Travel retailer WHSmith North America has moved its merchandising, inventory management and sales audit solutions from an on-premises to a cloud-based model as it prepares to drive growth in North America with a “significant pipeline” of new stores. WHSmith has upgraded to the latest SaaS version of these solutions from Aptos and also added Aptos Analytics to help it gain a more comprehensive view of enterprise-wide data.
In February 2024 UK-based WHSmith said it planned to open 110 stores in the coming year, with more than 50 openings planned in North America, and in January 2025 the retailer launched a travel-focused in-store retail media network to connect brands with shoppers at the retailer’s current 347 North American airport, rail station and resort-based locations.
“WHSmith North America is charting an exciting path forward — and that path requires a technology foundation that is scalable and modern,” said Joshua Bellendir, CIO and SVP of IT at WHSmith North America in a statement. “Having relied on Aptos’ Merchandising, WMS and Sales Audit solutions for years, we recognized the significant benefits of migrating these applications to the cloud while also enhancing our capabilities with Aptos Analytics.”
Speed and Scalability Enhancements
After deploying the solutions in a SaaS environment, WHSmith saw improved speeds for data loads and transfers, providing internal stakeholders with quicker access to critical data. Bellendir also noted that the move to the cloud has enhanced system stability, helping ensure consistent performance and reliability.
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“By embracing a SaaS-first approach, we can accelerate innovation, reduce on-premise infrastructure costs and seamlessly scale to support new locations, formats and channels as needed,” said Bellendir. “Aptos’ merchandising, warehousing and analytics solutions work together to provide precise visibility into inventory levels and demand. With these capabilities, we can strategically position products closer to where they are needed, ensuring strong on-shelf availability. This not only enhances the customer experience but also can drive measurable business results.”
