If you can’t get stock into the store, or delivered to consumers’ homes on time, you won’t last long in retail. But understanding exactly what is happening in logistics and delivery remains problematic for many UK businesses. David Adams investigates
Gaps on the shelf irritate shoppers, yet few retailers can afford to overstock. As savvy shoppers foresake the High Street in favour of better deals online, Graham Buck examines the science of inventory control and why it is more important now than ever before
At a time when multi-channel retail has changed the way customers shop forever, so it continues to bring with it that biggest of bug bears for retailers. Liz Morrell examines the ups and downs of reverse logistics
Considered by some to be an expensive alternative to barcodes, RFID tags have not been implemented by many retailers in the past. But as the technology begins to gain some traction, Glynn Davis asks; will it finally live up to the hype?
Last year retailers were on the cusp of making the leap to cloud technology, lured by the promise of benefits, cost cuts, improved information access and service delivery. Amazon and Apple have entered the cloud but Hannah Prevett asks; will others follow suit?
With the rise of social media in consumer culture, it was inevitable that retailers would begin to exploit commercial opportunities created by the public’s mass use of these networking websites
As the technology behind loyalty programmes evolves it is becoming easier for retailers to find out more about their customers. Is there a gulf emerging between those who have loyalty cards and those without?
Digital signage and in-store screens have been threatening to come to the masses for years. Could they have finally reached the big time? Hannah Prevett reports
For many UK retailers, PCI DSS compliance remains a headache, although slowly but surely progress is being made, observes David Adams
Coalition Government cuts mean more and more retailers are fearing the worst for their shrinkage figures, with increased concerns over the link between unemployment and shop theft
The battle against online fraud is achieving some success. Graham Buck asks whether the 2012 Olympics threatens to reverse the progress
Despite the need for companies to improve efficiency and reduce costs, the growth of outsourcing IT services in the retail sector has been behind some other industries
As mobile printing technology has developed, PoS technology has become more integrated. Yet it’s in getting closer to customers that this technology really delivers, says Dave Howell
Has EPoS software become bloated? asks Liz Morrell. And, if so, are we about to see the development of leaner, meaner cloud-based EPoS systems?
By extending its PoS system to the likes of smartphone-based mobile devices, a retailer can recover abandoned sales and also boost them. By moving freely around a store, staff can give a more personalised service - checking virtual real-time inventory and pricing, accelerating checkout and eliminating queues. David Adams reports
