Dubai Duty Free (DDF) has become the first customer to upgrade to the new business system offering multiple services known as ‘Oracle Retail Release 16’, according to the Oracle company.

 

“Dubai Duty Free incorporates Oracle Retail solutions that reflect the retail expertise, knowledge, and understanding that we need as our business continues to grow,” said Ramesh Cidambi, COO at Dubai Duty Free. He also added that this latest implementation is one of the smoothest he has witnessed in his retail career.

 

Both companies confirm that in just under eight months they have been able to complete the upgrade of DDF’s Oracle Retail Merchandising System, Price Management, Invoice Match, Sales Audit, Warehouse Management, Store Inventory Management and Retail Insights from Release 12 to Release 16.

 

SUBSTANTIAL UPGRADE TO DDF SYSTEMS IS COMPLETE

Oracle added: “The upgrade project also included interfaces to e-commerce, the point-of-sale system, warehouse automation and the Oracle E-business suite.

 

“The new functionality of Release 16 will increase user productivity through exception-based retailing, persona specific dashboards, operational efficiencies, and widespread mobility. Additionally, the new technology allows click and collect with accurate inventory visibility and best-in-class processes with Oracle Commerce and Oracle Retail.”

 

Paying tribute to DDF’s partner knowledge and the quality of its systems, DDF’s Cidambi added: “Oracle understands the Middle Eastern market and is constantly extending the breadth and depth of its applications to match the challenges of modern organizations in all industry sectors.

 

Dubai Duty Free incorporates Oracle Retail solutions that reflect the retail expertise, knowledge, and understanding that we need as our business continues to grow.”

 

‘TRAIN THE TRAINER’

“Tata Consulting Services (TCS) partnered with my team and Oracle Retail to ensure the project was delivered on time and within budget. Dubai Duty Free established a Train the Trainer programme and appointed a User Acceptance Team to ensure a smooth roll out across the enterprise,” said Cidambi.

 

“Setting up an Oracle Customer Management Office for better turnaround time on Service Requests has helped in timely resolution of priority issues. TCS provided expertise, enthusiasm and a collaborative approach to the implementation. The implementation of Oracle Retail is one of the smoothest implementations of my retail career.”

 

Adding his comments, Ray Carlin, SVP and General Manager of Oracle Retail said: “Airports are by definition the retail environment where speed matters most. To deploy Oracle Retail Release 16 in such rapid time reflects the pace at which technology disruption is changing the ways people shop and is an incredible achievement by Dubai Duty Free and TCS.”