Cambridge-based productivity solutions provider, Herbert Group, and global supply chain solutions provider, Apex Supply Chain Technologies, are partnering to deliver a new wave of retail solutions for customer engagement, brand equity enhancement and omni-channel fulfilment, unleashing a new value layer for UK retailers.
Established in 2006, with companies like 3M and P&G using its solutions, Apex have considerable heritage in the manufacturing environment, having deployed more than 60,000 smart solutions to more than 15,000 organisations in over 40 countries across 6 continents. Working with Herbert, who have a 250 year heritage in offering innovative productivity solutions to the retail market, the companies will offer a new range of cutting-edge retail focused click-and-collect lockers, and smart self-serve kiosks, to enable UK retailers to enhance customer engagement, brand appeal and embrace an Omni-Channel strategy.
The recent recession in the UK has transformed the way consumers shop, their opinions of retail brands and the choices that they make. Retailers need to give customers a consistent and seamless Omni-Channel experience across brick-and-mortar, e-commerce and social, mobile and kiosks. Retailers also need to work hard to get a single, clear picture of consumer likes, dislikes, history and habits, whilst building more speed and flexibility into logistics, to quickly fulfil orders through new shopping channels.
Apex solutions allow retailers to address these demands, by allowing products to be allocated to smart click-and-collect lockers and self-serve kiosks, streamlining and simplifying online ordering and store stock fulfilment.
Mark Channen, Head of Marketing at Herbert, commented: "Our mission is to deliver innovative productivity solutions, and Apex's unique mix of technology and innovation adds real consumer benefit and also a new value layer to UK retailers. The Apex solution easily integrates with a customer's online solution, to quickly enable a very powerful click-and collect or self-serve solution, extending brand appeal, enhancing omnichannel presence, and engagement with the physical store".
The Apex solution comprises of both hardware and software. Its self-service lockers and kiosks are purpose-built to accommodate virtually anything that can be sold, from a cup of coffee to a pair of shoes or a stack of lumber. The Apex Trajectory™ Cloud is the smarts behind the device, and serves as a single, secure, unified transaction platform. The Trajectory Cloud provides real-time data on inventory levels at every position in the supply chain. It integrates easily with retailers' existing platforms to provide rich analytics and insights into buying behaviours, trends and loyalty preferences.
Julian Adams, Managing Director of Apex Europe, commented: "Apex devices offer a efficient and convenient opportunity to place an order online and pick up the purchased items from a stylish, sleek and secure locker. No shipping, no waiting, no hassle!".
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