Retail Isn’t Dying — It’s Evolving, Elevating the Role for Partners
… trusted advisers to help them install solutions such as keypad covers, germ guards or plexiglass shields, and UV-C sanitation devices to properly disinfect scanners, tablets and keypads. Not only do these solutions help keep employees and customers safe, but they protect new hardware investments.
Increased Prevalence of Self-Checkout
As retailers reopen and consumers become more comfortable entering stores, retailers require ways to limit the touchpoints between customers and employees.
Innovative uses of technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning can be coupled with self-checkout terminals to provide a check-out experience most similar to traditional methods. Larger retailers, typically with greater capital, will rely on resellers to install smart cameras to monitor suspicious movements and flag potential shoplifting. Meanwhile, you can use computer vision to create an experience that actually improves over time. Cameras can also be used in tandem with self-checkouts to count the number of people using each terminal and automatically close lanes when it’s time to be sanitized, reducing the likelihood that the virus spreads on high-contact surfaces.
Given the ongoing nature of the pandemic, it’s difficult to predict just what the future of retail holds. Fortunately, many of these implementations represent a long-term investment that will extend even beyond the pandemic.
Resellers that can execute technology strategies to keep retailers growing will be in high demand in the digitally transformed future of retail. Flexibility in being able to combine a variety of platforms into effective solutions is a strength of the reseller network, and resellers who can act as trusted advisers will help save businesses across the country. It’s a brave new world for retailers, but it’s certainly not the end.
Tony D’Onofrio is CEO of the consultancy firm TD Insights, where he is recognized as a global social media influencer in retail, security and emerging technologies. He is also listed as a top 100 Global Retail Influencer 2019 and publishes regularly on multiple global platforms, including www.tonydonofrio.com. Tony will be presenting at ScanSource’s Virtual Retail Conference in October. Follow him on LinkedIn or @TD_Insights on Twitter.
Kyle DeWitt serves as vice president of technical services at ScanSource, where he is responsible for the creation and execution of the company’s pre- and post-sale support offerings. He joined ScanSource in 2003, and has held several leadership positions within the Technical Services teams. Kyle’s responsibilities have included building support practices to meet the needs of ScanSource’s suppliers and customers, creating and maintaining systems used for quoting and investigating new technologies. Follow him on LinkedIn or @ScanSource on Twitter.
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