News

Supermarket chain updating POS system tied to kiosks

January 13, 2004

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Pathmark Stores, the first IBM supermarket customer to use scanning point-of-sale systems 30 years ago, is upgrading all of its stores to advanced IBM SurePOS 700 systems and new supermarket application software to speed checkout, increase capabilities and provide a retail-hardened platform to enable future promotions and services for Pathmark customers.

The original electronic POS systems and scanners from three decades ago have evolved into powerful computer-based systems that feature Internet access, multimedia capabilities and are connected to kiosks and wireless consumer access devices to allow Pathmark associates to perform a number of personalized services for increasingly choosy consumers.

POS systems form the backbone of the emerging store of the future in which these wireless devices, used by both the stores and shoppers, promise to change the retail shopping experience, according to a news release.

Pathmark Stores recently completed the replacement of all of its more than 2,700 IBM 4683 POS systems with new, advanced IBM SurePOS 700 systems in its 143 stores.

Pathmark plans to standardize on the IBM 4690 Operating System for its POS network and also selected the IBM Application Client Server Environment grocery-application software.