Featured article by Sharon McFarlane, Independent Technology Author
If retail businesses are not part of major chains, there is a chance that they will be using substandard technology to run their operations. Even then, some major chains are using methods that should be considered outdated by modern standards. Here are some of the next steps retail units of levels should be taking to improve their tech.
Card Readers
With more and more of the public now using contactless technology to purchase their goods, it is incredibly important that all retail units have this capability. It is not enough to just offer purchases with credit or debit cards. These card readers also need to be able to accept contactless payments for the convenience of the public.
In addition to this, many companies are also introducing loyalties schemes to help attract repeat business. Though some are still doing this with stamp cards, many are also introducing smart cards to help monitor a points system. To be able to use this system, businesses need to invest in a smart card reader. This will allow them to easily track points and can help to speed up transactions – something that could be critical in busy periods.
CCTV
Many businesses already make use of surveillance by CCTV in some capacity, but this needs to be extended if it only covers basics. For example, if a retail unit does have CCTV there is a chance that it will be focused on the cash desk rather than at another point around the store. Should an incident happen away from the cash desk, there is a strong chance that it will not be caught on camera.
Though some businesses are opposed to installing a lot of camera, they are a vital part of operating a retail unit in the 21st century. For the protection of both the staff, the customers, and the stock, all retail units should invest in some high-quality cameras.
Centralised Software
How many small businesses are still making use of multiple systems to keep track of their operations? A company that uses one software for stock management and another for a HR portal is going to run into issues pretty quickly.
More often than not, we need to transfer data between these systems. If they come from different providers, there is always a chance that they won’t ‘speak’ to each other and the data will be incompatible. There are so many options out there for software portals that cover everything a small business could need. Investing in one allows retail units to properly handle their back-office operations with ease.
All retail units need to make these upgrades to be able to successfully run in the 21st century. No matter its size, a retail unit needs to be able to run efficiently for the benefit of its customers and employees alike. Making changes to the technology used for daily operations will have a noticeable effect on the productivity of the unit as a whole. Any business using outdated tech should look to improve it as soon as they can.
