SMS to implement cloud computing solution for Choice

Peter Dinham
Wednesday, 01 April 2009 13:44

Business IT - Technology

SMS Management & Technology (ASX: SMX) has won a multi-million dollar contract with consumer watchdog, Choice Australia, for its soon to be launched GROCERYchoice online shopping service.
 

The contract with Choice provides for SMS on-going maintenance and support, as well as operational support for the application.  Choice has been contracted by the federal Department of Treasury & Finance to assume responsibility for the operation of the Federal Government’s national grocery price comparison initiative.

Choice said today it was partnering with SMS to rebuild its system using a range of innovative technologies and applications, with a revamped GROCERYchoice website expected to be launched mid-year.

The new GROCERYchoice service will provide consumers with the ability to compare prices for groceries and other dry items across Australia’s major supermarkets and local retailers online, before they shop.

 Commenting on SMS’s appointment as prime contractor to develop and implement the technology solution, industry director NSW David Moodie said SMS was always looking for innovative ways to deliver business and technology solutions for its clients.

“Allowing up to one million unique visits per month, the architecture of the solution that we have developed for Choice will offer rapid scalability at a fraction of the cost that an in-house solution would require.

“Furthermore, the platform chosen will give Choice the flexibility to add additional user functionality down the track, enhancing the range of services available from GROCERYchoice to consumers,’ claimed Moodie.

Moodie said the SMS technology solution will be built on the ATG Commerce Server product, a proven, off the shelf eCommerce solution.
 
“Hosted through Amazon’s EC2 service, the solution will incorporate Google Maps for store location functionality amongst other Web 2.0 features, providing the base for a world class consumer advocacy capability.”

Coinciding with the announcement of the contract award to SMS, Choice said today that its latest GROCERYchoice data indicated that Woolworths is now cheapest for the total basket price in 42 of the 61 regions surveyed, while last month Coles was the cheapest in 36 of the 61 regions.