More than a third of retailers are unable to respond quickly to ever-changing customer demands due to outdated IT, according to a survey by Celtech. Ninety per cent of retailers questioned considered themselves a multi-channel business, yet more than half (53 per cent) admit they are not seamlessly integrated across all channels, the research found.

The survey found the three top headaches for the retailers questioned to be: Introducing new channels to enhance competitiveness; responding faster to customer demands; providing a seamless and consistent experience for customers across all channels.

Of the retailers surveyed, which included Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Schuh, 37 per cent said they would like their IT system to provide greater visibility of the business, allowing them to respond faster to customer demands. Less than a quarter of retailers (22 per cent) felt they currently had good visibility of their business, while 19 per cent said they were keen to adopt innovative technology to get ahead of competitors.

The research was carried out by Celtech to explore how retailers are using technology and the value it provides to their business.

Despite the goal of seamless integration and greater agility, just one in four retailers (26 per cent) said they considered themselves to be at the forefront of adopting new technologies. More than a third of respondents (37 per cent) admitted they were only willing to try new solutions when addressing a pressing business need.

Among the top three challenges faced by their business, nearly half of retailers (42 per cent) said they felt their IT systems were holding them back and would consider changing them. The drivers for replacing the system would be future-proofing the technology and business (82 per cent), keeping ahead of the competition (68 per cent) and improving visibility (66 per cent).

For more information visit http://www.celtechgroup.com

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