Habitat selects ebizmarts for in-store POS

ebizmarts, provider of Point of Sale software for the Magento retail ecosystem, has provided homeware retailer Habitat with a flexible Point of Sale (POS) solution.

Following the acquisition of Home Retail Group by Sainsbury's in September 2016, Habitat had a pressing need to quickly deploy a POS to support a new store opening strategy which included a variety of store formats including new stand-alone stores and Mini Habitat concession stores within a new Sainsbury's network.

There was an immediate requirement for a POS solution that could access Habitat's existing stock information and accommodate demanding complex conditions. ebizmarts was the right fit for this new situation. With Habitat's stock already stored on its Magento ecommerce platform, ebizmarts was able to quickly deploy its enterprise grade POS app, enabling a seamless deployment and a consistent and personalised omnichannel experience in store.

Moving to concessions in the likes of Argos and Sainsbury's, Habitat began using the POS app as a traditional till system with additional endless aisle capabilities, aiding the organisation greatly through the challenges faced during a busy start-up period and giving the concessions access to Habitat's full product catalogue.

Andrew Pratt, Business and IT Change Manager at Habitat, said: "Following our acquisition by Sainsbury's we went through a great period of exciting change which required new and flexible ways of working to ensure minimal disruption to our customers and brand. We recognised we needed assistance and this is where ebizmarts came into its own.

"Due to ebizmarts' flexible software and the team's agile approach to doing business, we were able to use the POS system to create ecommerce orders in store for an endless aisle experience, in conjunction with PayPal Here, for a fully integrated payment experience."

John Fitchett, Managing Director UK & Europe at ebizmarts, adds: "We are delighted to be part of a crucial transformation for such a popular household brand. We believe that in store POS solutions need to be both adaptive to changing physical environments and fit for the fast-paced digital world.

"I am pleased to say our native Magento POS has fulfilled Habitat's immediate needs perfectly, enabling easy-to-use iPads to become a secure POS for the Habitat team.

"Habitat and ebizmarts have a great relationship and a shared vision for the future of in store commerce. We hope to continue working together to provide great solutions in times of rapid change and development."

First implemented in Mini Habitat stores in Edinburgh, Nine Elms, London Colney and Marshall Lake, as well as Habitat's first standalone store in Leeds, the brand is adding three new stores to the POS system with the relationship between ebizmarts being extended.