Dairy Mart Selects Unisys to Integrate Automated Store Data Collection System.

BLUE BELL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 20, 1997--

$4.8 million project will improve customer service, increase productivity

Unisys Corp. Monday announced that Dairy Mart, a major Midwestern convenience store chain, has selected Unisys Information Services Group to serve as the systems integrator in the implementation of its Retail Automation Project, a data collection and management system.

The new system will be installed at Dairy Mart's company-owned and limited-franchise facilities.

This $4.8-million engagement represents the first phase of a two-stage total store automation project to install a company-wide, full-service call center and automated point-of-sale operation. Phase 1 is expected to be completed by August 1998.

By automating its store data collection, Dairy Mart expects to increase the timeliness and accuracy of store information sent to the home office. The company anticipates the new system will provide improved control of its "shrink" (inventory losses), higher gross margins, and effective price change management with more accurate vendor/retail pricing.

Dairy Mart also expects the automated data collection process to increase productivity and reduce store managerial paperwork, allowing more accurate and timely reporting, improved customer service and increased sales.

As systems integrator, Unisys will provide integrated installation, educational and technical support, as well as project management for the implementation of the Resource Management System (RMS), a store-level packaged solution from PDI (Professional Datasolutions Inc.).

This PC-based system will interface with newly installed point-of-sale devices. At closing, all financial and inventory data will be transferred to the PDI/RMS system and uploaded to the PDI/RMS corporate management system.

Unisys will also supply a custom 24-hour help desk system with remote analysis capabilities. Once this system is deployed, if a store experiences a PDI/RMS or point-of-sale problem, employees can contact a customer service agent who will log on to that particular store's terminal screen, identify the trouble spot, determine whether the problem is software- or hardware-related, and take corrective measures.

Additionally, Unisys Information Services is teaming with DecisionOne Corp., a leading independent provider of computer maintenance and technology support services. DecisionOne will provide site survey and staging services, distribute new systems to various Dairy Mart locations, and provide on-site installation of various store-level devices.

Unisys is also partnering with Knowledge Alliance to offer custom curriculum development and training services for store personnel. In addition, Unisys will supply project management and technical consultants to support the Retail Automation Project, and provide on-site assistance at each Dairy Mart store.

"Over the past three years, we have outsourced to Unisys the processing of our mainframe and UNIX-based legacy applications, ranging from store accounting to financial reporting," said Scott Stein, Dairy Mart's vice president of information systems. "During that time, we have partnered with Unisys to reengineer these applications in an effort to move Dairy Mart closer to a true client/server, open-systems computing environment."

According to Stein, "Unisys has come to thoroughly understand our business operations and processes, philosophy and culture. This knowledge and experience, combined with Unisys systems integration expertise and ability to mix and match the best technologies available, enabled Unisys to help us develop a flexible, customer-focused retail automation strategy and tactical plan that meets all our requirements."

"It was our goal to build the best foundation possible for Dairy Mart so the company can readily adapt to changing market conditions and be able to accommodate any future expansion plans," said Fred Dillman, Unisys principal, Commercial Practice East. "Being Dairy Mart's outsourcing partner gave us the opportunity to study the company in-depth, so that we could achieve this goal."

Dairy Mart

Dairy Mart Convenience Stores Inc., one of the nation's leading convenience store chains, owns or operates over 600 retail stores in seven states. The company is headquartered in Ohio, where there are more than 400 Dairy Mart stores.

Unisys Information Services

As one of the three core businesses of Unisys Corp., Information Services designs, builds and integrates value-added business solutions that help clients improve their competitive edge and responsiveness to customers. To learn more about Information Services, access http://www.unisys.com/isg on the World Wide Web.

Unisys -- The Information Management Company

Unisys is one of a select group of companies with the portfolio of services, technologies and third party alliances needed to deliver the benefits of information management -- helping clients use their information asset to enhance their competitiveness and responsiveness to customers.

Our expertise in information management is founded on the strengths of our three global businesses: consulting, solutions and systems integration; industry-leading technologies; and comprehensive services and products supporting distributed computing environments. Access the Unisys home page on the World Wide Web -- http://www.unisys.com -- for further information. -0- Unisys is a registered trademark of Unisys Corp. All other brands and products referenced herein are acknowledged to be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT: Unisys Corp.

Sheila Konczewski, 215/986-7880

Internet: [e-mail]

or

Copithorne & Bellows 

Mary-Margaret Wantuck, 617/450-4300

Internet: [e-mail]