Anyone who works in retail for any time at all will quickly understand the importance of the bottom line – which translates to the need to keep a sharp eye on costs.

Technology is often looked to deliver ‘bursts’ of cost-savings through specific projects and (for example) automation. But over the longer term, it’s just as important to be able to maintain fixed and predictable costs as it is to have flagship cost-saving initiatives. Moving as much as possible from CAPEX to OPEX is a good way of doing this.

Multinational confectionery giant (and long-time OLR client) MARS needed to future-proof both its technology capabilities and its costs relating to its 12 flagship M&M stores worldwide. OLR has executed a high-level consultation program with MARS around digital transformation, POS, interfaces and general retail. We are implementing one global payment solution – prior to this, MARS had multiple payment solutions based on country. We’ve also refreshed a previously failed mobile solution for their stores.

We’ve enabled MARS to go above and beyond a standard maintenance contract, ensuring MARS will always be up to date. Adding in support packages and built-in version upgrades, we’ve enabled MARS to move from CAPEX funding to OPEX, giving them financial predictability through a fixed cost of ownership.

Over 2021 MARS will be opening up additional stores and expanding into new countries; OLR will assist in making the POS compliant in each location. OLR has delivered much more than cost savings for MARS: we’ve delivered clarity, visibility and value. And it’s not just M&M stores where we’re helping MARS – we also run Xstore in MARS’ Ethel M chains.