As the retail landscape continues to evolve at a phenomenal pace, today’s companies are more reliant on excellent communications than ever before. Retail companies need to ensure they have a strong underlying infrastructure for communications in place, in order to keep employees connected, strengthen innovation, and pave the way for business growth.
What’s more, a strong communication system ensures retail companies can align their employees around the best possible strategies for customer service. When staff members on the shop floor, behind the scenes, and in the production landscape are connected, customers see the benefit.
Unified Communication systems provide business leaders with an end-to-end environment where teams can collaborate, innovate, and work together on solving consumer issues. What’s more, the right tools can offer fantastic insights into crucial metrics related to growing the business.
Here are some of the top vendors helping retail companies to digitally transform in 2022.
Cisco
Widely regarded as one of the most trustworthy and dependable communication providers in the world, Cisco has plenty to offer today’s retail businesses. The Cisco ecosystem has everything a retail brand could need to connect employees, serve customers, and track data across the business. For instance, Cisco Webex Teams and Meetings allow employees to easily share information, connect via video, and communicate over voice or chat.
Cisco users can also integrate their UC and contact centre environments, pulling elements of cloud-based customer service into their communication environment. A comprehensive “experience management” dashboard makes it easier to track various CX elements unique to the retail landscape, like store ambience or foot traffic. For companies in search of an all-in-one solution, Cisco offers the flexible environment retailers need.
RingCentral
Innovators in the world of cloud communications, RingCentral is best known for providing its customers with a huge range of flexible, agile technology solutions. The business even has dedicated solutions build specifically for different sectors, such as “RingCentral for Retail”. This all-in-one ecosystem makes it easier for business leaders to connect online, and in-store interactions between consumers and employees alike.
For employees, RingCentral’s cloud communication system makes it easy to stay connected wherever they are, on any device. Team members can engage in video and audio conferences with colleagues, share data about customers, and access knowledge base articles. There’s also the option to combine UC and CC technology with RingCentral, bringing your contact centre into the same environment as your unified communication tools.
Microsoft
Microsoft is widely regarded as one of the top innovators in the new world of work. Providing business leaders with an all-in-one environment for productivity, communication, and collaboration, Microsoft is changing the way retailers view the workplace. Microsoft Teams in particular has become a must-have investment for many retail companies.
With Teams, retailers can connect their employees across every level of the business, whether they’re working on the front of the shop, or managing customer service. Walkie talkie apps and instant video conferencing provide multiple ways for staff to stay connected on the go. Plus, Microsoft makes it easy to track to-do lists, projects, and deadlines too. With access to solutions like direct routing and operator connect, retailers also have the freedom to bring their existing telephony providers into the Teams ecosystem, to keep costs low.
Workplace from Meta
Meta is making waves in the communication and technology industry right now, thanks to its focus on innovative new technology, and concepts like the “Metaverse”. One of the most impressive business tools offered by Meta is the “Workplace” ecosystem, which aligns employees from anywhere in the business with an agile and dynamic social experience.
Workplace from Meta is perfectly suited to a retail environment, where front-line workers and customer-facing staff might not spend a lot of time glued to the desk. The technology comes with access to a range of tools, like instant alerts and news feeds, as well as real-time video streaming, to keep the workforce on the same page. With Workplace from Meta, business leaders can ensure their team members have everything they need to stay engaged, and delight customers.
Vonage
With a focus on the rising cloud-based communications landscape, Vonage is contributing to the rapid digital transformation of many leading retail companies. Flexible, scalable, and convenient, Vonage’s technology helps retail brands to synchronize their employees, and delight their customers. The Unified Communications environment offered by Vonage comes with a host of useful tools for retailers, like AI assistants, and a business hours scheduler.
Companies can empower their teams to operate across a range of desktop and mobile apps, so they can stay connected on the move. Plus, Vonage also invests in other areas of the “as-a-service” landscape for communications too. Companies can combine their UC with contact centre technology, or leverage communication APIs to enhance their existing apps.
Poly
Investing in the best possible communications technology for the retail market isn’t just about having the right software in place. Business leaders also need to consider the hardware requirements of their employees. Most retail companies invest heavily in everything from meeting rooms and video conferencing tools to desk phones and dedicated headphone systems.
Poly, one of the market leaders in communication technology, offers retail brands a wide range of endpoints to suit their varying needs. With Poly, companies can design flexible meeting rooms with a range of video and audio options. There are ergonomic headphones designed specifically for all-day use, and microphones built to ensure excellent audio experiences wherever retail staff might be.
Avaya
One of the top communication companies in the world, Avaya has proven itself to be a fantastic partner for companies in the retail sector. The vendor’s wide selection of communication products cover everything from combined UCaaS and CCaaS solutions, to CPaaS and APIs. This ensures retail businesses can build the ideal technology stack for their needs from scratch.
With the Avaya Cloud Office environment by RingCentral, companies also gain access to a phenomenal tool for synchronising their staff members. There are various solutions for video and audio conferencing, as well as instant messaging and file sharing. Companies can even build their own chatbot assistants to support team members wherever they are.
