Making technology in retail work
A shop sends its valued customer, John, a text message about a sale on a brand of shower gel. It is John's favourite scent, the perfect size, priced at a discount, and timed just as John arrives home to discover he's run out of shower gel, which means he has a few...
read moreEmbrace a connected retail environment
The increased connectedness of consumers is contributing to a more dynamic environment - one where expectations on what the buying experience must entail are evolving. By Leon Coetzer, UK CEO of redPanda Software Thanks in part to the African mobile phone market that...
read moreNo EFT payments loses revenue for e-tailers
Research conducted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) last year reveals that on the surface, South Africa is a financially-progressive country. Around 76% of South African adults are banked, and many of these transaction accounts come with a debit, cheque or other...
read moreVAT shelf price update debacle looms
The increasing VAT amount is having an enormous impact on retailers that use paper price tags - but almost none on retailers that use electronic shelf labels (ESL). Retailers that use paper price tags have to ensure that every single price in their stores changes...
read moreAltron’s ACS uses tech to protect customers
In a world where 40% of CEOs globally consider information security one of the greatest risks to business, Altron unit ACS has become the first company in South Africa to offer retailers a PCI validated point-to-point encryption (P2PE) solution to protect consumer...
read moreRetailers use tech to buck the economy
South African retailers have embraced a considered approach to digitalisation, innovation, and technology adoption to load their arsenal against the fiscal onslaught of a wounded economy. By Hendrik Bredenkamp, MD of NEC XON Retail They are under so much pressure from...
read moreSureswipe’s POS Lite benefits small retailers
For a small retailer or start-up to be successful and move to the next level, it's important that systems are in place to track inventory, recon and balance merchant batch closure, manage multiple store and staff sales and have immediate access to realtime data that...
read moreRetailers turn to smarter stores
As the holiday shopping rush gets into full swing, South African retailers are increasingly looking to technology that they can use to improve their operations, better understand and engage with their customers - using both off- and online channels - and set...
read moreDon’t let security fears hold back retail innovation
VMware EMEA’s Ian Jansen van Rensburg discusses the issues around security in the retail sector. The retail industry is intrinsically linked to the wider economy’s performance. It’s an industry that relies on constant innovation, as retailers battle to lure...
read moreChristmas opens township window for manufacturers
South African manufacturers are missing out on millions of rands in potential sales because they don't fully understand township retail market dynamics especially at Christmas, Selpal, owner of South Africa's biggest online platform for spaza shop owners, says. "For...
read moreWatch out for these shopping trends …
You may not have started shopping for gifts yet, but data shows holiday shoppers are getting an early start this year, with the majority recently starting by Cyber Monday. To make the most of the holiday season, retailers need to pay close attention to consumer...
read moreWhen the retail chain is forged
Bah humbug, bugs, bots and what you didn't bargain for. By Martin Walshaw, senior systems engineer at F5 Networks. For online consumers, 'tis the season to be jolly. For businesses, it's a time where the retail chain may be forged in life. For hackers, it's a poor...
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