Poundland is migrating to Microsoft's cloud-based productivity suite Office 365 in a bid to improve collaboration and communication between staff.
The discount retailer has moved to the cloud infrastructure to ensure colleagues have better availability of services from the shop floor to the stock room, and on-the-move, according to Microsoft.
The decision to move to the cloud was taken after working alongside channel partner CoreGB. The retailer selected Microsoft Office 365, combined with Windows Perpetual Licensing for Desktop Operating Systems, to meet its business requirements.
The retailer will also implement Microsoft SharePoint 2013, providing staff with a collaborative environment in which to work. Microsoft Lync 2013 cloud services will also be rolled out to help improve communication and collaboration between employees across the business.
The introduction of Microsoft Office 365 Exchange Online, coupled with Outlook Web App and the ability to install the full Outlook client on up to four additional devices, means that users have the full client capability and ability to access their email from multiple locations on the move.
Poundland will use Microsoft Lync and Yammer to allow colleagues to work together from different locations, using Presence to indicate availability and IM to chat.
The firm has also implemented Active Directory and Microsoft System Center 2012. Active Directory will allow the retailer to control and synchronise its cloud environment.
“With Microsoft Office 365 we’re able to vastly improve the productivity of the business and communication amongst colleagues, all at a lower total cost of ownership,” said Mike Gray, IT director at Poundland.
“For the first time, colleagues at every Poundland retail store will have access to Word, Excel and PowerPoint web Apps through their browser – something they have never had before. We have also invested heavily in the computerisation of stock control, distribution, financial and staff management systems and the underlying network infrastructure and communications that support these systems.”
Poundland is planning to open another 1,000 stores in the UK and Ireland over the next 18 months and the technology will help these new additions when it comes to productivity and efficiency.
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