BRUNO'S BEGINS NEW CASHIER MONITORING SOFTWARE ROLLOUT

DEENA AMATO-McCOY

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A chainwide rollout of software applications that will allow Bruno's here to analyze cashier performance based on data gathered at the point-of-sale will begin this month.

Bruno's, with approximately 200 supermarkets, expects to reduce shrink and improve its cashiers' performance through the installation of front end monitoring software. The application is expected to be live chainwide by the end of the year.

"The application monitors all of our cashiers' transactions and automatically targets any activity that even suggests shrink from errors, inefficiency or theft," said Kevin Ofenloch, director of loss prevention for Bruno's.

Bruno's began pilot testing the application in 50 stores in October. The test, which lasted until February, reportedly produced a 25% reduction in shrink, according to a source familiar with the situation. Ofenloch declined to comment on specific results Bruno's achieved.

"Results that we are hoping to see include increased awareness in the different shrink areas at the front end by our store managers and associates," he said. "We noticed an immediate change in the attitude of our test stores, through increased awareness of not only shrink issues but also increased efficiency by our cashiers. That leads to better overall performance and improved customer service."

The software will allow Bruno's to monitor which cashiers are generating excessive cash-handling errors and front-end losses due to sliding, scanning errors, coupon misredemption or register voids. The software analyzes these details based on item movement data collected at POS.

"The application, which is constantly monitoring more than 40 cashier transaction categories, combines different patterns and trends over three-, six- and 12-week periods to identify the problem areas," Ofenloch said in a statement. "If a cashier is making errors and needs retraining, the software will alert us to that too."

The software also interfaces with another application that allows the retailer to compare cashier productivity and performance between stores.

"By combining the programs, we can alert district managers and loss prevention managers to what is happening," at store level, he said.

In addition to the applications rollout, Bruno's is also training store managers to use positive reinforcement to address trouble areas among employees. "Every store manager is trained to proactively coach cashiers to achieve improved performance and reduce theft," Ofenloch said in a statement. "This training makes the software even more effective."

Both software modules, Shrink Trax and Host Trax, are provided by Trax Software, Scottsdale, Ariz.