WH Smith News has unveiled a raft of improvements to its systems which it claims will make life significantly easier for retail customers, particularly independents. The UK's biggest news wholesaler is currently at the centre of controversial plans to set up an exclusive supply deal with Tesco, leading to fears independents will have to accept second best to the supermarket giant. According to WHS News, the upgraded support package, which places an emphasis on easy communications with local houses, addresses some of the particular concerns of smaller customers. Retailers will be offered a fax machine worth £120 for £82 and a free fax service allowing them to communicate with any WHS News magazine house at any time. An e-mail option comes later this month. A simplified query resolution procedure will give staff at houses instant access to online information via the wholesaler's SAP system. Other major changes to WH Smith News procedures are: - Claims deadline for odd copies on newspapers extended from 8.30am to 5pm - Alterations to standing orders to be honoured within the 48 hour ISSA window and not reamended - A better back copy service on partworks through improved efficiency at the National Partwork Bank in Peterborough, allowing retailers to respond to customer demand by requesting copies from their local WHS News site - Phased introduction of daily recalls of periodicials and magazines as the SAP system rolls out nationally and streamlined returns processing allowing retailers to more quickly send back any items not selling. {{CTN }}