New Book Spotlights C-store Industry Use of 'Cloud Computing'

JACKSON, Miss. -- A new book, "Turning Convenience Stores Into Cash Generating Monsters," chronicles a seven-year project to link retail stores to headquarters, suppliers and trading partners using 'cloud computing' and the Internet.

The book, by Bill Scott and Dr. James Hawkins, covers how retailers like Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven, Walmart and Target link their stores to multimillion-dollar mainframe computers carrying out successful programs to provide everyday low prices while independent retailers struggle to compete.

Although this technology has been around for decades, cloud computing has been ignored by small businesses as most decision-makers take their technology advice from their information technology employees, because they believe the marriage of cloud computing and the Internet will cost them their jobs, the authors contend.

"Turning Convenience Stores Into Cash Generating Monsters" focuses on the the convenience store industry because these high technology-deprived businesses are spread over large territories. Scott began providing software and computers to the convenience store industry in 1981. Hawkins is a published author with 30 years of experience in the customer service industry and holds a doctorate in international business. The book is available as a paperback and for the Kindle at Amazon.com and as a paperback and eBook at Lulu.com.