Retail surgery: How can I avoid being held back by outdated IT?

Today, consumers expect to be able to interact with retailers in more ways than ever before, be it through a website, mobile or tablet device or through social media channels.

And shoppers expect these options to be available to them at their convenience, any time of day, with no downtime or access issues.

To keep up with shopper expectations, having up-to-date technology is crucial.

Unfortunately, many retailers find they are limited by outdated legacy IT, which is having a high impact on their ability to keep up with consumer and market demand.

David Rigler, director of UK retail and manufacturing at software firm SQS, says: “Rather than being seen as an add-on or limited luxury, technology has to be at the heart of a business to enable growth.”

“Many are concerned about the complexities associated with overthrowing legacy systems and still perceive the systems of yesterday to be up to the demands of today. Regardless of this, if outdated technology is not replaced, many retailers face extinction.”

To overcome the challenge of being lumbered with outdated technology, it is important for retailers to put stringent quality checks at the heart of their IT process and involve employees from across the company in the process.

Making employee feedback central to IT quality management will give retailers invaluable insight into which systems are effective, as well as revealing those that are no longer fit for purpose.

“By including employees in the process and regularly testing new systems, retailers will gain the confidence needed to innovate their IT,” says Rigler.