Deciding on the right solutions for your retail business can be tricky, particularly as the adoption of retail technology is unpredictable at the moment. What you invest in today may not be the favoured tool of the future.

With a host of electronic-point-of-sale shopping devices on the market, from self-service tills and kiosks to smart phone and tablet mobile payments, retailers are struggling to keep up. For example, while retailers have put their efforts into contactless payments and mobile shopping, buy online and collect later has snuck in the back door and secured its place in the market.

As Amazon Kindle commercial said, “What once seemed wildly impractical is now completely normal.” As stores strive to put the customer first, make shopping personal and deliver the convenience of omni-channel shopping it’s easy for mistakes to happen in a retailer’s haste to stay on top.

Retailers looking to invest in new solutions for their store should do so with caution and a considered approach, and be sure that they partner with a sound provider. For a thorough investigation by their technology provider several steps can be expected in order to select the right solution for their business.

A recognised action plan includes the following five steps:

1. Exploration of organisation and its processes

This involves identifying any core problems and creating a very detailed picture of how the retail business is currently run.

2. Development of possible solutions

Starting by fully understanding the intentions, objectives and priorities of the retailer such as process costs over improving customer service, providers should build exact data to work from when deciding on concrete solutions that are right for the business.

3. Test the cost effectiveness of the solution

Retailers should receive a highly detailed and realistic return-on-investment calculation based on the proposed solution and the business operations. The aim to ensure the solution will benefit all parties within the business as well as the customer.

4. Solution decision

With an extensive and reliable collection of data and information the retailer should have all the material it needs in order to make a decision whether to invest in the technology or not.

5. Pilot run

If the solution is given a green light the next step is to meticulously plan, scope and timetable actions for the rollout. However, before fully committing retailers are advised to test the reality of the investment with a pilot run in an average performing store.

Retailers looking to invest are advised to follow this process with a couple of possible providers before making a final decision. Comparing price, understanding of requirements and recommendations for solutions, supported by previous experience of roll-outs, is a best practice way to ensure the right company is managing your project.

Is EPoS the right solution for your store? Find out with a free quote.