POS evolution from counting cash to omnichannel retailing
Point of sale (POS) technology in a modern enterprise solves a myriad of problems, from managing inventory to insights that improve customer experience and retention, as well as a host of other tools to support omnichannel retailing. By Allan Dickson, independent...
Focal areas for retail industry success
The challenges of remote operations and social distancing in the Covid-19 crisis has fast-tracked the need for digital transformation in retail to enhance customer service, and ultimately boost revenue. By Mandy Duncan, Aruba country manager for South Africa With up...
Make every checkout count …
The pandemic has shocked local businesses into action when it comes to transitioning from offline to online. While many have managed to digitise aspects of their business, brick-and-mortar companies are yet to fully realise the customer insight and retention benefits...
Why SA retailers are asking the wrong questions around IT spend
They can get to the right questions; and the right spend, writes Allan Dickson, independent chairman at redPanda Software. “As a retailer, how much should I be spending on IT?” Although retail decision-makers have been asking this question (with high frequency) for...
Digital payment trends to tap into in 2021
2021 will continue to see the digitisation of payments across various industries including retail, professional services and ecommerce. Online payment gateway PayFast saw unprecedented growth in industries which previously had a limited need for digital payments....
Did Black Friday 2020 give us a glimpse into the future of retail?
Traditionally, scenes from global Black Friday sales depict packed stores and long lines of shoppers fighting to secure the best deals. But in 2020, the annual shopping holiday looked a little different. By Nick Durrant, CEO of Bluegrass Digital Online shoppers in the...
Boost your retail business over the festive season
It's been an extraordinarily difficult year for most South African retailers, with sales showing year-on-year declines for five consecutive months up to end-August, according to Stats SA. Many of them are hoping for a bumper festive season to set them back on the path...
Retail industry trends for 2021
Understanding customer data has been at the core of 2020's challenges and will remain a critical need for 2021 and beyond. By Tom Bianculli, chief technology officer of Zebra Technologies What have been the top three biggest developments in our industry in 2020? We...
The benefits of an agile PoS enablement
There is little doubt that the rapidly evolving point-of-sale (PoS) landscape and the growing number of digital applications and mobile payment methods is exciting for many retailers. However, it is also challenging, as the PoS environment must be made more agile and...
Leroy Merlin banks on hybrid model to drive future growth
International retailer Leroy Merlin, with a presence in 15 countries, has invested in a cloud-based customer experience platform designed to complement its physical retail stores. Leroy Merlin executive, Dmitriy Anderson, says the future of retailing will be driven by...
The perils of legacy software for retailers adopting digital journeys
In the devastating wake of the global pandemic, companies across industries are grappling with the economic impact - and few more so than the embattled retail sector. By Allan Dickson, independent chairman at redPanda Software Without a doubt, 'making the numbers' is...
Move over Black Friday, here comes Green Monday
Black Friday, Cyber Monday and now Green Monday. Retailers would be forgiven for becoming a little breathless with all the shopping events that fall just weeks before the traditional rush of the festive season. But, with some timely action, these shopping holidays can...