Lowe's deploying 42k iPhone-based POS systems in retail overhaul
Home-improvement retailer Lowe's plans to outfit employees with 42,000 iPhone 4s next month, with custom apps that will make use of the device as a point-of-sale system as part of a technology heavy retail overhaul.
The Mooresville, North Carolina, big box retailer will introduce a new MyLowes online tool and implement the iPhones in an effort to catch rival Home Depot, which invested more than $60 million on handheld Motorola POS system last year, Bloomberg reports.
Lowe's decined to say how much the iPhone rollout will cost, though it has said its overall capital spending will increase by 20 percent to $1.6 billion this year. In addition to the new POS devices, the company will replace 72,000 computer screens with flat panels, increase bandwidth for transmitting data and add in-store Wi-Fi for shoppers, the report noted.
The overhaul goes beyond Lowe's rivalry with Home Depot, as the company is working to update consumer perceptions about its brand. ?Forget about the competition, we are playing catch-up with the customer psyche,? Chief Information Officer Mike Brown said in an interview.
The new MyLowes tool aims to help customers "organize their homes." For example, it will allow customers to store paint details, receipts, appliance manuals and service warranties online.
A Lowe's store manager demos the retailer's new iPhone-based POS system | Credit: Chris Keane/Bloomberg
Apple's smartphones will provide a long overdue upgrade to the retailer's POS systems, which currently use scanner guns from the early 1990s. Lowe's has more than 1,700 stores, with each one expected to receive an allotment of 25 iPhones. In addition to their role as POS systems, the handsets will be used for calling, emailing, text messaging and to help answer shoppers' questions.
Analysts said Lowe's faces fierce competition, as Home Depot is executing at a "much higher level." Credit Suisse Group analyst Gary Balter said "Lowe?s will likely continue to trail Home Depot comps going forward.
Apple itself switched from Windows EasyPay systems to an iPod touch solution in 2009. The company's EasyPay app was developed with the requirement that it be fast, secure and sexy, according to the consultant who worked with Apple to create the software.
Shortly after Apple began using the iPod touch with a custom-built scanner shell, it was "deluged" with inquiries from other retailers. Late last year, AppleInsider reported that several major retailers were considering an iOS-based mobile retail system.
The Mooresville, North Carolina, big box retailer will introduce a new MyLowes online tool and implement the iPhones in an effort to catch rival Home Depot, which invested more than $60 million on handheld Motorola POS system last year, Bloomberg reports.
Lowe's decined to say how much the iPhone rollout will cost, though it has said its overall capital spending will increase by 20 percent to $1.6 billion this year. In addition to the new POS devices, the company will replace 72,000 computer screens with flat panels, increase bandwidth for transmitting data and add in-store Wi-Fi for shoppers, the report noted.
The overhaul goes beyond Lowe's rivalry with Home Depot, as the company is working to update consumer perceptions about its brand. ?Forget about the competition, we are playing catch-up with the customer psyche,? Chief Information Officer Mike Brown said in an interview.
The new MyLowes tool aims to help customers "organize their homes." For example, it will allow customers to store paint details, receipts, appliance manuals and service warranties online.
A Lowe's store manager demos the retailer's new iPhone-based POS system | Credit: Chris Keane/Bloomberg
Apple's smartphones will provide a long overdue upgrade to the retailer's POS systems, which currently use scanner guns from the early 1990s. Lowe's has more than 1,700 stores, with each one expected to receive an allotment of 25 iPhones. In addition to their role as POS systems, the handsets will be used for calling, emailing, text messaging and to help answer shoppers' questions.
Analysts said Lowe's faces fierce competition, as Home Depot is executing at a "much higher level." Credit Suisse Group analyst Gary Balter said "Lowe?s will likely continue to trail Home Depot comps going forward.
Apple itself switched from Windows EasyPay systems to an iPod touch solution in 2009. The company's EasyPay app was developed with the requirement that it be fast, secure and sexy, according to the consultant who worked with Apple to create the software.
Shortly after Apple began using the iPod touch with a custom-built scanner shell, it was "deluged" with inquiries from other retailers. Late last year, AppleInsider reported that several major retailers were considering an iOS-based mobile retail system.
Comments
Why iPhones and not iPod Touches? Do they really need the cellular capability within their stores over dedicated and secured WiFi?
I'd hoped they'd be iPads with nice guides to finding things, more than just POS, for at least some staff.
Why iPhones and not iPod Touches? Do they really need the cellular capability within their stores over dedicated and secured WiFi?
I believe their existing systems are cell-based. They probably have a deal with someone.
Certainly salespeople in each dept have company cellphones.
I'd hoped they'd be iPads with nice guides to finding things, more than just POS, for at least some staff.
Having the GPS chip would be nice. The store clerk could type in an item or category and have a dotted line map repeatedly show the customer where he needs to go.
Why iPhones and not iPod Touches? Do they really need the cellular capability within their stores over dedicated and secured WiFi?
Oops!
Beware wandering customers posing as Lowe's employees carrying around their Square-enabled iPhone 4.
Oops!
oh. . . Good point!
Why not Android. You know, its all open 'n' stuff. Not dictated by the evil Apple over lord and all that jazz.
Or those 9.7" HP TouchPads, or 7" RiM PlayBooks, or 5" Dell Streaks. I bet all of them could have been had for a lot less than retail.
Or those 9.7" HP TouchPads, or 7" RiM PlayBooks, or 5" Dell Streaks. I bet all of them could have been had for a lot less than retail.
"Can those Angry Birds help me find a washer for my leaky pipe?"
Actually - that would be a great idea!! Lowes should get them to make an app like that!
The Mooresville, North Carolina, big box retailer will introduce a news MyLowes online tool and implement the new iPhones in an effort to catch rival Home Depot, which invested more than $60 million on handheld Motorola POS system last year, Bloomberg reports.
Lowe's decined to say how much the iPhone rollout will cost, though it bass aid its overall capital spending will increase by 20 percent to $1.6 billion this year. In addition to the new POS devices, the company will replace 72,000 computer screens with flat panels, increase bandwidth for transmitting data and add in-store Wi-Fi for shoppers, the report noted.
For a big box store like Lowe's, an Apple designed and custom tailored POS system seems like it would be a much cleaner and more simplified solution. The Android POS solutions I've seen are more often used in the food industry, both restaurants and suppliers, and smaller retailers.
This really is great news for Apple winning with Lowes, but I also wish Apple was acting as an integrator in some capacity. They have the know-how to make it work cleanly.
In a bigger concept, the push for retailers to abandon the cash-wrap stations in favor for pushing staff towards the customer and the merchandise is so refreshing. It really creates an opportunity for sales people to be much more than sales clerks, and could even push away from the self-serve mentality that has overwhelmed us over the past 20 years.
Hopefully Lowes keeps it moving by adding in other devices (hopefully iPad rather than Android handsets for my stock price) to further refine the experience.
You need a proof reader. Paragraphs 2 & 3 have 4 errors and there is another further down.
Every day there are multiple typos. This is an ongoing chronic problem with AI.