cbus.mydigitalpublication.co.uk Open in urlscan Pro
54.84.91.152  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

COMMS BUSINESS NOVEMBER 2024: PAGE 32



Menu

 * Page View
 * Smart View
 * Issue List
 * Advertisers
 * Website
 * YouTube
 * Feed
 * @commsbusiness
 * LinkedIn

FEATURE Retail technology “For retailers, always-on internet is essential not
just for transactions, but for creating seamless experiences that keep customers
returning.” Mike van Bunnens, Comms365 Tapping into retail How is the retail
technology landscape changing? And what opportunities do resellers and MSPs have
when working with customers in this sector? Comms Business finds out more T he
retail sector has undergone drastic change over the last decade. Technology has
shaped that change, with customer behaviours and new possibilities both being
transformed by technological innovation. Retailers are continuing to look to
technology as a key area for investment as they seek to keep existing customers
onboard and find new avenues for growth. This is creating huge opportunities for
technology providers, with Gartner forecasting global IT spending in the retail
industry to grow by 6.5 per cent this year to reach $209.4 billion, up from
$196.5 billion in 2023. In the long term, spending is expected to grow at a 6.9
per cent compound annual growth rate to reach an estimated $262 billion by 2027.
Connectivity is at the heart of many retail technology deployments, with the
feasibility of many projects relying on fixed and mobile networks. Mike van
Bunnens, managing director, Comms365, explained, “In today’s retail industry,
consistent and reliable internet connectivity has become a non-negotiable
necessity. The impact of internet downtime goes beyond missed sales; it disrupts
operations, erodes customer confidence and damages a brand’s reputation. A
single instance of connectivity failure can mean the loss of repeat customers,
as their trust in the brand wanes. For retailers, always-on internet is
essential not just for transactions, but for creating seamless experiences that
keep customers returning. Van Bunnens added that the retail sector’s shift
toward cashless transactions, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, has
amplified that need for unfailing connectivity. He explained, “With most
payments now processed through chip-and-pin or contactless methods, internet
connectivity underpins nearly every transaction. The rise of pop-up stores has
further cemented this reliance on cellular broadband, as these temporary outlets
become integral to brand strategy – not just for brand awareness, but to drive
substantial sales. Connectivity is key to their success, and 4G or 5G is often
the solution of choice.” Adrian Sunderland, CEO, Jola, also discussed how mobile
services are opening up new possibilities for retailers. He said, “Low cost 4G
and 5G data multi-network SIMs have solved the affordable reliability conundrum
that retailers have faced for years. Broadband connections unusable for days
with no compensation or Ethernet circuits for ten times the price, and still no
guarantee of 100 per cent uptime. “A second fixed line is expensive and offers
little comfort because it uses shared infrastructure. If you were climbing a
rock face you wouldn’t attach your second rope to the same piton. Multi-network
SIMs further improve SLAs and negate the need for expensive site surveys, whilst
private APN options steer traffic away from the public internet, considerably
improving security.” Sunderland explained that retail customers are using 4G
enabling them to track and and 5G for temporary sites, monitor the performance
of their for backup and in locations systems effectively. Any potential where
fixed-line connectivity is issues can then be identified impractical, such as
for digital quickly.” signage in retail stores where running cables is
difficult. He added, “Multi-network Powerful hardware SIMs are useful Unlike
other sectors for multiple, where software geographically is king for new
dispersed sites deployments, as they negate hardware the need for remains a
costly site vital cog in surveys and the machine provide nearly of many 100 per
cent retail estates. uptime. One Daniel Blaya, vice supplier is easier to
president of global Paul Grant, Snom manage and visibility sales, ProGlove,
said, and control over all SIM assets in “Retail technologies in demand a single
real-time mobile manager today focus on increasing portal is essential.”
efficiency and meeting consumer Martin Saunders, COO, expectations for variety,
speed Highlight, offered a detailed and convenience. This demand overview of how
retailers can extends beyond the retail floor stay connected to those networks
into the entire supply chain, by ensuring they understand including the
production, what is happening across them. movement, and distribution He said,
“Retailers are looking of goods through factories, for technologies that enable
warehouses, depots and stores. them to make more data-backed “With a growing
labour decisions that deliver quantifiable shortage in these areas, the need
advantages for their IT operations for hardware that simplifies tasks and
overall business. This for workers and software that means being able to
streamline identifies workflow inefficiencies support processes and increase is
increasing. Technologies such observability across their stack of as
collaborative robots, smart technologies to ensure customer glasses,
barcode-scanning gloves, experience is at its best. and smartwatches are
becoming “Since the network is essential for streamlining the backbone of most
retail operations and supporting environments, any outage can employees.” have a
direct impact on a retailer’s Another key piece of revenues and reputation.
Retailers hardware for many retailers is are looking for comprehensive something
that will facilitate service observability across both better communication
between the network and applications, employees, and headsets are
www.commsbusiness.co.uk 32 | Comms Business Magazine | November 2024


ISSUE ARTICLES


WORKING WITH RETAILERS

Visit Article.


ISSUE LIST


NOVEMBER 2024


OCTOBER 2024


CONNECTING GIGABIT BRITAIN 2024


SEPTEMBER 2024


JULY 2024


BUSINESS TELEPHONY GUIDE 2024


JUNE 2024


MAY 2024


APRIL 2024


MARCH 2024


CHANNEL PROFILES 2024


FEBRUARY 2024


JANUARY 2024


DECEMBER 2023


NOVEMBER 2023


BLOCKBUSTER: STRATEGIC IMPERATIVES


OCTOBER 2023


SEPTEMBER 2023


ROAD TO GIGABIT BRITAIN 2023


AUGUST 2023


JULY 2023


BUSINESS TELEPHONY GUIDE 2023


JUNE 2023


MAY 2023


APRIL 2023


CHANNEL PROFILES 2023


MARCH 2023


FEBRUARY 2023


JANUARY 2023


DECEMBER 2022


NOVEMBER 2022


OCTOBER 2022


ROAD TO GIGABIT BRITAIN 2022


SEPTEMBER 2022


AUGUST 2022


JULY 2022


JUNE 2022


IP TELEPHONY 2022


MAY 2022


APRIL 2022


CHANNEL PROFILES 2022


MARCH 2022


FEBRUARY 2022


JANUARY 2022


DECEMBER 2021


NOVEMBER 2021


OCTOBER 2021


ROAD TO FULL FIBRE


SEPTEMBER 2021


AUGUST 2021


JULY 2021


JUNE 2021


IP TELEPHONY 2021


MAY 2021


APRIL 2021


CHANNEL PROFILES 2021


MARCH 2021


FEBRUARY 2021


AWARDS 2020


JANUARY 2021


DECEMBER 2020


NOVEMBER 2020

Previous  Next


Library