LONDON and ARMONK, N.Y., June 22,
2016 /CNW/ -- Boots, the UK's leading pharmacy-led
health and beauty retailer, and IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced
that Boots has launched Sales Assist, an IBM MobileFirst for iOS
app, across its UK stores to make it easier and simpler for
customers to get hold of the products they need.
Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7724253-ibm-boots-uk-mobile-app-launch/
IBM is working with Boots UK to further evolve the app and
support the retailer's vision to use mobility to change the way
customers shop. Boots UK is part of the Retail Pharmacy
International Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq:
WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing
enterprise.
"At Boots UK we're investing in innovative new technology to
further improve the retail experience for our customers, and
mobility is at the forefront of this transformation," said
Robin Phillips, Director of
Omnichannel and Development at Boots UK. "By developing Sales
Assist, in collaboration with IBM and Apple, and launching it on
the 3,700 iPads in our stores, we're integrating our digital and
in-store presence to deliver an even better shopping environment
for customers. The unique tool allows our colleagues to quickly
show product information, ratings and reviews, look up inventory
online and make recommendations based on online analytics, all from
the shop floor. It will help even our smallest stores feel like a
flagship shop, with access to the entire Boots range at their
fingertips."
Sales Assist is one of more than 100 apps in the IBM MobileFirst
for iOS portfolio made exclusively for iPhone and iPad that are
changing the nature of work for global companies in specific
industries and professions.
The new app taps into the product databases on boots.com with
iPad, and uses its analytics to enable colleagues to easily make
personal recommendations to customers, such as additional items or
alternatives available, as well as view item location and online
inventory. If a product is not in stock in store, the Boots
colleague can simply use the app to locate the item in another
Boots store nearby or offer to order the product online to be
collected in the store of their choice the next day*.
Vickie Ward is a Boots Customer
Assistant who the team invited to help design and develop the app
based on her experience of supporting the in store customer
journey. Vickie said: "We worked hard to design the Sales Assist
app around the needs of Boots colleagues, and using it gives us the
confidence to provide our customers with the most up-to-date advice
on products and offers on the spot. It helps us to give customers
an even better and more personal experience, so no one goes home
disappointed."
"Together, IBM and Apple are working with companies and real
industry professionals to change how companies do business, and our
collaboration with Boots UK is delivering a more contemporary
approach to customer service," said Mahmoud
Naghshineh, general manager, Apple partnership, IBM. "By
empowering its colleagues with up-to-date data and product
information delivered to the Apple device, Boots UK is leading
amongst retailers by creating an enriched shopping experience that
helps personalize customer engagement and enables faster
service."
Boots is using Bluemix, IBM's cloud platform, to link Sales
Assist with the company's applications and data, enabling a
high-performance, scalable and flexible hybrid cloud environment.
As a result, the company can rapidly deliver recommendations to
customers, seamlessly view inventory and more across boots.com,
which runs on IBM WebSphere Commerce with integration services from
IBM Global Business Services.
*Place an order online or in store before 8pm, for free collection in store after
12pm the next day, exclusions apply.
The service is available Monday-Saturday in over 2,300 stores,
excluding the Scottish Highlands/Islands, Jersey/Guernsey and
Northern Ireland Stores. See the store locator on boots.com for
your local store opening hours. See boots.com for details.
About Boots
Boots UK (boots.com), the UK's leading
pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer, is part of the Retail
Pharmacy International Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
(Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing
enterprise. With 2,510* stores in the UK, Boots UK is
committed to providing exceptional customer and patient care, be
the first choice for pharmacy and healthcare and offer innovative
'only at Boots' exclusive products such as the UK's leading
skincare brand No7, all delivered with the great value customers
love. Created over 165 years ago, the Boots brand is still at the
heart of the communities it serves.
*As at 31 August 2015 excluding
equity method investments
About IBM
For more information regarding IBM
MobileFirst for iOS apps and services please visit
www.ibm.com/mobilefirst/us/en/mobilefirst-for-ios.html or
www.apple.com/business/mobile-enterprise-apps/.
Media Contacts:
IBM:
Marisa Conway
IBM Media Relations
917-992-0280
conwaym@us.ibm.com
Boots UK:
Clare Stafford and Beth Simmons
Corporate and Pharmacy Communications
+44 (0) 115 949 5683
clare.stafford@boots.co.uk
bethan.simmons@boots.co.uk
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boots-uk-creates-unique-digital-shopping-experience-by-developing-mobile-app-with-ibm-300288425.html
SOURCE IBM