Executive Summary

Executive Summary

True Value Company (formerly known as True Value Corporation) is a cooperative comprised of member owners who are entrepreneur-retailers and it has a "members first" focus policy. True Value Company is committed to empowering the independent retailer with complete retail solutions. True Value Company continues to set new industry and market standards by providing members with expertise in niche businesses, creative marketing and incentive programs, award-winning merchandising and technology, and quality training. Today, True Value consists of more than 6,000 stores worldwide, with 12 regional distribution centres and 3,000 associates.

To remain competitive, True Value decided to invest in information technology to ensure that it remains ahead of it competitors. The identified what was needed to be changed and came up with the following solutions.

On board communication system

True Value uses trucks to deliver goods to their individual physical stores across the country. Some problems encountered were the need to know where the trucks were, keeping deliveries on time, improving efficiency and communication with the trucks. In light of these problems, in 2005, True Value implemented communication system from PeopleNet. Besides allowing for two way communications with the trucks, this on-board communication system installed on its transportation fleet, allowed for greater efficiency and safety during operation, helped drive down cost and kept deliveries on time. The system also allowed True Value to track its vehicle's location via a GPS.

Inventory Management

The fact that True Value is such a big company with more than 5,000 retail outlet located across the country means that tracking sales and promotional information was a challenge. True Value then collaborated with Business Objects, providers