It's not only the Point of Sale systems that are out-dated, many of the critical Sears receiving systems and warehousing systems were built in the late 1980's and use mainframe technology. The code has been modified so many times... good luck trying to make a change without causing other issues. Plus there are only a handful of folks left that know how these systems work. To be fair, not only Sears but some other companies have the same issue. I would think that part of the Chapter 11 plan should allocate funds to rewrite all these old systems (or) move to package software with newer technology. It won't be easy for sure, but that has to be done. We need to make checkout at store level easier to use than it is today. I used to work in Sears I.T. so I have seen these problems pop up all the time when I supported these legacy apps.
6 replies (most recent on top)
The only plan after chapter 11 is chapter 7. Hopefully the computer systems hold out for the next few months so the liquidators can use them.
Sure the systems are terrible. But they are the same in may other profitable companies
All companies which have been around for more than 20 years will have legacy systems, integration issues, spaghetti code and no automation..it could go on forever.
But that does not lead to bad strategies and a horrible work culture where you all seem to do to go up is to blow sunshine at your boss. Fix those things and the systems can come much later.
I am sad for Sears and all my ex-colleagues in HE and RO; but kind of relieved I made the call to leave a few years ago.
Thank you Martha NO Chance in He11
Even off-the-shelf, packaged software requires extensive, expensive modifications, and can take years to fully implement. Many are not sized for Sears, and are not compatible with the ridiculously complex environment that Sears represents by being a retailer with so many disparate lines of business. Unless all of the systems are replaced at once, there will be no real way to completely implement new, functional IT systems. Sears is a total teardown, due to years of under-investment. There simply is no way to catch up.
Not sure if you are aware, however, the use of mainframe computers for logistics and finance is very common today. In fact if you know how to program FORTRAN and COBAL you can make a ton of money working in these sectors. I agree that the IBM POS is antiquated and should have been retired years ago.
@OP good advice