As summer days roll on, retailers must shift their focus from beach outings to the critical planning phase for the holiday season. In the retail world, preparation is not just important; it’s essential for maximizing sales and enhancing customer experience during the busiest shopping events of the year. Mike Tippets, VP of Corporate Marketing, PR, and Communication at Hughes Network Systems, outlines key steps every retailer should take to ensure their technology stack is ready.
Review Integrations and Upgrade Systems
Many retailers rely on a complex web of technologies. From inventory management systems to loyalty programs and digital payment solutions, the ability to seamlessly integrate these systems is crucial for enhancing the customer experience and supporting staff. Retailers should take this time to conduct thorough testing on these systems and consider upgrading existing platforms.
For instance, upgrading handheld devices, digital displays, and self-service kiosks can greatly increase efficiency. Partnering with managed services providers can relieve some of the pressure by offering guidance on best practices for technology deployment and maintenance. This proactive approach allows retailers to scale their capabilities quickly to meet the impending surge in customer demand.
Plan for Temporary Locations
The holiday season often brings about the need for temporary or pop-up retail locations. Yet, these setups come with unique technological requirements. Brands must ensure their technology can adapt to different footprints, especially when the timeline is tight, and customer expectations are high.
Consider a retail brand that wants to set up a seasonal kiosk in a high-traffic area. Confirm the technologies needed at these locations well in advance, from point-of-sale systems to Wi-Fi access points, to ensure a seamless customer experience. By planning ahead, brands can avoid delays and capitalize on the holiday rush instead.
Equip and Train Seasonal Employees
One of the most significant challenges retailers face during the holiday peak is training seasonal employees effectively and efficiently. Familiarizing staff quickly with the tools and processes they will use means better customer service and higher sales conversions.
Retailers should consider investing in employee-facing digital signage solutions that can provide on-the-spot training resources. For instance, a retailer could utilize interactive screens that offer training videos or FAQs, allowing employees to access information as needed. Adequate training not only boosts employee confidence but also leads to improved customer experiences, ultimately driving profitability.
Assess Network Strength
A robust network infrastructure is the backbone of any retail environment, especially during peak shopping times. As mobile commerce continues to grow, consumers expect fast and reliable service whether they are shopping online or in-store. Retailers must ensure that their networks can manage increased traffic and data flow from both employees and customers.
Conducting an early assessment of your network’s capacity can identify weak spots that might hinder performance. Technologies such as Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) and 5G can enhance performance significantly, providing both the speed and reliability needed during busy shopping times.
Prioritize Network Security
In today’s landscape, safeguarding data and customer transactions is more critical than ever. With the influx of customers comes increased risk of cyber threats. Retailers need to review and reinforce their network security protocols to protect customer information and business operations.
Layered security strategies should be a focus, ensuring that even if one layer is compromised, others will provide protection against potential breaches. Engaging managed security service providers can offer retailers the necessary expertise to bolster their cybersecurity measures. Given how damaging an attack can be, especially during the holiday season, investing in security is not just wise, it’s necessary.
Conclusion
Preparing your technology stack for the holiday rush is multi-faceted. By reviewing integrations, planning for temporary locations, training seasonal staff, assessing network strength, and reinforcing security measures, retailers can not only weather the holiday storm but thrive during it. Anticipating challenges and taking action now can lead to increased sales, enhanced customer satisfaction, and a successful holiday season.
