[September 02, 2015]

Unicomer Group Rolls Out Starmount Mobile Solutions at 106 Stores in El Salvador as First Phase of 830+ Store Mobile Deployment

Starmount today announced that it has successfully deployed Starmount Engage™, Starmount Connect™ and Oracle (News - Alert) Retail Point-of-Service for 106 Unicomer stores in El Salvador. The solutions went live yesterday and are the first phase of an IT transformation project that tailors Starmount's mobile solutions to Unicomer's business model of credit-based, big-ticket retailing. Starmount is implementing its solutions at more than 830 Unicomer stores in 20 countries in Central America, the Caribbean, South America and the United States.

Unicomer is a highly successful furniture, appliance and electronics retailer, with dominant market share in 18 of the 20 countries in which it operates. Unicomer is the largest employer in Central America and the Caribbean, with more than 14,000 associates, 1.8 million customers and 3.6 million square feet of sales area in its stores.

Starmount solutions adapt to Unicomer's requirements for credit-based, big-ticket retailing

The Unicomer deployment demonstrates the adaptability of the Starmount Engage and Connect solutions to Unicomer's unique business requirements for personalized customer engagement on the store floor, along with the ability to use mobile devices for credit applications and sales orders. Using Starmount solutions, store associates work with customers on the sales floor to help them decide on purchases, then determine what items they want to put on credit, enter the items for purchase into a shopping cart, apply for financing and arrange for delivery - all with the convenience and security of mobile devices and without ever having to leave the customer's side.

Creating a standardized system and processes across Unicomer's organization

Unicomer selected Starmount based on its expertise in Oracle Retail Point-of-Service, mobile solutions and proven track record of technlogy innovation. Starmount Engage was an ideal platform for implementing Unicomer's sales order process and bringing new features and functionality into Unicomer's stores, while Starmount Connect handles the extensive transfer of data between stores and back-end systems. Starmount worked closely with Unicomer to implement best practices and streamline Unicomer's systems and processes. Key benefits include:

• Improved financial accountability and audit capabilities. Starmount solutions bring new speed and efficiency to Unicomer Group's credit process, along with a new level of accountability and real-time integration.
• Streamlined service requests. Many purchases include extended warranties, and the new systems will make it easier to initiate and track service requests.
• A standardized system and single view of the business. When fully implemented, the overall solution will serve as a single, strategic business system for all of Unicomer's operations in 20 countries. The system will provide full visibility across every country, and every store, with standardized financials and business processes throughout all of Unicomer's operations.

Now that the first phase of the project in El Salvador is complete, the baseline has been established for the rest of the rollout. The next phase will be Guatemala, together with Nicaragua; continuing afterwards with the rest of the Central American countries and the Caribbean.

"Starmount has expertly guided Unicomer Group through a complex IT transformation process, while helping us streamline and standardize our core business operations," said Guillermo Siman, vice chairman and executive vice president, Unicomer Group. "In addition to complex business issues, there were significant language and cultural barriers to overcome along the way, but working together, we overcame every challenge. Starmount's innovations will enable our customers to have a single, seamless experience in the countries that we serve, regardless of where they shop."

"Unicomer Group has proven itself to be a leader in adapting mobile solutions to create a highly differentiated, customer-focused shopping experience," said Joe Halloum, founder and CEO, Starmount. "Unicomer Group was willing to think differently and take bold moves to stand out as a retailer, and that's exactly the kind of customers we work best with. We look forward to continuing our partnership as we bring Starmount solutions to additional countries for Unicomer."

About Grupo Unicomer

Unicomer Group (www.unicomergroup.com) is comprised of more than 830 appliance, consumer electronics and furniture stores operating under different brands in Central America, the Caribbean, Ecuador and the United States. Unicomer Group is the leading retail store group in the region in terms of market share and customer recognition. Unicomer Group employs more than 14,000 associates and has 1.8 million customers and 3.6 million square feet of sales area across all its stores. Unicomer Group works under the most stringent corporate ethical standards, while supporting a number of educational, sports, and social responsibility initiatives in the most vulnerable areas of the countries in which it operates.

About Starmount

Starmount solutions power the store as the center of the omnichannel retail experience, creating a data-rich commerce platform to engage shoppers, streamline operations, and support seamless and consistent cross-channel customer interactions. Our solutions combine the best of in-store, online, and mobile shopping to empower associates to personalize the store visit, drive more sales anywhere in the store with robust product information, and access and fulfill inventory from any location. We're the partner of choice for innovative brands who are redefining the role their stores play in today's new era of retail. www.starmount.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150902005449/en/

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