Retail and Hospitality

The tight labor market is forcing retailers to completely rethink the employee experience. Much like customers who now expect a seamless, digital experience when shopping, retail associates expect and demand the same kind of digital experiences in their interactions with their employers.

Retail is seeing a resurgence of experiential and in-store shopping experiences and the industry has been forced to make the effort to move to a true “multi-channel” model. Online and offline are now integrated and experiences tap into the capabilities of every channel the retailer offers. Integrating all the possible options into a truly multi-channel experience, that allows the consumer to shop and transact on their terms, gives retailers more opportunities to strengthen customer retention and brand loyalty.

This story illustrates Cisco's use cases and solutions in retail and provides a glimpse into the business needs retailers currently have, the capabilities that Cisco and its partners provide, and the outcomes that can be achieved through digital transformation.

Retail organizations are developing strategies for more sustainable products and operations: reducing environmental impact by building more efficient stores and facilities, using electric vehicles in supply-chain and fulfillment operations, choosing sustainable packaging, and implementing more efficient processes across their operations. By using technology to give better visibility into their operations, retailers can monitor the impact these initiatives have on their sustainability goals. Technology can also help them identify even more ways to reduce energy consumption and provide better service to customers.

Electronic shelf labels (ESLs) allow retail administrators to dynamically control prices of items in their stores, offer deals, and even act as beacons for customers looking for specific items in large stores - eliminating the chance of human error and paving the way for better retail experiences.

In the past year, loss prevention teams have had to adapt to new priority concern areas while 44% of retailers allocated more budget to loss prevention. So, what have been the top concerns in retail security from the past year?

As we find ourselves at the peak of the holiday shopping season, retailers have found ways to navigate numerous obstacles including supply chain disruptions, fluctuating consumer behaviors and continued challenges due to COVID-19.

Leveraging technology in the retail environment elevates the store’s capabilities in new, profound ways.

The rise in eCommerce driven by changes in consumer shopping behavior, has meant that retailers have increasingly turned to digital messaging channels to engage with customers.