The role of the network in retail customers Retail strategy

High expectations that consumers will have a positive experience every time they research a product online, go to a brick and mortar store or go to pick up their online purchase.

If the network is down or very slow, they remember waiting to make a purchase, or as they failed to access the internet to send the text home and make sure they chose the right size.

These are not the impressions with which customers want to leave the store.

Due to the higher competition than ever before, retailers need to make sure they think about impressing customers when upgrading their stores. Are there areas without coverage? Is a quick enough connection to retail equipment to sustain the peak season? Is there coverage in the fast pickup area so consumers and staff can easily scan and release goods?

Why customer experience matters

Retail customers expect consistent, seamless, integrated omnichannel selection, continuous interaction, personalization capabilities and a smooth transition to new shopping habits such as online shopping, in-store self-selection (BOPIS).

Is there a high connection speed in every corner of the store? Is there a full connection to pickup locations on the roadside when you need to contact the store manager? Can employees easily browse inventory or shop online for a consumer who can’t find a specific size in stock?

Internal experience is also important

Retailers should also be able to make more informed decisions that support operational and commercial objectivity. Optimized networking experience should enable organizations to quickly implement universal change when needed, as well as reduce the operational burden on IT staff.

A positive retail experience is just as important to consumers as it is to an IT team. Optimizing the overall experience saves time and money by allowing IT teams to better align efforts with key goals.

Elements of related experience

Retailers need new ways to enrich, optimize and connect customers in stores and online. It is important to focus on improving ammonia-based customer engagement that provides personalized engagement, as well as providing IT teams with secure client-to-cloud automation, evaluation, and AI-based operations.

Key technologies that retailers need to learn to create a nimble organization focused on the dual experience of their customers and employees include:

Improved Wi-FiA: Today’s retailers need to provide strong, reliable, easy-to-use Wi-Fi for customers, warehouse staff and employees. Aside from the ability to personally use devices in the store, such as checking with someone at home about size or color, or about what seasoning they want for a sandwich, strong Wi-Fi is needed for everything from a cash register to checking inventory. If the network is slow or stops frequently, the experience gained will be very serious.

Strong, reliable networks can make an integrated online and offline customer experience a reality. These include home delivery, click and pick up, pickup on the roadside, menu settings and shopping on purpose. In the future, retailers will be able to increase purchases and revenue through real-time marketing offers that are transmitted to mobile devices through a strong network.

Take location services: Location-based services can be integrated directly into the network and provide services such as turn-by-turn search. Localized alerts, such as promotional reminders or product information, can be sent to consumers depending on where they are located or what they have placed in their shopping cart. Virtual beacon technology can accurately deliver on-site information such as digital coupons, additional sales recommendations or even accident alerts.

Location-based services can also optimize warehousing operations with tools such as asset tracking or route optimization. Assets can be easily placed on the store floor or in stock, including partners or valuable products. Location technologies can effectively manage the flow of people in queues outdoors as well as in stores, helping to follow recommendations on social distance and occupancy. The generated data and observed circuits can improve the flow and avoid power limitations during voltage.

Simplify infrastructure: Employee experience is equally important, especially during peak employment periods, when retaining qualified team members is mandatory.

As part of ensuring a reliable connection between headquarters, warehouses and stores, retailers should make every effort to simplify network operations as they increase the reliability of services.

Simplifying network planning, design, and operation through network automation and optimization will ease the burden of the IT team by freeing qualified team members to work on more valuable tasks. Eliminating repetitive and routine tasks can also help with compliance, as employees are more satisfied with their work.

Automation can simplify an organization’s infrastructure, optimize network and branch office performance, and help troubleshoot network, wired, and Wi-Fi issues. New services can be deployed effectively. Improved automation, understanding, and use of artificial intelligence help deliver new programs and services, ensure vendor security, and automatically make repairs and network changes.

Strengthen securityA: Retailers must constantly protect their network and customer privacy. It is clear that part of giving customers access to the network is that it will be secure and protected from cyber threats and data hacking. Retailers must ensure the security of customer payment information and sensitive data while maintaining PCI compliance and protecting IoT devices in stores, including point-of-sale equipment, cameras, scanners and smart scales.

In short, security at the enterprise level must extend to all users, otherwise the experience will suffer. All it takes is one violation to drive away consumers.

Foundation for the future

Retailers need to provide a modern, reliable and easy-to-manage network for both users and staff.

Competition between brands will only intensify, and the consumer will have enough of one bad experience.

Innovations that can improve the shopping experience and increase revenue have real potential to change the game, but not if network services are not considered a priority.

Communication will be the basis on which future services are built – and a positive consumer experience.