Extended Systems Gives Twentieth Century Fox Picture-Perfect Mobile Technology for Field Service Application
By leveraging Extended Systems mobile and wireless data sync expertise, Twentieth Century Fox has boosted its product display monitoring capabilities by improving inventory tracking and reporting, as well as display specification compliance.
XTNDConnect Server also provides a means to capture, download and view digital photo images of displays, all of which give retail outlets enhanced sales tools and reduce costs through the elimination of time-consuming, paper-based reporting and stock management procedures.
Zync-Solutions, a mobile solutions provider that specializes in PDA and web-based development, hosts and manages the field application for Twentieth Century Fox. Working through Zync, Twentieth Century Fox has equipped its UK field marketing services firm, The Sure Group, with an innovative combination of products consisting of mobile infrastructure software from Extended Systems, iPAQ Pocket PC devices from HP, inventory scanners from Symbol, and Bluetooth-enabled cellular phones from Ericsson. Together, the combination of products:
- Offers Twentieth Century Fox field reps with the ability to synchronize, share and monitor business-critical data regarding new promotions, sales figures and inventory issues in real-time
- Improves speed and accuracy of stores' stock-on-hand data within Twentieth Century Fox's inventory management system
- Provides real time visibility of actual product availability on the shelves of each store, enabling a quick response and replenishment if necessary to any out of stock items
- Identifies non-compliance issues regarding product displays in real time, enabling retailer head offices to immediately respond to stores to prevent lost sales during profitable selling periods
- Provides real time snapshots as well as defined period analysis designed to profile and grade store performance for education purposes with retailers and stores and driving efficiencies in Twentieth Century's merchandising activities
- Eliminates the necessity for hand-written reports, eliminating administration costs and improving the efficiency of the time spent in stores by the field team
For instance, one of the best selling movies of all time is Titanic. Fifty percent of the total movie sales from Twentieth Century Fox were through transactions made on the movie's first week of release with 18 percent of the total sales occurring on the first day. In this scenario and others, instant access to promotional materials and inventory data, as well as access to real-time nationwide sales trends and reports is critical, particularly when helping to expedite inventory to retail outlets with limited stock.
"Extended Systems' technology has proven to be a vital element of our mobile initiative," said David Stevens, trade marketing controller and project manager at Twentieth Century Fox. "In six months alone, we have increased availability, reduced returns as well as improved profitability by identifying any display non-conformance within the early stages of a release. The technology that we have implemented has given our field merchandising team the platform to effectively and measurably drive sales for us and our retailer partners."
"Twentieth Century Fox is a technologically advanced enterprise seeking improved efficiencies and the information immediacy demanded of today's 24-7 retail market," said Extended Systems' CEO and President Steve Simpson. "We're committed to providing Global 1000 companies like Twentieth Century with the mobile and wireless tools they need to address market demands and successfully advance their businesses."
Twentieth Century Fox's mobile product display field application will be rolled out the company's operations worldwide, as required on a territory by territory basis. By utilizing Zync-Solutions' field service application and Extended Systems' mobile and wireless data sync technology, Twentieth Century Fox can further improve product display consistency throughout its global retail outlets.
About XTNDConnect Server
Extended Systems' XTNDConnect Server mobile data management and
synchronization software enables IT departments to securely integrate
and manage the myriad of mobile devices and applications that are
becoming increasingly important to the corporate enterprise.
XTNDConnect Server enables users to synchronize Palm, Pocket PC, SyncML, Symbian, and RIM mobile devices with corporate servers including Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino, and any database accessible via ADO (OLE DB), ODBC, and a variety of custom databases.
About Extended Systems
Extended Systems provides the expertise, strategy and solutions to help
enterprise organizations streamline their business processes through
mobile technology. The company's mobile software suite enables companies
to mobilize critical enterprise applications such as e-mail, field
service, sales force automation (SFA), enterprise resource planning
(ERP), and customer relationship management (CRM).
In addition, the company offers Bluetooth and IrDA wireless connectivity software and client/server database management systems. Extended Systems has more than 2,500 enterprise customers worldwide; and key alliance relationships with Ericsson, Handspring, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, Palm, Sharp, Siemens and Toshiba.
Founded in 1984, Extended Systems has offices and subsidiaries in the United States and worldwide. For more information, visit the company Web site at http://www.extendedsystems.com.