Coms bags contract with major shopping centre

Connect IB arm to overhaul tech at retail park on the south coast

Coms' software and solutions arm Connect IB has won a contract with a major shopping centre on the south coast of the UK.

The VAR's solution will go live in August 2016, and uses smartphone and beacon technology to deliver location-based services, loyalty, car parking integration and "digital wayfinding" in the centre and car park. The name of the shopping centre was undisclosed.

"Smart technologies improve the shopper experience, along with [providing] real-time analytical reporting on shopper activity within the centre and the immediate surrounding area," said the firm.

The solution will be supported by a wide-area iBeacon network provided by Coms subsidiary Redstone.

The contract win follows the announcement that the VAR returned to profit in 2015 with an EBITDA of £1.3m, compared with a loss of £0.7m in 2014. The increase in profits came from refocusing on Redstone operations, Coms claimed.

Mark Braund, CEO of Coms, said: "This contract win is an excellent example of the powerful synergies between Redstone and Connect IB, delivering software and infrastructure expertise that major retail destinations are increasingly looking for.

"Connect IB has a long and successful track record in the retail real estate sector and, when aligned with Redstone's capabilities, we are one of the most compelling end-to-end solution providers in the market."