions typically charge per EDI message that is sent and received. Whereas MFT solution typically offer an unlimited number of EDI connections for a fixed cost.
So with the two solutions integrated, AS2 pushes and pulls the EDI files. The EDI solution only handles the translation and production of the EDI files, so costs are reduced.
Retailers commonly use an SFTP process to securely and reliably transfer order and invoice data in a process that sits outside EDI processes. The files will land on the SFTP server, where a partner organisation within their supply chain could collect them and them move back to their own environment.
One customer recently streamlined this process using an advanced workflow module. This allowed them to push the file, then automatically pull the files to the partner organisation’s client.
The sophisticated reporting functionality meant they could track that files were received and SLAs met.
,Retail organisations need to manage the flow of data between the courier and depot and also information from their partners. This flow of data between a retail partner and courier is done by MFT.
Once a customer places an order online, information is sent to the warehouse, where a pick list is produced before making its way to the courier. Throughout this process, MFT secures the customer’s data so that it complies with GDPR regulations.
Fashion is a fast paced industry. Organisations need to be able to protect their images before any launch dates. The images are confidential and can’t be leaked. MFT is used to secure the transfer of these images, as well as trademarks, patents and information around new designs. It also secures who has access to the images.
Large retailers need to transfer information from their shops back to the central office. This could be daily sales reports, where agents are used to streamline the secure transfer of files back to headquarters. Specific sales data can be pulled from the required folder to match up with deliveries. This makes sure the invoice, sales and delivery all tally up.
Use cases by department
Saving time and resource to improve efficiencySecure remote working is increasingly important post-COVID. Secure file transfer and collaboration functionality allows staff to have secure remote access to company files and work collaboratively on the same version. It also allows them to transfer files securely outside the organisations, without resorting to insecure, consumer grade apps. All exchanges remaining in-line with the company security policy.
System-to-person automation can send and audit the secure distribution of HR documents, including contracts.
In fact, HR departments can deliver the complete employee onboarding process with both front and back end system automation. This removes manual steps and improves accuracy. For example, the employee or HR contact can fill in a configurable web form, which includes e-signing and dating. Then this can automatically be exported as a pdf contract and stored in the repository. Next a fully automated user provisioning workflow can be executed, setting up access and logins for in systems like ActiveDirectory and ERP, emailing the user their login credentials.
Marketing teams regularly share large image or video files, which are too big for email. They often resort to risky consumer grade, insecure file sharing apps.
A controlled file sharing environment can easily integrate with existing email infrastructure, allowing users to share large files. There are additional security controls, administrative access and visibility of all transfers. Permissions can be set in line with data access policies so that staff only access the data they need in order to do their job.
Finance departments can manage invoicing, orders and payroll documents using automated workflows.
System-to-system automation can trigger regular batch transfers and onward data gathering processes to populate spreadsheets or reporting.
As vendor-independent specialists in secure managed file transfer, workflow automation and system integration, we’re expertly placed to guide you to the right technology and vendor for your requirements.
We’ll share Pro2col’s ‘MFT Buyer’s Guide’ straight to your inbox. Then we’ll provide a scoping call to discuss how this technology supports your process requirements.