Funding: Data2Sustain EDIH
The Kernan Group
The Kernan Retail Group is a family-owned network of convenience stores and forecourts operating across multiple locations. Seeking to improve efficiency, compliance, and sustainability, the group partnered with Data2Sustain to digitise manual processes, gain real-time oversight of utilities and inventory, and strengthen operational consistency across all sites.
Problem To Be Solved:
Kernan’s relied heavily on paper-based procedures and had limited visibility over key utilities and retail operations. Fragmented supplier systems and manual checks created challenges such as:
- Inefficient wholesale purchasing and missed opportunities for group-level discounts
- Limited real-time insight into water consumption, leak detection, and waste
- Paper-based temperature checks for hot and cold food, increasing compliance risk
- Manual end-of-day processes with inconsistent data capture across sites
Kernan’s aimed to modernise operations with a digital, connected system that would reduce waste, enhance compliance, and support data-driven decision-making across every store.
WiSAR Solution
Through the Data2Sustain EDIH, the WiSAR Lab collaborated with the Kernan Group to design and implement a fully integrated, IoT-enabled retail monitoring system. The solution connected on-site sensors, API-integrated retail systems, and cloud dashboards to provide a unified, real-time view of operations.
The system enabled Kernan’s to:
- Optimise wholesale purchasing through automated pricing integration
- Monitor water usage with IoT meters that detect leaks and unusual consumption
- Digitise food safety with automated hot/cold temperature logging
- Standardise end-of-day routines through mobile digital checklists for waste, fuel, and security
- Centralise decision-making with cloud dashboards accessible across the retail network
This project demonstrates WiSAR’s ability to bring IoT, API integration, and workflow digitisation together to support operational efficiency in multi-site retail environments.
Impact & Benefits
- Efficiency: Major reduction in manual checks and improved operational accuracy across sites.
- Real-Time Insight: Centralised dashboards provide immediate visibility into utilities, inventory, and compliance data.
- Sustainability: Reduced waste, water loss, and energy usage through automated monitoring.
- Procurement Gains: Optimised wholesale purchasing through automated pricing integration.
- Scalability: System prepared for full rollout across all Kernan Group locations.
Social & Economic Benefits:
- Increased digital confidence among staff.
- Lower operational costs through data-driven resource management.
Environmental Benefits:
- Prevents water waste through early leak detection.
- Reduces energy loss and unnecessary food waste.
- Promotes greener, more sustainable retail practices.
