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This is important in getting from the perusing stage to the purchasing stage which is the key for management to keep control and be fully aware of stock levels.Scala also provides functioning of the click and collect."Content is targeted at these walls based on their position in the store, with one screen always dedicated to welcoming the customer into the store and showcasing the staff on duty. Displays around the perimeter of the ‘customer browsing zone’ typically feature product promotions, with different product categories targeted at different zones. In addition, the payment and collection points are supported by up to 16 more displays, arranged over two video walls. Argos uses these video walls for flexible branding in the area: each till can be branded as a customer collection point or a ‘fast-track collections’ area at the touch of a button.""The extremely large footprint and stock size at Argos meant the company needed a digital signage solution that could deliver content that matched the current in-store conditions at all times. The signage network had to be able to show current pricing and use live, local stock data to decide which products get promoted."[Source http://scala.com/argos-goes-digital-creating-interactive-store-experience/Date accessed: 07/11/16] The above greatly ties in with generating and monitoring yield/revenue. As you can see in the above paragraphs, Scala is so finely tuned and in great compatibility in benefiting the customers and the business back to back. What is meant in saying that throughout this research the key running theme that is highlighted is that Scala has been incorporated in nearly every aspect of Argos' customer based experience, it would seem Scala plays a heavy role in the upkeep of customer experience and also drawing in customers, retaining customer information as well as attracting them to products they may not necessarily have initially thought of purchasing.The above paragraphs highly suggest an incredibly strategic operation mechanically engineered by Scala that Argos have managed to incorporate so beneficially well.

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As Argos switched to tablets, upon research and as previously mentioned, Argos uses Scala.Choosing Scala enabled Argos to make the transition to a digital experience for the customer, eliminating pen and paper.Scala is an acronym for “Scalable Language”. This means that Scala grows with you. You can play with it by typing one-line expressions and observing the results. To some, Scala feels like a scripting language. Its syntax is concise and low ceremony; its types get out of the way because the compiler can infer them. There’s a REPL and IDE worksheets for quick feedback.[Source [http://www.scala-lang.org/what-is-scala.htmlDate accessed 07/11/16]Scala enabled Argos to provide a smoother convenient and modern way of ordering.I found the following on the Scala website of what they generally aim to offer all of their clients“Draw customers into the retail experience with interactive and engaging digital solutions • Increase sales, operational efficiency and brand awareness • Embrace emerging technology and create a seamless, unobtrusive Omni-channel retail strategy •Confidently deploy content to thousands of screens using a proven, stable platform and cloud solution • Apply fact-based real-time customer preferences to optimize messages, tailoring down to even a single-customer focus • Convert casual consumers into loyal fans by leaving a lasting, meaningful experience and deeper brand awareness” [Source: https://scala.com/digital-signage-industry/retail/Date accessed: 6/11/16]
This ties in perfectly with the customer guest cycle and purchase cycle.Scala helped Argos go digital (as well as the tablets provided by Pixel Inspiration) and created a more technically interactive in-store experience.The customer and guest cycle and purchase cycle has been improved by a large scale.“When you’re printing several million catalogues containing over 30,000 products twice yearly, the management of product information, including pricing, simply can’t keep pace with digital channels.”[Source http://scala.com/argos-goes-digital-creating-interactive-store-experience/Date accessed: 07/11/16]   When taking into consideration the above information, it is apparent that the new digital age/era impact and Scala itself would prove to be useful for not only management but for customers.Customers are now able to check in store and go on the tablets and also at their own convenience online, the quantity of the item they require.They are also able to check the nearest location of the store that stocks the item and also read reviews left by other purchasers (rating the quality of the item) and also leave a review themselves.

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Argos has been well established as mentioned in our brief introduction into the company’s history.As decades have gone by and Argos has continued to trade; just as products they sell evolve, enhance and change over time, so has their information systems and how they provide and improve service for their customers.  Argos use information systems on a daily basis, this includes customer based and employee base. (However this report will focus heavily on the customer based information systems).Previously before Argos adopted the information system Scala to help assist the smoother faster customer experience; ordering in store would initially require the customer to physically come in store select item(s) take note/write down a reference slip of paper of the order number(s) with a pen or pencil provided and take the slip of paper to a counter to a staff member who would then proceed to search the availability of the item(s) and the proceed to take payment providing the customer with a receipt and ticket number, after this the customer would wait for the item ordered to be brought out from the stock room and then be on their way.This was the standard way of operating between the employee to the customer and this system has been affective for decades dating as far as the seventies. As we fast forward to the new millennium; Argos moved with times of the breakthrough phenomenon that changed businesses from all fields and changed the customer experience by offering a swifter, efficient and convenient customer experience and introduced online shopping (i.e. click and collect) and also eliminating the traditional pen and paper style of ordering and introduced tablets (though they did keep paper catalogues handy to pick-up in store and take home

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Definition of information systems-in regards to retail the following definition relates to information systems- Retail management means running a store where merchandise is sold and Retail Management Information Systems include using hardware, software and procedures to manage activities like planning, inventory control, financial management, logistics and point of sale transactions.https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&amp;ion=1&amp;espv=2&amp;ie=UTF-8#q=retail%20information%20systems%20definitionArgos

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Quick facts:

Argos modernises in-store experience with digital signage

Signage moves Argos from print to dynamic pricing

Argos now capitalises in-store on its outstanding e-commerce success

Retail industry first: unique signage and stock management integration

Integration of Social Media

Project expected roll-out across more Argos stores in the UK

(Computerweekly.com)

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Argos was launched back in 1973 by its founder Richard Tompkins (Cocozza, 2013), opening 17 stores. It is known for being catalogue based publishing 2 a year (Spring/Summer/Autumn Winter). In 2012 plans to gradually reduce producing the iconic catalogue, used by generations since its launch in 1973, was set to go ahead. This is to shift to online purchasing ( Hiscott, 2012).
Argos is the UK's leading digital retailer and offers more than 33,000 products. This is done through its website www.argos.co.uk as well as its mobile channels, stores (catalogues), over the phone and uniquely through Argos TV (Argos, 2016).
Argos continues to be the UK's largest high street retailers online having over 430 million website visits annually and through its network of 740 stores, and serves around 130 million customers a year (Argos, 2016).
Argos sales were 3.9 Billion in its financial year of February 2012 (Argos, 2016).

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Recommendations
Argos has already made vast improvements and has adapted to  the demands of their core customer base, which is why they are still the UK 's leading retailer.
Moving forward, their are some area's that they can improve on for example, the use of online services can be developed in the delivery service area with the  introduction to "fast track" and "click and collect" Argos can look at this area further, by incorporating the delivery of the service as well and giving customers an option for this service , for example same day delivery to your workplace. can be an area to improve customer experience.
Argos can also look at expanding their  branded products and introduce a high end option for their customers.  This would increase core customer spend as well as gaining new customers with well known brands improving in sales.
25% of customers also shop online with their mobile device ,customers look for convenience, and the use of mobiles for customers is one area that Argos can improve on.  Being able to communicate what products are on sale direct to the customer through their device can make it easier and more convenient.
As long as Argos maintains their presence and increase the use of technology it will maintain its place as the UK's leading retailer.

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YouTube(2016)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekrHAzr1f4I

YouTube (2016)

https://youtu.be/S2HII95opmg
YouTube(2016)
https://support.google.com/youtube/?p=report_playback
Argos 2016. Welcome to Argos, part of Home Retail Group (Online) Available at:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/StaticDisplay/includeName/AboutArgos.htm
Cocozza, P, 2013. Argos: 40 years of catalogue shopping (Online) Available at :
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/aug/25/argos-40-years-catalogue-shopping
Cmputer Weekly May 2013, Argos uses GIS to support multichannel strategy  (Online) Available at:
http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240184945/Argos-uses-GIS-to-support-multichannel-strategy
Hiscott, G, 2012, Catalogue of destruction: End of an era as Argos shifts focus from stores to online (Online) Available at:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/city-news/argos-to-close-50-stores-and-phase-1397683
Zwass, V, 2016, Information system, (Online) Avaliable at:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/information-system

https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=retail%20information%20systems%20definition

Date sourced: 7th November 2016
Online article
[Source http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/tablets/argos-ditches-catalogues-for-ipads-3491372/
date accessed: 01/11/16
Scala definition
[Source [http://www.scala-lang.org/what-is-scala.html
Date accessed 07/11/16]
Scala related - research
[Source: https://scala.com/digital-signage-industry/retail/
Date accessed: 6/11/16]
[Source
http://scala.com/argos-goes-digital-creating-interactive-store-experience/
Date accessed: 07/11/16]

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Argos goes digital by creating an interactive in-store experience. British retail giant Argos, traditionally known for its catalog-based ordering and in-store warehouse-connected purchasing experience, is now using digital technology to make its customer experience more interactive.

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We're proud to have been a major provider of an innovative new store format for Argos; supporting their move into digital technology to improve the customer experience. The concept included digital touchscreen catalogues and light boxes, as well as a revamped design giving a bright, modern look and feel.

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Argos Value Range Compact Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner

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Argos Delivers Convenience, Immediacy Via Mobile

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Over 40 years, U.K. retailer Argos continued to deliver its catalog to 18 million households. But with 46% of its customers starting their journey online, it was time for a change. Bertrand Bodson, chief digital officer, talks about how Argos uses mobile to engage shoppers and drive fulfillment.