Arch Retail Systems is a leading retail management software solution in Southern Africa, with in excess of 1,300 stores applying the solution. The client base includes major national retail groups such as OK Foods, Cambridge Foods, Jumbo Cash & Carry, Ultra Liquors and President Hyper. The group has established a significant footprint beyond South Africa with the solution operational in Botswana, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, DRC and Tanzania. Spinnaker Software, which develops and implements the Arch solution, recently announced a major step in expanding their market, with the first store in the UAE going live on Arch.

Spinnaker has entered into a partnership agreement with Sepia Technologies, a Dubai based POS company, who will market and support the Arch solution in the UAE. Spinnaker maintains the role of technology partner, ensuring an advanced reliable solution. Anoosh Mourad, owner of Sepia, said they have an established POS solution in the restaurant sector, but made a strategic decision to branch out into the retail sector in the UAE. A number of potential retail POS solutions were evaluated and Arch addresses the required functionality best. The two critical issues for them are Arabic slip printing (being developed at present) and multiple tax rates - variable tax rates applicable in the UAE from January this year.

Al Khaleej Market, a general dealer store in Al Fujairah, is the first store where Arch has been implemented. Arch Business Development Manager and a Business Analyst formed a strong team with the store and Sepia to ensure a successful implementation. Feedback to date from the store owners and Sepia is positive, complementing the smooth installation and implementation, but also highlighting Arch as being rich in functionality and user-friendly. As a result of the success in the first store, another 3 stores are part of the immediate future planning.

Says David Geldenhuys, Marketing Executive at Spinnaker Software: "We as a company are excited to present the Middle East retail market with our cutting-edge suite of products. It is part of our strategy to grow globally in selected markets, provided we can enter into strong partnerships with suited business partners in the selected countries - Sepia Technologies has offered exactly this and we wish them all the best with their marketing drive."