Tesco to use Linux checkouts for ‘thin store’ system

Tesco tills are going Linux, following an agreement with Israel-headquartered retail food industry software specialist Point of Sale Limited. The deal, announced today, will cover up to 20,000 checkouts in eight countries.

Tesco is a confirmed NT shop, using Microsoft software for its own internal systems and to run its online store. The Linux systems will however replace existing DOS-based systems, according to a Point of Sale spokesman, and will function as thin clients in an ASP/thin store system, running from Tesco's centrally managed NT server farms.

Tesco will be implementing and deploying the ASP system for its own stores, using components from Point of Sale's software, and providing similar functionality to that avalable via Point of Sale's US-based ASP, StoreAlliance.com. StoreAlliance.com's services are aimed primarily at smaller retail operations, so Tesco's adoption of the concept could be viewed as something of a breakthrough. The company has however been working with Point of Sale for some years.

According to Point of Sale president and CEO Barry Shaked, "Tesco's decision to adopt this web-enabled software system is evidence that our new thin store strategy is also suitable for a world-leader in the food retailing industry." ®

Largely unrelated but funny story:
Tesco Online goes boffo on booze