The concept of ARTS was first presented in
a panel discussion at Riscon in 1992. Vendors and Retailers discussed the benefits of
developing a standard data model. These industry leaders were concerned with the time and
cost to implement new emerging trends in retail technology.
Client server technology enabled store level applications through
the reduced cost of hardware and the speed and reliability of new networks. However,
the time and cost of interfacing POS data to these applications was cost prohibitive.
What if an industry standard data model could be developed containing
definitions for all of the data required by store level applications? Vendors could
develop their applications to use the model and greatly reduce or eliminate data
interfaces allowing retailers best of breed selection of these applications.
This concept was overwhelmingly endorsed and a committee of
vendors began planning to create an independent standards association to implement the
concept. One step in this planning process was a survey of retailers measuring their
interest in creating such an association and asking what other standards would reduce
their costs while increasing the speed of implementations. Two additional standards were
identified as necessary by a majority of the respondents. POS device interfacing to allow
connection of the growing list of peripherals needed to support in-store applications,
magnetic card readers, pin pads, customer displays, scanners, special printers, etc.
Central software distribution to allow corporate control of program and table changes at
the terminal and store server levels. Central distribution was essential to cost
effectively maintain in-store applications.
In January or 1993 at the NRF Conference in
New York, ARTS was officially launched with approximately 80 dues paying members both
retailers and software solution providers. The Mission statement was approved and the
Charter Board of Directors elected. The Board was composed of retailers and vendors. The
Charter required that retailers comprise the majority of Board Members and the Chairman to
be a retailer.
In March of 1993 the Board met, elected officers and established
two committees, Data Model and Software Distribution. A POS Device Interface committee was
not formed as an existing association, ESOG was already working to develop this standard.
The Charter specifies that ARTS will not build a standard where one exists. This founding
principle was to avoid conflicting standards by encouraging cooperation among standards
groups.
In January of 1994 the volunteer Data Model Committee published
the initial list of entities and attributes to be included in the Model for member review
and comment. To speed creation of the Model PSI, NCR, IBM, Telxon and others provided ARTS
their data models as a foundation for development.
In the same month again at the NRF Conference, ARTS announced that Microsoft had joined
ARTS and would co-chair the Software Distribution Committee with IBM. Having these two
competitors cooperate in development of a standard was a major milestone in demonstrating
the value of ARTS and its approach to technology.
In May of 1994, ARTS became an international association
announcing it would accept members from outside the United States and Canada.
Recognizing that retail is conducted in a similar fashion around the world, ARTS targeted
a single worldwide solution. To define international requirements ARTS established
chapters in Asia Pacific and Europe.
In September of 1995, the Software
Distribution Guide was distributed to ARTS members. After more than one year of effort by
leading vendors and retailers this Committee concluded that a single standard for this
vast set of requirements could not be developed. Rather than create or select one vendor
offering, the Committee developed a requirements and selection guide. This guide enabled
retail members to review offerings from multiple vendors and select the best fit for their
business. Conversely, it provided vendor members a comprehensive requirement document
for developing retail solutions.
In January of 1996 after two years of
volunteer effort that included thousands of hours from retailers Belks, Boscov’s, The
Gap, Mervyn's, Carson Parie, Federated, Dayton’s and others, the Draft Data Model
containing 6 of the intended 10 functional business areas was published. The membership
overwhelmingly approved a dues increase to engage consultants to complete the Model in a
more timely fashion.
Also in January ARTS announced that they had accepted Microsoft’s offer to become
the administrator of the new OPOS standard for POS device interfacing. This action
completed the initial member objectives: Data Model, Software Distribution and Device
Interface.
In November of 1997, ARTS published the
Revised Data Model on CDROM. This release was developed in four layers. A scope document,
which described in business language the retailing enterprise and the functions that have
to be supported by computerized applications to achieve success. Business process
relationships that related data requirements to the specific retailing applications.
Logical data relationships, which explain through diagrams, how for example orders relate
to vendors and receipts. Finally, the Model defined each of the more than 2,500 elements
of data to ensure that the developers whether vendor or your internal staff completely
understand the business application.
January of 1999 was the most significant
month in the history of ARTS. After more than a year of negotiations ARTS, in cooperation
with the NRF, was instrumental in bringing the competing standards, OPOS and JavaPOS under
one common API specification, Unified Point of Service. ARTS was selected as the managing
organization by the retailers and vendors that developed this Specification.
ARTS was acquired by the National Retail Federation, NRF. The NRF as the world’s
largest retail trade association with membership that comprises all retail formats and
channels of distribution including department, specialty, discount, catalogue, Internet
and independent stores provides ARTS a bright future. ARTS now has full time staff,
funding and access to the full NRF staff for support services. By joining forces, we now
have the ability to create more effective standards, do it more efficiently, and produce
bottom-line results for retailers. Moreover, this action signals an important new
strategic direction for NRF, and will establish us as the preeminent standards-making body
for our industry.
In February of 1999, ARTS published the
expanded Data Model adding the Customer business function to support the current trend of
Customer Relationship Marketing, CRM.
