Futureproofing Retail: Why tomorrow’s shopping experiences must all be built on the right digital foundation

This means developing underlying infrastructure that not only supports the highest levels of operational efficiency, flexibility, and agility across retail environments, combined with ironclad data protection and full cost control. At first glance, it might seem like an impossible set of requirements, but let's explore what all this looks like in practice and consider the first steps…

The good news is that tomorrow's interconnected, truly bespoke shopping experiences are all built on the same foundation: a world-class network.

Whether it's shopping online or exploring brick-and-mortar shops along the high street, when the underlying connectivity offers the performance, resilience, and connectivity modern dataflows demand, retailers will be well-placed to implement a technology-powered customer experience that builds brand loyalty and guarantees repeat visits.

In terms of immediate, operational benefits, when the next generation of smart signs and sensors are deployed across shop and warehouse floors and supported by high-speed connectivity, pricing updates and special offers can be put straight in front of customers as soon as they are implemented, just as they would be online, ensuring they always enjoy the best possible value for money. At the same time, these systems can be used to automate the process of stock checking, ensuring staff can proactively replenish stock as needed, and minimise the amount of time spent manually checking sell-by dates – an immediate time-saving that will significantly enhance their effectiveness and ability to focus on their customers.

At the same time, when the customer data generated in-store is combined with that generated online, retailers enjoy holistic customer personas that open the door to truly personalised shopping experiences – both online and in person – as well as the means to continually refine the training provided to staff, ensuring they are able to consistently deliver their best.

This is just scratching the surface. As retailers continue to tailor their services to their customers' preferences and explore the data gathered across multiple sites in real-time, and smart technology continues to improve in terms of both cost and performance, new approaches to delivering unforgettable shopping experiences are sure to emerge.

It's next to impossible to predict what form these innovations will take, which makes it all the more important that retailers' infrastructure is not just treated as an enabler for existing retails, but as the launchpad for new ones. It's no accident that our network has always been a key part of the solutions we deliver at Exponential-e. We've been developing it since our company's inception, ensuring it always offers ample scope for future growth, on top of providing the performance, resilience, and security that modern 'always on' systems and real-time data flows demand.

If you would like to explore your own networking requirements in depth, and ensure you are well-prepared to retain the leading edge as Retail's digital transformation journey continues, just contact us.