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.
