Paperchase, the international design-led stationery chain, has extended its work with Retail Assist to include the company’s Ra-X data exchange service. This provides Paperchase with the exchange and conversion of files as an automated managed service.  This service is in addition to IT hosting and to Merret, the integrated supply chain solution that Retail Assist already provides to Paperchase.

Ra-X is a data exchange, retail communications and polling solution, used by a number of leading retailers to send and receive product, price, promotion and sales data from store concessions or international locations back and forth to their central operation. Other retailers currently using Ra-X include Cath Kidston, White Stuff, Aurora Fashions, A|Wear and New Look.

Ian James, IT Director at Paperchase, said: “We were looking for a cost-effective, established, low-risk solution to handle our data exchange between Paperchase and trading partner, Galeries Lafayette. We have worked with Retail Assist for many years with great success, so they were a natural choice for us to approach with the project. They were able to provide the exchange and file conversion as an automated service, with the ability to scale the product should we decide to extend it across our other concession partnerships.”

Dan Smith, Retail Assist’s Chief Executive Officer of Managed Services, added: “Ra-X is secure, scalable and easy to use. It minimises risk and reduces cost as it doesn’t require any hardware or software, capital outlay, or increase in IT headcount.  We manage the service 24x7. We’re delighted to have been chosen by Paperchase to work together on this project.”

Retail Assist Limited www.retail-assist.com & www.merret.com
Retail Assist is a leading retail-only IT solutions and services company, providing UK and international retailers with end-to-end business applications and services that reduce costs, optimise retail operations and support higher revenues. The company was the first retail-only IT services provider to be awarded ISO20000 accreditation by the BSI.

Retail Assist clients include ASOS, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, WDF, A|Wear, Paperchase, Whistles, Aurora Fashions, Karen Millen, The White Company, Odin Retail, Tec7, Mint Velvet, Jane Norman, REISS, Crew2000, VUE, Signet, Jacques Vert, Precis, Windsmoor, Planet and White Stuff.

With its Retail Solutions Retail Assist excels in developing, integrating, deploying and supporting customised systems. These include its award-winning Merret supply chain solution. Merret is a real-time, multi-currency, multi-channel merchandising, warehousing and stock control solution that covers all areas of the retail supply process. Through working with third parties, Retail Assist also integrates and delivers EPoS systems.

In Managed IT Services, Retail Assist’s proven offerings include 24/365 Help Desk, Technical Services, Operations, Data Centre, Hardware Maintenance and Disaster Recovery. Professional Servicescover Retail Business Consultancy and Project Services.

Further information (external website)