Emerging markets are set to do just that in 2018 — open their doors to receive even more of the globalized retail landscape. And expanding international retailers will be looking for experienced, knowledgeable, managed service providers who can deploy, support and manage their increasing — and increasingly complex — retail IT needs.
If you’re looking to build and maintain market share in this exciting new economy, make sure your global retail IT strategy prioritizes the following.
1. An Established Network of Global Partners
You don’t just need technicians on the job site, project coordinators managing the workflow, and higher-level project managers for your global IT deployments. You need a network of global partners to effectively execute your projects — especially if you’re deploying your platforms and services into a market new to your retail client. And you need international IT support that’s available 24/7/365 if you need it.
But you may not yet have these global partnerships in place, nor time to develop them before your project is due to start. And you don’t want to take chances with a retailer expanding into a new market. They expect you to get the job done correctly, on time, and under budget, regardless of the inherent challenges of international IT deployments.
Look for a partner who already has these global partnerships in place so you can concentrate on what you do best: deploying your technology into your client’s stores and growing the adoption of your platforms and services.
2. Logistics/Reverse Logistics
Yes, you need to have logistics in place for delivering products, but you also need to have reverse logistics in place for returning products. Over the international landscape, this can get tricky.
Before you can legitimately expand into any market, your logistics and reverse logistics have to be firmly in place. Take the time to understand the importing process and have the right importer of record to help get equipment in correctly.
And if you think your local clients are unforgiving, try doing business in a country where people expect perfection from foreigners just because you are foreign. You’re competing against local companies that already know the logistics that work, and the successful local companies have already built a process that satisfies local clients’ expectations.
The bottom line: There is very little room for error here. Your IT deployment team must be quick on its feet and able to combine the idea of customer service with a knack for technical expertise.
3. Online Labor Platforms
Many companies rely on on a complicated network of third-party providers to execute their IT deployments. Although these providers offer the benefit of specialization, they can also hurt efficiency.
The alternative: cloud-based online labor platforms that give companies more control over their IT deployments. They’re powerful solutions for not only managing independent technicians but also for automating routine project management and coordination processes.
You can use these platforms to source, schedule, and dispatch contingent workers and monitor their work. As a result, your project management and coordination will become much more streamlined and efficient. And if you don’t have the time or resources to set up and manage one of these platforms yourself, companies like Kinettix can do it for you.
Make sure that you are cultivating a holistic approach to retail IT deployments with a fully-vetted, handpicked team of specialists. Look for a partner that can help you find the right talent to move your global retail IT strategy forward into 2018 and beyond.
