Retail stores face many challenges during the current market turmoil. Operational costs such as energy continue to rise, and consumers with decreased disposable income are demanding more for their money. These concerns add to other pressures such as compliance requirements, data security issues, staff turnover, and the emergence of new channels and markets. Clearly, retailers are pressed to improve performance and efficiency of their store operations.
To address these needs, Microsoft solutions for Connecting Stores provide retailer companies a significant competitive advantage through more efficient store operations, an enhanced customer experience, improved employee productivity, and better inventory utilization. These solutions help retailers meet their current challenges while preparing for tomorrow's opportunities. Microsoft has shaped its strategy to reduce the cost of ownership and help enable greater return on invested capital and assets.
In conjunction with our partner network, we offer a holistic approach to developing and managing value-driven customer buying experiences, while helping retailers accomplish the following:
- Reduce operational costs through a distributed and flexible store infrastructure that allows for cost-effective, rapid adoption of new technology, requiring minimal service and maintenance.
- Get more from existing investments by integrating with services-oriented frameworks on legacy systems to deliver new features and enable future innovation without the need to completely retrain store associates.
- Gain greater business insight by empowering retailers with greater business intelligence, helping to improve operational efficiency and deliver innovative and personalized services to each customer.
SOLUTIONS
Microsoft solutions for Connecting Stores help retailers connect information, systems, and people.
Store Operations
These solutions help retailers reduce costs and improve operational efficiencies by automating back-of-the-house functions such as order and inventory management, workforce management, warehouse management, store performance, and others.
Point-of-service (POS) platform and Mobility Solutions
Provide store staff with the flexibility and access they need to meet customer demands. No longer limit the operation to the traditional cash register. Use POS devices to provide a large range of applications and form factors. Improve employee productivity while offering enhanced consumer experiences with solutions that leverage the Microsoft mobility platform.
Self-service technology and Mobility Solutions
Implement systems for self-service checkout, personal shopping assistants, price checkers, kiosks, and other customer-centric devices. Create whole new sales and service scenarios, and expand the usefulness of point-of-service devices beyond inventory tracking and tendering. Provide employees on the selling floor with comprehensive access to information.
Store IT Operations – Devices and Servers
Use store infrastructure solutions to help reduce the cost of store operations by providing a dynamic foundation for the solutions deployed in the store, including store security, store infrastructure management, and server consolidation. Consolidate servers and reduce costs while simplifying deployments and upgrades.