Travel retailer WHSmith North America enlists Aptos as it upgrades retail technology stack

WHSmith North America has gone live with multiple SaaS-based solutions from Aptos to support improved inventory performance and data driven decision-making across its retail network.

As part of this initiative, WHSmith North America upgraded to the latest versions of Aptos’ Merchandising, Warehouse Management and Sales Audit solutions - and transitioned from on-premises to a cloud-based SaaS model. Additionally, it deployed Aptos Analytics to gain a comprehensive view of its enterprise wide data.

WHSmith is a travel retailer with more than 1,700 stores across 30 countries. In 2018, WHSmith acquired InMotion, the largest airport-based technology retailer in North America, and in 2019, it bought Marshall Retail Group (MRG), an American specialty retailer in the airport and casino resort marketplace. WHSmith North America, incorporating MRG and InMotion, now operates 340+ specialty retail stores located in airports and resorts across North America.

“WHSmith North America is charting an exciting path forward - and that path requires a technology foundation that is scalable and modern,” says Joshua Bellendir, CIO and SVP of IT at WHSmith North America. “Having relied on Aptos’ Merchandising, WMS, and Sales Audit solutions for years, we recognised the significant benefits of migrating these applications to the cloud while also enhancing our capabilities with Aptos Analytics.”

According to Bellendir, after deploying Aptos solutions in the SaaS environment, WHSmith North America saw an immediate improvement in the speed of data loads and transfers, providing internal stakeholders with quicker access to critical data, enabling them to make more informed decisions in less time. Additionally, the move to the cloud enhanced system stability, ensuring consistent performance and reliability across the retail network.

“By embracing a SaaS first approach, we can accelerate innovation, reduce on-premise infrastructure costs, and seamlessly scale to support new locations, formats and channels as needed,” says Bellendir.

“Aptos’ merchandising, warehousing and analytics solutions work together to provide precise visibility into inventory levels and demand. With these capabilities, we can strategically position products closer to where they are needed, ensuring strong on-shelf availability. This not only enhances the customer experience but also can drive measurable business results.”

Aptos General Manager Jeremy Grunzweig says: “Aptos provides retailers with the tools they need to effectively manage inventory across their entire operation and swiftly adapt to evolving business conditions. We deeply value WHSmith North America’s trust in Aptos technology and are excited to support their continued expansion and momentum in North America and beyond.”

2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Physical stores will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards. which will open for entries in April, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”

He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”

“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”

Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended November's gathering. 

For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.