The events that transpired in 2020 have changed the way the retail industry interacts with its consumers. With the restrictions that have been placed everywhere, even up until now, it has become clear that retailers can’t just rely upon one method, such as selling in a physical store, to bring in their sales.
Consumers are demanding more and wanting to shop in different ways convenient for them. Some prefer ordering goods and have them delivered at home. There are also those who want options to buy in store or click and collect.
To thrive, retailers need to take advantage of digital technology and the Web. Having a website or an app allows them to reach multiple customers in different locations. Advertisements can also be placed specifically where prospective buyers are. The possibilities are endless.
Offering more in-store
The comprehensive, unified offering across sectors is what customers are demanding, and to make it work properly, retail stores need to invest in technologies such as IoT, AR and AI.
As customers become smarter shoppers, retail spaces need to offer more than just a product showcase. They need to offer memorable and immersive brand experiences. These brand experiences can either be through human touch or technology, such as augmented reality and virtual reality. Imagine stores where you can play a game of basketball in your new shoes. Or augmented reality mirrors that let you virtually try on clothing without even having to get changed.
This re‑invented retail space will require a more robust IT infrastructure, but it won’t all be in the cloud.
Advantages with edge
Why edge computing and not simply the cloud? Cloud computing has many benefits, including scalability and elasticity. However, it has limitations when it comes to network connectivity and latency. Edge computing provides more reliable performance and connectivity to keep systems operational even if the network fails.
For brick and mortar retailers, almost 90% of global retail sales still occur in physical stores. For this reason, most of them are investing in computing power located closer to the buyer. In the traditional physical retail storefront, the network is usually comprised of a small server room and cash registers with individual backup power UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply). New in-store edge environments focus on the digital experience of the customer, and this requires new edge applications that offer meaningful data. To do this, retail IT must push more assets to the edge to ensure that the digital and physical components are seamlessly integrated. Also, hosting these applications at the edge can improve logistics, inventory and supply chain management to reduce costs.
As the edge becomes the critical connectivity point for local data gathering and analytics, micro data centres offer a plug and play pre-configured integrated infrastructure. These edge nodes are managed through remote software that allows IT staff to keep systems running even when they aren’t onsite.
Technology to keep it all going
There is nothing worse than losing a customer at the checkout. Whether it be online or in store, customers who give up because the software needed to process their sales isn’t working properly are unlikely to come back in a hurry. Don’t let this happen to you. Invest in the technology needed to keep everything up and running. Technology such as server racks, UPS, security, as well as cloud-based management tools are key elements to a robust edge architecture.
For more information on how Schneider Electric can help your retail IT infrastructure with these solutions, visit https://www.apc.com/au/en/.
