
93% of Australian consumers now expect digital touchpoints throughout their in-store shopping experience,* from browsing menus and making payments to loyalty discounts and booking services. While smart retail apps have never been more accessible or affordable, they all demand flawless connectivity.
For retailers managing dozens or even hundreds of outlets, delivering seamless digital experiences relies on building technology foundations that can scale with their growth.
While leading Australian retailers continue to invest heavily in digital innovation, many operators are held back by fragmented systems, unpredictable costs and unreliable connectivity, which can stall growth and innovation.
From mobile ordering and loyalty programs to customer relationship management and personalised email, retail innovation depends on a rock-solid scalable infrastructure.
The hidden costs of retail network complexity
Managing technology across distributed retail locations creates significant challenges for head office and franchisees.
When critical retail systems go offline, the impact cascades quickly – from halted sales and frustrated customers to disrupted operations and damaged brand reputation. In an always-on retail environment, even minutes of downtime can mean lasting damage to customer loyalty and experience.
Key operational impacts include:
- Complex management of billing and costs across stores
- Security gaps from unmanaged devices and networks
- Blind spots in system performance and availability
- Barriers to rolling out new customer experiences
- Fragmented voice and data communications
Building scalable foundations for growth
Leading retailers are addressing these challenges through cloud-managed platforms that deliver:
Centralised control
Manage all network infrastructure, communications and wireless systems through a single dashboard, reducing complexity and accelerating new store deployments.
Predictable costs
Fixed monthly costs through enterprise agreements for corporate offices and franchisees, eliminating billing complexity and budget surprises.
Business continuity
Built-in backup connections maintain critical operations during network disruptions, ensuring continuous trading across all stores.
Proactive protection
Round-the-clock monitoring and automated alerts identify and resolve issues before they impact trading, backed by expert support.
Enhanced security
Standardised security policies protect customer data, payment systems and business operations across all locations.
Rapid scaling
Standardised templates and enterprise licensing enable quick, consistent deployment of new stores without complex contracts or hidden costs.
Future-proofing retail operations
Modern platforms like Cisco Meraki offer cloud-managed networking, security, wireless and communications infrastructure that Nexon can help retailers set up and manage through a single dashboard from head office to regional outlets.
The right network foundation doesn’t just solve today’s challenges; it enables retailers to confidently deploy a range of digital innovations.
Customer experience
- Self-service kiosks and digital displays
- Mobile point-of-sale and payment
- Queue management and drive-through systems
- Customer WiFi and analytics
Store operations:
- Intelligent inventory tracking
- Voice and video collaboration
- Real-time sales analytics
- Integrated loyalty programs
Successful deployment of these technologies demands reliable, secure and scalable connectivity. Whether you operate hospitality venues, fashion outlets or service locations, the ability to roll out new digital initiatives quickly and consistently is becoming a critical competitive advantage.
Taking action
The path to retail innovation starts with assessing your current infrastructure:
- Measure network reliability and performance across locations
- Calculate total ownership costs including support and maintenance
- Review your ability to deploy new technologies consistently
- Map your digital roadmap against current capabilities
By partnering with experienced managed service providers who understand retail operations, you can not only implement the right technology platform but ensure it continues to deliver value through:
- 24/7 monitoring and proactive support
- Rapid deployment of new sites and capabilities
- Ongoing optimisation and cost management
- Expert guidance on emerging retail technologies
The future of retail is digital, but success depends on building the right foundation today with the right partners.
Contact Nexon to learn more.
* eCommerceNews Australia: Aussie consumers embrace instore tech but fret over data security, 2024