Information Technology and the Independent Retail Business

Abstract

DR. ALAN TREADGOLD is a research associate in the Oxford Institute of Retail Management at Templeton College, England. The successful application of instore information technology systems has been identified as a source of substantial competitive advantage for retail businesses. Multiple retail businesses, in the United Kingdom as elsewhere, are demonstrably committed to heavy investment programmes in data collection, transmission and manipulation systems. There has, however, prevailed an assumption that the application of l.T. systems is confined to large multiple retailers. In consequence little is known of the activities of the smaller independent retailer. This paper addresses this knowledge gap. Three l.T. devices, namely EPOS (electronic point of sale) terminals, in-store computers, and portable data capture units (PCDUs), are identified as especially well-suited for application in even the smallest retail outlets. An attempt is made, through the presentation of the results of survey work. to identify the overall level of I.T. device adoption, adoption by principal trading activity and size of outlet, and the success of l.T. applications in this sector of the retail trades.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Beaujeu-Garnier, J. , and Delobez, A. (1979), Geography of Marketing, London. Longman.

Bessant, J.R. et al. (1981), The Impact of Microelectronics. A Review of the Literature, London, Frances Pinter.

Brown, R. (1986), Electronics in Supermarkets, Stoke-sub-Hamdon. Post News.

Business Statistics Office (1979), Some Characteristic Differences Between the Retailing Inquiry 1976 and the Census of Distribution for 1971, Newport. Business Statistics Office.

Cady, J.F. (1976), "Structural Trends in Retailing: The Decline of Small Business", Journal of Contemporary Business, 5, pp67-90.

Davies, R.L. (1977), Marketing Geography with Special Reference to Retailing, London. Methuen.

Dawson, J.A. , and Kirby, D.A. (1979), Small Scale Retailing in the UK, Westmead. on House.

Dolen, P.Z. (1986), "How Retailers can use Information for Competitive Advantage", International Trends in Retailing, 3, pp23-38.

Euromonitor (1987), Retail Trade in the United Kingdom, 1987/1988, London. Euromonitor.

10.

ICL (1985), Retailing Tomorrow Slough. ICL.

11.

ICL (1987), Retailing Today Slough. ICL.

12.

Lounsbury, J.F. and Aldrich, F.T. (1986), Introduction to Geographic Methods and Techniques. Second Edition, Columbus, Ohio. A. Bell and Howell Company.

13.

Nachmias, D. , and Nachmias, C. (1976), Research Methods in the Social Sciences, London. Edward Amold.

14.

National Economic Development Office (1984), Technology in Small and Medium-Sized Businesses, London. NEDO.

15.

Office of Fair Trading (1982), Micro-electronics and Retailing, London. Office of Fair Trading.

16.

Reddish, G. , and Aston, M. (1985), "Analysis of Retailing in the United Kingdom", International Trends in Retailing, 2, pp3-12.

17.

RMDP (1987), Telecommunications in Retailing, Brighton. RMDP.

18.

Sawers, L. (1984), "Micro-computers in retailing", Working Paper 8403, University of Stirling, Department of Business Studies.

19.

Scott, P. (1970), Geography of Retailing, London. Hutchinson University Library.

20.

Staples, N. (1985), "Sales Data", Paper presented at EPOS 85 Conference, London. 17-20 September.

21.

Stoddard, R.H. (1982), Field Techniques and Research Methods in Geography, Duburque, Iowa. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.

22.

Treadgold, A.D. (1988), The Application of Information Technology in Independent Retail Outlets, unpublished D.Phil thesis.

23.

Wolfe, A. , and Cook, L. (1986), The Electronic Revolution In Store, The Effects of New Information Technology on the Retailing of Packaged Goods, London. Ogilvy and Mather.