Retail businesses can boost access to cash flow for Black Friday
This has 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 Black Friday and festive season to set...
Black Friday and the Covid-19 pandemic
Holiday shopping has always brought the year's best deals, and many shoppers are looking forward to Black Friday specials. However, Covid-19 has cast a dark cloud on the bargains-seeking event, which has gone online. Since many retailers consider Black Friday to be...
Yoco launches standalone card machine
Yoco, a South African financial platform for small business, has announced the Yoco Neo, the company's 'standalone' card machine which does not require a smart device or bluetooth to enable payments. "This year, with the Covid-related challenges and subsequent...
SA retailers should think differently to leverage Black Friday 2020
The retail cash bonanza that is Black Friday will have to be approached differently this year in view of Covid-19 prevention measures. But retailers that get it right, can end 2020 on a reasonably high note and set themselves up for growth and success. Last year, was...
Real-time analytics vital for retail
Data analytics can be a powerful tool to drive insight to improve productivity, efficiency and profitability. In the retail sector, however, applications have traditionally been somewhat limited by the frequency of data. By Andrew Dawson, MD at Cognizance Typical...
Data science helps retailer improve customer service
HomeChoice Holdings, one of South Africa's largest home shopping retailers and financing providers, has deployed Oracle Retail planning and optimisation solutions to drive more sales and enhance the customer experience. With integrated data science, retail solutions...
Epson debuts two compact mPOS receipt printers
As consumer choice increases and buying habits evolve, the way in which small businesses deal with customers and process transactions has become a vital part of the overall shopping experience. Epson has developed two new additions to its ever-expanding range of...
Data key to helping retailers cope in challenging conditions
With lockdown regulations ending, the retail sector is finding its feet and organisations are trying balance the 'new normal' with the old. By Gary Allemann, MD of Master Data Management Regardless of the fact that South Africa has moved to level two of the national...
FNB rolls out QR code payments on Speedpoint
Consumers shopping across the country will now be able to make QR code payments (Scan to Pay) on all FNB's standalone point of sale terminals (Speedpoint devices). Thokozani Dlamini, FNB merchant services CEO, says given the challenges we are currently facing globally...
Strategies for rebuilding retail
Successful retailers are changing their approach to smarter operations, the customer experience and inventory management, writes Mark Thomson, EMEA director of retail and hospitality Solutions at Zebra Technologies. In recent years, retailers and grocers have...
Platform modernisation key for retail growth
Retailers are transforming their digital capabilities to attract new customers and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving industry. By Kirtan Sita, MD of the technology business at Accenture in Africa The global pandemic has shown us the importance of being able to...
Technology in the new FMCG main market normal
Globally, the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market had to quickly adjust to the challenges that came with conducting a business in a world of social distancing, hand sanitiser and masks. By Andrew Dawson, MD of MACmobile Today, most formal retail outlets operate...