Pet specialty retailer empowers associates with mobile-delivered data

PetSmart has a new strategy to keep its 55,000 employees informed and abreast of key insights.



When the 1,500-store retailer wanted to improve data accessibility across its enterprise, it turned to mobility. The chain began its mobility effort by developing one mobile app in 2010. By leveraging the MicroStrategy 10 mobility platform from long-time partner MicroStrategy, the company now has nearly 20 internal apps that deliver key insights to senior leaders and associates across the enterprise, the company said.



“A mobile approach to our data analytics and business intelligence strategy dramatically increases our efficiency and puts insights into the palm of our associates’ hands,” said Brian Rensing, senior director, enterprise information management, PetSmart.



PetSmart’s first mobile analytics app was deployed to improve data accessibility among executives and distribution center leaders. By expanding its use of the MicroStrategy Mobile platform, the chain now has almost a dozen iPhone apps and five iPad apps — a model that allows the company to democratize data beyond executives to district managers, regional vice presidents, and field and store leaders.



“A wide range of users access our internal BI apps every day — even multiple times a day — including senior leaders, field associates, distribution center and store managers and associates across all functions of the company such as finance, marketing, HR and store operations,” he said. “We are streamlining reporting with insightful and actionable data through our mobile apps and dashboards.”