Member Article

Counter labour costs with improved EDI says Lobster

Retailers could offset rising labour costs by streamlining back office operations and online activity, claims electronic data interchange (EDI) experts, Lobster.

Jeni Steele, head of Lobster UK, said: “Using technology to increase operational efficiency has the potential to free up resources that could be used to lessen predicted retail job losses.”

A report by the British Retail Consortium suggests 900,000 posts could go and thousands of stores close within a decade, as the sector adjusts to the introduction of the National Living Wage and apprenticeship levy.

Software produced by Chesterfield-based Lobster offers a time and money saving alternative to value added networks (VANs), which are used widely across the retail industry to exchange data with suppliers and professional partners.

Jeni added: “Our fixed cost package enables retailers to communicate easily with third parties and rectify issues quickly and efficiently, improving customer service levels and financial stability. The UK’s reliance on expensive and cumbersome VANs is a drain on capital that could be utilised elsewhere and we want to demonstrate there is a viable, economic option to replace this perceived industry standard.”

Lobster_data exchanges thousands of files in any format and has a user-friendly graphical display that allows clients to create mapping and new profiles in house. It carries no transaction fees, copes with busy periods without interruptions and can be teamed with complementary software to manage supply chains, product information and e-commerce.

Lobster will be showcasing its product portfolio on stand 100 at the Retail Business Technology Expo, held at Olympia in London on March 9 and 10. For more information, call (0114) 399 1551, visit www.lobster-uk or follow the firm on Twitter, @_lobsteruk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Nina Sorby .