WASHINGTON — A Cloud Computing Standard RFP (request for proposal) for Retail document, offering "unbiased guidance" for developing request-for-proposal questions for cloud computing vendors, was released this week by the Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS), the standards division of the National Retail Federation.
Cloud Computing is an emerging model by which retailers can gain access to their applications from any location, through any connected device, dramatically lowering IT costs.
The Cloud Computing Standard RFP builds on concepts developed in the ARTS Cloud Computing for Retail white paper and helps the retailer move from a basic understanding of cloud computing concepts to the actual consideration and application in the retail environment. Developed by a committee chaired by The Kroger Co. and IBM, the Cloud Computing Standard RFP provides retailers insight into the options to be considered and questions for solution providers to address in the process of evaluating cloud computing solutions for Retail.
"ARTS has worked diligently to help retailers take advantage of the benefits of cloud computing, with a focus on appropriate use cases for cloud in retail," said Richard Mader, executive director of ARTS, in a statement. "This Standard RFP, thanks to the volunteer experts that created it, makes ARTS a must-contact if you are considering implementing cloud."
Release 1.0 of the RFP is available now to ARTS members on www.nrf-arts.org and additional releases are scheduled for fall, 2011. This and other Standard RFPs are available free of charge to ARTS and NRF members and are available for purchase by non-members.
