New solution enables retailers to monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), receive alerts, and assign corrective action using wide variety of smartphones and handheld computers; managers can monitor key labor scheduling and time and attendance trends and make better decisions -- whether on the road or on the sales floor

DEDHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Reflexis Systems Inc. today announced its integrated platform of labor scheduling, time and attendance, compliance/audit, and KPI/task management solutions now supports a wide variety of smartphones and handheld computers. With the solution, retailers can monitor important metrics and trends related to employee schedules, payroll, time and attendance, task completion, and compliance using a mobile device, instead of being stuck behind a PC in an office. When an important metric is about the fall out of defined tolerance levels, an alert can be sent to the appropriate manager's handheld. The manager can then assign corrective action based on best practices embedded in the system.

The following Reflexis solutions are available on smartphones and handheld devices:

Reflexis Workforce Manager (labor budgeting, forecasting, and scheduling with time and attendance). Retailers can monitor metrics regarding payroll levels, overtime, labor law and union contract compliance, and more in real time. The role-based system presents information that is appropriate for a specific type of manager. When a KPI is about to fall out of tolerance, the system can issue an alert, and the manager can assign corrective action. The system can also be configured to automatically assign best practice-based follow-up tasks.

Reflexis Task Manager and KPI Activator. Managers can manage tasks and monitor compliance levels and color-coded KPIs (e.g., sales and profit margin) at the departmental, store, regional, and enterprise level. The solution flags late or unfinished tasks. Management by exception enables store, field, and corporate managers to focus their attention where most needed.

Reflexis StoreWalk. Managers can conduct store walks and audits using their smartphone or other handheld device instead of using inefficient and error-prone paper and clipboard. Loss prevention, safety, merchandising, and other audits can be completed using checklists on their phones as supervisors walk through a store. Information can be sent immediately to corporate for further analysis and action. When problems are identified, best-practice corrective action can be assigned from within the system.

Reflexis Vendor Performance Manager. Merchandising service teams, retail support, and other mobile workers can receive schedules and tasks and verify project completion on their handheld devices. Corporate can track elapsed time required to complete tasks and benchmark performance to labor standards.

"Mobile technology is re-defining the retailer-consumer dynamic," said Murtaza Ghadyali, vice president of product management for Reflexis. "Just as consumers are increasingly relying on mobile phones to research prices and product, find stores, and make smarter buying decisions, retailers can leverage the technology to increase employee efficiency and product knowledge and improve customer service. The integrated Reflexis Retail Execution Management platform enables retailers to align work and tasks to the company's corporate strategy. Reflexis workforce management solutions on smartphones further enhance employee performance. Retailers can rapidly detect and respond to problems and opportunities while spending more time on the sales floor helping customers."

At NRF: Reflexis, Cisco, and IBM will host a "Big !deas" session called "Strengthen Brand Loyalty and Uncover Profit Through Flawless Execution" on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 from 3:00 to 3:45 pm in room 3D04 in the Expo Hall. For more information, click here.