About
I’m Phil Bowden and I am an independent consultant specialising in technology and infrastructure support for the retail, hospitality and leisure industries. I advise on the correct solution based on client needs and I have no affiliation to any supplier.
I have been involved in the retail market sector for over 30 years. My experience includes management for a large furniture chain to being the owner of a successful wine bar. I have held senior management positions with several large retail system integrators including ComputerAid, McDonald Douglas and latterly with Wincor Nixdorf. As a result, I have an exceptional knowledge of retail ranging from supply chain management to multi-channel vending.
My work involves advising clients on the “best of breed” solution by identifying and putting together a shortlist of vendors based on a RFI (Request for Information) or RFP (Request for Proposal) that is created following client discussions.
I then devise a script that covers all the needs of the client and creates the equal “playing field” for vendor assessment and subsequently I organise the presentations and act as an independent opinion for my client’s project group to test their objective appraisal.
Following a final decision on the “best solution” I continue in a consultancy role to assist the project management team during implementation.
Services
The Business Proposition is:
- The creation of documentation for assessing the best solution
- The management and control of the assessment process
- Assisting Project management during the implementation process
- Assisting implementation of Software and Hardware Support
Having been involved in several successful implementations I understand the importance and necessity of working in partnership with client’s Professional Services Team. I also understand the value of good relations with potential vendors during the purchase cycle. With every project I am involved in I hope to bring that balance with me. Successful implementations depend on good communication and co-operation between all parties.
Expertise
Hardware & Software
chip & pin
self checkout
mobile pos
Self-edge labelling
smart card
visual merchandising
radio frequency id
multi channel marketing
cash management
case studies
Royal holloway Students Union
Completed tender document for RHSU inclusive of Retail Store, off-site Public House, Two Nightclub Venues, Events and Pop-up Venues along with a restaurant/cafe. Following successful Vendor selection acted on behalf of RHSU as their Project Manager during install.
Wales millennium centre
At the request of the Wales Millennium Center in Cardiff, I wrote an Epos and Stock Control Tender for a complete Cashless revenue solution with Mobile Phone Ordering application.
I managed the process of selecting key Vendors and designed demonstration script and scoring sheets to ensure effective selection process. Finally, I advised on integration into existing packages and on Merchant Service provider for Chip and Pin processing.
Mobile Phone Ordering App
Wales Millenium Centre required a mobile phone ordering app that interfaced into the chosen Epos Provider. I sourced the product and oversaw the configuration and integration. Orders for interval drinks and at table can now be completed by use of customer phones and QR Barcode scanning
Tesco
Some clients have very specific needs and thus include specific project work.
A requirement from TESCO was to look at consolidating all the ID and “Sign-on Cards” their staff currently held into a “one-card solution”.
Following substantial research and analysis I produced a white paper for “best of breed” solution with a return on investment proposal.
Great Western railways
For Great Western Railways (GWR) I assisted in putting together an ITT for the replacement of Epos on over 200 trains.
In addition to Epos the project involved integration with various catering suppliers as well as defining a workable chip & pin strategy in a mobile environment
For Great Western Railways (GWR) I assisted in putting together an ITT for the replacement of Epos on over 200 trains.
In addition to Epos the project involved integration with various catering suppliers as well as defining a workable chip & pin strategy in a mobile environment
Microsoft
A Microsoft Dynamics partner, required assistance on setting up a distribution channel in the UK. For that I devised a sequence of marketing tools and, in co-operation with Microsoft in the UK, launched the product at a number of UK roadshows. See video below:
The nevis center
Some clients require a more practical approach which could include the installation or re-configuration of software. This was the case of the Nevis Center, a very large leisure centre complex in Fort William, it consisted of identifying configuration problems with “Epos Now” software. Liaising with “Epos Now” before correcting the software and retraining.
Baxter Storey
An ITT involvement was assisting Baxter Storey – a large contract caterer – to identify functionality requirements for an enterprise POS Solution as well as possible suppliers. I then produced a Tender Document for selection of an Epos solution. Selected suppliers and wrote demonstration scripts along with scoring cards before assisting in the final selection.
Partners & clients
CONTACT
If you would like to contact me just send me an email with a brief description of what you are looking for and the best date and time to contact you. Or just fill in the contact form.
Thank-you for showing interest and I hope we will be able to meet in the future.
Best Regards,
Phill Bowden.
Telephone: 07483 856788
Email: phillip@eposconsultant.com