The John Lewis Partnership becomes another active user of a Cobalt System today with the full launch of MARY, a bespoke system deployed in association with Interactive Maintenance Systems Ltd.

Developed from another successful Cobalt system, MARY allows each branch within the John Lewis retail network to report any maintenance work carried out in the store. MARY then coordinates the reports centrally. Using integration links, the data captured allows:

• the creation of national reports;
• automatic co-ordination of supply chain alterations; and
• the triggering of supplier payments.

MARY's attraction stems from using a conventional and very reliable technology in an innovative way. Trendy technological alternatives, including processes based on PDA's and hand-held PC devices, were rejected on the grounds of cost, complexity and risk.

The benefits of MARY have been recognised by other major retail groups and the announcement of further sales by Cobalt and IMS Ltd can be expected during 2002.

Note to editors

The John Lewis Partnership is Britain's leading department store group and the owner of the Waitrose supermarket chain. The group has a turnover exceeding £4bn. The group trades from 26 department stores and 132 Waitrose food outlets and has a significant e-commerce capability. Notably, the Partnership is entirely owned, in trust, by its employees.

Click here to link to the John Lewis website