Transforming retail: How Centric’s ORS shapes the shopping experience

Imagine walking into a supermarket like, scanning your items, paying with a card, earning loyalty points, and even recycling products for coupons—all without any problems. This is ORS in action. Centric's retail suite doesn't just facilitate these interactions; it transforms them into efficient processes that are essential for modern retail. From managing inventory and cash flow to enabling online orders and home deliveries, ORS is at the center of retail operations in countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Germany, and Finland.

Navigating the challenges of a massive upgrade

With over 5 million lines of code, upgrading ORS is no small feat. The key challenge has been maintaining backward compatibility while introducing new features that meet customer demands. Each update is not just a technical overhaul but a coordinated effort to ensure clients understand and embrace the changes. The software now runs on over 10,000 machines in production, a testament to its robustness and reliability.

The recent upgrades to ORS have made significant strides in performance and accessibility. The time required for data synchronization across thousands of machines has been halved, thanks to a transition from RavenDB to PostgreSQL. This means faster updates for product prices and catalogs, regardless of the retailer's size. Moreover, the focus on UI/UX improvements has made the suite more accessible, ensuring that even users with disabilities can navigate the system with ease.

Managing such a complex codebase requires more than just expertise; it demands precision and agility. The ORS team operates on Agile and Scrum methodologies, with a rigorous code review process supported by tools like SonarQube and Dependency Track. These practices ensure that every update and feature integration maintains the highest standards of quality and functionality.

Looking to the future

As the retail landscape continues to evolve, so too will ORS. The focus remains on increasing the efficiency of the shopping experience, reducing queue times, and offering modern payment solutions like mobile credit applications at POS terminals. The team is also exploring new ways to automate and document processes, ensuring that future upgrades can be implemented smoothly and swiftly.

The ORS upgrade has highlighted the importance of continuous documentation and process automation. The team has learned that staying ahead of technological advancements is crucial to maintaining the suite's relevance and effectiveness. Centric's ability to handle such ambitious projects is rooted in its people—their diversity, endurance, and relentless pursuit of knowledge. This dedication has not only kept ORS at the forefront of retail technology but has also set a high standard for future innovations.

The ORS project is a vivid example of how Centric is shaping the future of retail, one line of code at a time. It's a story of innovation, collaboration, and a deep commitment to delivering the best for clients and consumers alike.