The challenges facing the retail industry in today's market are daunting. Retail executives are on the firing line to develop strategies that will increase the existing customer base while holding the line or even reducing costs. Complicating the task, of course, is the ever increasing swirl of competition. To defend or increase market share, the retailer's most effective strategy is New Store Construction. Their most effective decision?

Plan-TIS works with the customer to craft a master course of action, meticulously planning each phase of a technology rollout for new store construction. From store design and equipment specifications to timetables, budgets, staffing levels, and training requirements, every detail is anticipated. With input from the customer, and other supply chain partners, TIS pinpoints key business processes, and engineers a plan of action to configure, test, and implement each component in the store design. Such diligent preparation ensures that TIS meets every customer objective, every time.

Source-TIS works with the customer to identify, select, schedule, and finance all required devices and materials. Once procured, TIS will receive, warehouse, and track the inventory throughout the entire deployment process.

Build-Key to TIS' mastery of new store systems deployment is our Warehouse, Staging and Configuration Center: a near-100,000 square foot facility that is specifically designed for the deployment of complex computer and network technologies to hundreds or thousands of sites. The capacity of this site- along with the toolsets and processes that produce the industry's fastest rollouts-allow TIS to easily scale and tailor its services to accommodate the most aggressive store growth plans.

TIS offers services on an individual device deployment basis, or as all-inclusive, pre-staged and packaged solutions. The Store-in-a-Box solution is designed specifically to culminate in completely connected and tested store systems verified before shipping from TIS' Warehouse, Staging and Configuration Center.

To consistently and accurately build store systems, TIS utilizes its proprietary Integrators' Workbench automated configuration tool to pre-configure all store devices that are externally programmable.

The Workbench further ensures zero-defects by generating customized device documentation and labels only after the device has been properly configured and tested. The creation of timely and accurate installation instructions, shipping forms and labels, plus any other customer-specific documentation during the configuration process helps to ensure that final device preparation is completed correctly and efficiently.

Deliver-TIS dispatches accurately-configured, fully-functional, and completely documented store systems on a just-in-time schedule to ensure timely implementations. TIS manages the installation of all new store systems before transition to the customer for acceptance.

TIS utilizes its world-class suite of software tools, eDeployT, to efficiently and effectively manage all aspects of the technology deployment process. eDeploy allows customers and project managers to track the status of orders, assets, and sites in addition to other informational elements inherent to their store development strategies.

Service and Return-TIS assumes responsibility for service, repair, return, and disposal of computer equipment and components at all customer locations. TIS supports its customers with a variety of services to include replacing, upgrading, as well as performing maintenance calls.