www.rascalsystems.com
giving retailers the power to minimise stock losses and maximise category sales and profitability
advanced mobile technology
delivering simplicity, visibility & control
in this brochure 03
why rascal
08-09 reporting
management report non-range report store compliance bespoke reporting
sample reporting
10-11
as we see it
2
04-05
the benefits
06-07
the process goods in returns range management weekly product check stock taking gap scanning messaging system to shop floor
www.rascalsystems.com
why rascal The rascal system is focused on driving retail operational excellence in the management of the news category. rascal simplifies store processes by reducing the number of hours spent on stock and credit management so that retailers can devote more time to improving the customer experience. rascal involves scanning all newspapers and magazine products in and out of the store using a personal digital assistant (PDA). It eliminates the need for paperwork and increases the transparency of the transaction process. rascal is a proven multi-channel, multi-format solution serving Hypermarkets, Supermarkets, High Street Outlets, Convenience Stores, Petrol Filling Stations and Motorway Service Areas. rascal is committed to delivering bespoke solutions to assist retailers in simplifying processes, delivering labour savings, goods-in and returns management, reducing shrink and waste and also getting greater visibility of data and financial controls. rascal is in the process of scoping and developing a solution for a new category (Entertainment - DVDs, CDs, Computer Games) and have the vision and ambition to expand into multiple new categories, new sectors, new industries.
continuous development The landscape in which we operate is always evolving, what remains constant is the need to work with our retail partners to help them cut their costs. Continuous development is essential, it allows us to see endless possibilities beyond limits and opportunities in our challenge.
rascal systems is 50% owned by the Kemble family and 50% owned by Smiths News PLC.
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the benefits rascal is a centralised web-based software solution, which provides visibility to many aspects and parties of the supply chain processes.
category management
The whole structure of rascal revolves around a database, which contains all issues of all titles including variants. Since the database is web based, it could be made available to all interested parties. Verification of goods received, returns and credits is at its core.
simplicity
visibility
control
account management
monitor supplier performance
improved control of stores and suppliers
easy access tailored reporting
total visibility of goods-in and out
The system also controls the ‘Title Range’ for multiple retailers and the independent sector. Discrepancies in Ranges are made visible to users ensuring speedy error rectification. rascal provides a solution that benefits retailers, wholesalers, publishers and the final customers.
supplier and store performance reports
complete supply chain visibility, including direct suppliers
mitigates risk of being charged for stock not received
consolidated data in easy-tounderstand formats gap scanning - identifies sales opportunities easy management of promotions and specials
pay only for stock that is sold by ensuring maximum credit received for what is returned prevents incorrect return of new to range products manage local suppliers maximize shrink reduction
optional orders management
reduction in late returns
non-ranged titles reporting
prevents early return of product
identifies new to range products
rejects unwanted, non-range product and supports range discipline ability to send operational instruction direct to multiple stores
grounded The best results come from collaborative partnerships and we achieve this by putting ourselves in other people’s shoes and treating people how we would wish to be treated. We work in a collaborative and proactive way — because it’s the only way. 4
provides opportunity to improve shopper experience
www.rascalsystems.com
in-store management
loss prevention
simplicity
visibility
control
simplicity
visibility
control
intuitive handset based solutions
total visibility of goods-in and out
drives store process compliance
easy access tailored reporting
visibility of store process compliance
drives supplier process compliance
evaluation of shrink / waste
visibility of waste (and outstanding credit)
improved profitability
easy and quick to train staff saves time in store
highlights outstanding credit by store
removal of multiple in-store processes
gives store visibility and advice on new to range, non-ranged and ready for recall items
delivers labour saving and cost efficiency
quick and easy scanning stock take system
intuitive stock take facility reduces paperwork automated credit claims help desk support
ability to receive communications to handset gap scanning - identifies sales opportunities
provides opportunity to improve shopper experience reduction in missing credits ability to send operational instructions direct to stores help desk support
granular detail by store and by issue of outstanding credit accurate stock inventory by store, by line
improved cash flow reduced shrink drives process compliance improved accurancy in stock take
visibility of store process compliance highlights suppliers’ length of time to pass credit pin-points supplier performance of sending non-ranged product competitor benchmarking
delivering simplicity | visibility | control 5
the process Timely and accurate interpretation of data allows rascal’s retail partners to not only implement a win-at-the-shelf strategy, but also leads to increased cash-flow and significant labour savings. Provided daily to rascal from major suppliers, the Expected Goods-In file (EGI) is a key component in the rascal process and contains all data relating to the products each store is expected to receive from suppliers on a daily basis. Files provided by suppliers and publishers contain critical supply information: The up to date product file, including all on-sale date and off-sale dates. Notification of changes to barcode information. Product range information. Notification of promotions and promotional periods. Supply chain information, namely which supplier is delivering each title, including both national and local supplier information.
integrity Trust is hard earned and easily lost. Everyone at rascal is there to make a difference, offering our retail partners full dedication every time. We are committed to working truthfully and honestly, without excuse or exception. At rascal each of us is accountable, aware of our actions and the potential impact we can have on our retail partners’ businesses. 6
goods in Total visibility over goods in. The rascal platform deals with a huge amount of data transfer as each evening suppliers from across the UK provide rascal retail partners with store specific EGI files. This data is then fed directly to each store as a download straight to their PDA. The PDA plays a critical role in data gathering. Intuitive and easy to use the PDA allow even inexperienced in-store staff to take responsibility for goods-in scanning. Scanning goods-in significantly improves the time and accuracy of the goods-in process compared to historical paper based systems, and enables instant comparison against the EGI file to identify any supply discrepancies. Where previously store colleagues could be tied up on the telephone for long periods of time notifying suppliers of supply discrepancies, rascal handles this process for you. Scanned data is uploaded to the rascal platform whereupon an electronic feed is sent direct to suppliers to notify them of all discrepancies. In turn suppliers provide an electronic response file containing all credit due to the retailer.
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returns
range management
weekly product check
gap scanning
By scanning all titles on shelf or in the stock room, stores can immediately identify which titles are due for return. rascal’s intelligent PDA voice notification system alerts the operator if the product is due for return and to which supplier they should be sent. All returns data is uploaded to rascal.
Non-ranged product is instantly flagged to the operator when scanned using the PDA. This ensures unwanted product does not get placed on the fixtures and is returned to the supplier, with a credit for the unwanted products being passed back to the retailer immediately.
A huge advantage of the rascal system is the speed at which product checks can be carried out.
The rascal PDA can scan any gaps in store, the data is then uploaded to the rascal system, which can then automatically request an order from the supplier.
Once the returns have been collected by the supplier, the returns are re-scanned back at the supplier depot and the supplier sends rascal an electronic credit file. rascal then compares the credit file with what the store actually scanned and automatically claims any discrepancies directly with the supplier. Using the rascal insight platform, retailers have total visibility over the returns process allowing easy access to credit due for payment and detailed information of any refused credit.
Managers have total visibility over stock and supplier performance via the rascal insight platform.
Once per week the retailer scans all fixtures, one copy of each title in-store. Once scanned the PDA informs the store colleague of issues that are due for recall, not part of the designated range or at the end of promotion. This leads to a large reduction in late returns. Having quick and easy product checks leads to increased store compliance and overall range discipline. The impact is an enhanced shopper experience where tidy fixtures contain no out of date or non-ranged product.
stock taking Stock taking with rascal is simple. Each product barcode is scanned, with the number of copies being carried entered into the PDA. Once the stock take is complete the total stock take value is displayed in retail sales value on the PDA screen. This data is then uploaded to rascal and a stock take report is published which details volume and value at title level. Reporting is available at store, region or estate level via rascal insight.
This can result in significant sales increases and have a positive impact on user experience, all the time giving the retailer total visibility of supplier performance.
messaging (to shop floor) Messages from rascal can be sent directly to the PDA at various stages - making the rascal PDA more than just a recording tool. It provides the category manager with the knowledge that the right information gets to the right people at the right time - whether that be to inform about new titles or promotions, or as a reminder to perform checks. Store compliance is thus improved as each store has to confirm each message received before it can carry out further work.
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reporting rascal insight provides a highly versatile Management Information tool that enables total visibility across a wide range of compliance and commercial data. Using rascal insight problem stores and areas can be instantly and easily identified. rascal then works to provide support and corrective action to improve store and supplier performance.
store compliance
The management report is rascal’s key top-line summary report for retailers.
Poor process compliance when booking in and returning stock is the key contributor to category shrink. This simple and easy to use report gives management visibility of stores’ performance and areas to focus on which will improve the overall control of the category.
It gives simple, accurate and up-to-date visibility of stores’ and suppliers’ performance, across key metrics, during the delivery, receiving, returning and crediting processes.
The report can be configured according to customer requirements but typically breaks stores down into clusters such as by regional or territory managers.
This allows customers to easily measure performance, identify areas requiring focus and facilitates control of the News and Magazine category.
The Daily Store Compliance tab shows a breakdown of store scanning performance as well as whether they meet timeline targets for uploading newspaper or magazine delivery shortages which are time sensitive. Any claims for shortages raised outside of these timelines are unlikely to be credited.
The report is split into detailed tabs which focus on the category sub-sets; returns and deliveries, separated out by newspapers and magazines.
The Weekly Store Compliance tab shows process activity across the week and using Red Amber Green colour coding highlights if stores have met pre-defined company KPI’s for performance. It also shows rolling month to date average compliance and trending.
Our retail partners can use the reports to monitor the performance of stores, suppliers and merchandisers. Publishers can use them to check Promotional Adherence, Point of Sale Compliance, Point of Sale Positioning, Stock Checking, Availability and New Launch activity.
non-range report
bespoke reporting
The non-range report is rascal’s primary tool for highlighting range and supply problems across a retailer’s estate.
rascal’s comprehensive Business Objects reporting tool provides the ability to easily produce simple customised reports giving visibility on any given key metric area.
Suppliers can use them to check when they need to collect goods and to check when there is a query on the credits.
It gives simple, easy to understand visibility, broken down and ranked by supplier, publisher, title and store performance. The report highlights the scale of titles delivered into stores which were not part of the range as well as those retained incorrectly and not returned.
The process of creating the reports is as simple as taking the key metric variables, dragging them into a table and using filters and calculations to give the desired visibility and results.
rascal insight has a multitude of reports available to the retailer, publisher, distributor and merchandiser.
Depending on the customer’s requirements, the reports can either be placed on the rascal website where the user has a personal password for instant access or they can be emailed directly to the relevant department.
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management report
These reports can be built from scratch and to customer requirements.
Our team of account managers are comprehensively trained in all the skills required to produce ad-hoc reports as well as understanding the complexities of the data relationships.
This allows the retailer to challenge both the supplier and in-store processes and improves control of what goes in and out of stores.
rascal’s report authors are experienced in producing more complex customer bespoke reports which are specific to the individual needs of the retailer and fundamental to the successful control of the category.
Where appropriate the report is split into detailed tabs which focus on different retailer store formats (main estate, convenience, petrol filling stations). The report includes weekly analysis trending on the key metrics.
rascal leads the way in this field and provides access to information not available elsewhere.
rascal can provide customer interactive access which allows existing reports to be re-run and filtered on demand. There is also a training solution which would allow key resources to build simple reports and run queries based around pre-defined variables and criteria.
sample / management report This shows the value of all copies scanned in store.
This lists the wholesalers that supply to your stores.
This shows the value of all copies received at wholesale that were not scanned in store.
This shows the value of all copies received at wholesale.
www.rascalsystems.com rascal leads the way in this field and provides access to information not available elsewhere.
This shows the value of all claims sent by rascal querying the credits.
This shows the value of the total credit given by wholesaler.
rascal’s report authors are experienced in producing complex customer bespoke reports which are fundamental to the successful control of the category.
This shows the value of all credits disallowed by wholesale for all reasons other than too late (e.g. ret>had, firm sale).
This shows the value of all credits passed as a result of the rascal email claims.
This shows the value of total credits refused by wholesale as too late.
This shows the value of all credits that were disallowed by wholesale and had been scanned in store 16 days after the recall date.
This shows the value of what rascal believes need escalatinig.
This shows the value of credits that were rejected by wholesale as too late but were actually scanned in time in store.
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as we see it pete kemble
jonty edwards
rascal has a come a long way in 10 years. Way back in 2002, we were operating a family run newspaper and magazine wholesale business, when we were approached by Tesco to assist them on their news and magazine category.
Our aim is to focus on driving results both for our retail partners and for the future growth and development of the rascal business.
managing director
Through this work we realised there was a gap in the market, helping retailers maximise profitability by ensuring their stores improve their compliance to the correct processes across their news and magazine category. Using our experience as wholesalers, we developed rascal, an automated method of scanning magazine returns using hand held PDAs in store, that ensures stores compliance to process and tracking of product returned to supplier. Working with our retail partners, we have continued to develop the rascal system, refining processes and adding functionality, now offering a full end-to-end solution that drives real value to their business. We have recently relocated to a new head office in Milton Keynes and purchased Open Projects, our partner software developing house. In 2012 we launched version 6 of our PDA software, bringing huge improvements in both the usability of the software as well as new and enhanced functionality. In the same year we launched rascal insight, our online reporting function, which improves the robustness, accessibility and flexibility of the information we provide to our retail partners.
sales director
We will do this by ensuring our people have the right skills in the right roles, underpinned by a culture that engenders collaborative and proactive relationships across all of our existing and future retail partnerships. The scope of opportunity for the rascal business is vast. We are building upon our success by increasing penetration in the domestic retail market and extending the offering into categories outside newspaper and magazines. Our vision is to identify international opportunities and work with our retail partners to explore areas where we may add value across their operations outside the UK.
The business now has a robust infrastructure in place for further expansion and we are all excited about the opportunities we are currently exploring with our retail partners to roll out rascal across categories beyond news and magazines.
results 10
We always have a better outcome in our sights. Everything we do is a means to an end, and that end is delivering results for our retail partners. Results aren’t optional — they’re essential.
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charley southon IT director
Sound technological systems underpin the rascal solution. Our aim is to ensure that we have the right people, process and technology in place to ensure our commitment to faultless service delivery and respond to our on-going customer needs. With our people it’s critical we ensure the depth and quality of our talent supports our ambitious growth strategy. We continue to work collaboratively with our retail partners to ensure sound processes and to facilitate agile development. We will continue to invest in our system architecture and champion new technology to support our sales strategy. We will build upon the recent acquisition of our software development house to provide continuous improvement and innovation via on-going product enhancements.
pete kemble
jonty edwards
charley southon
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www.rascalsystems.com
advanced mobile technology, giving retailers the power to minimise stock losses, maximise category sales and profitability. For further information, please call: Jonty Edwards on
01908 283900
enquiries@rascalsystems.com