Understanding How Technology Deployment Impacts The POS System
By Jim West, VP of Operations, Velociti
Despite the Cloud’s obvious advantages, retailers should remember how much technology still needs thoughtful deployment and ongoing support in the store.
Software as a Service. No more server in the closet or version-upgrade woes. Automatic backup. Sexy tablets instead of bulky terminals. Platform independence. Monthly fees with no upfront costs. No more viruses!
Sounds like a real reduction in technology overhead for store operators, doesn’t it? And in fact, much has changed in the past five years as Internet-based services have introduced powerful, cost-effective options.
But in the rush to embrace this future, it’s easy for store managers to overlook the reality that there’s more equipment than ever at work on the sales floor, even with the shift to the Cloud.
Wireless LAN access points. Beacons. Kiosks. Digital signage. Associates’ two-way radios and cellphones. Every component needs to interact as specified, sometimes with other store gear, sometimes with shoppers’ phones and — soon — wearables.
In a way, the POS system’s secure transactional capability is just the visible tip of the technology iceberg, some of which is now online and much of which remains (and will remain) in the store. As the purchase transaction goes wireless, moving onto tablets and phones, its full-time availability and glitch-free reliability are more critical than ever.
And when the Internet connection goes down, even momentarily, stores need transparent switchover to local file storage, which is then automatically synchronized with online records once service is restored.
Omni-channel capabilities add yet another layer of technology, as mobile and online orders need to flow to local stock picking and then out to the curbside for pickup. Only a hybrid approach to deployment can design, test, and install all these “moving parts.”
Deployment is too often an afterthought, once technology decisions have been finalized. But consider using a professional deployment expert, who will:
- advise on system architecture and alternative solutions
- survey the physical site for potential obstacles
- recommend optimal device placement and work-arounds
- arrange the needed resources and skillsets
- project-manage the entire deployment, regardless of site count
- guarantee a timeline and a no-surprises budget
- offer post deployment support and monitoring
None of this argues against a Cloud implementation. However, store operators should treat physical site technology deployment not as a place to cut corners, but as a vital component of a successful shift to Internet-based services. The Cloud can do many things, but successful deployment isn’t one of them.