Main interview
Everyone is looking for that little bit of tech or data that will fundamentally give them an advantage over the competitor . A considerable amount of money has been wasted in this way
crucial to protect your own systems and integrity , but also the data you acquire . I think that agenda will become more and more significant .
“ Everyone is looking for that little bit of tech or data that will fundamentally give them an advantage over the competitor . A considerable amount of money has been wasted in this way . While there will always be an element of trial and error , I still don ’ t think we have seen as monumental a change in stores as perhaps we might have expected say four years ago . While we have self-service checkouts and a few other innovations , very few have been mass adopted in reality . Technological advancements need to deliver more than face value ; material difference is what business models need ,” he confirms .
Indeed , Dee Set uses multiple data sets to advise both retailers and brands on potential lost sales value , on opportunities , and where there might be gaps in ordering processes or stock . “ We are pretty involved in shelf edge activity ,” Greg continues , “ having developed image recognition to replace physical stock checks . A picture of a fixture can be used to create a data set , which can , in turn , be interrogated , enabling the retailer to see what is on the shelf , what is out of stock , and whether sales are going to plan . This type of process drives efficiency , and ultimately , sales .”
Collaborative supply
As we bring our conversation to a close , Greg is keen to elaborate on a topic he considers pertinent to the future of retail . “ I think transport collaboration will , at some point , have to come to the fore . We currently have the bizarre scenario where single deliveries from Asda , Tesco and Sainsbury ’ s , for example , will all arrive within an hour or two of each other , delivering to three different houses in the same street . We have to find a smarter way to fulfil orders without duplicating mileage , labor , and energy .
“ The supply chain should be seen as an opportunity for collaboration rather than as a competitive advantage . In the future , there has to be a better way to syndicate deliveries that meets the sustainability and labor agenda . It ’ s hugely inefficient as is , and would be in everybody ’ s interest to find an alternative , and potentially , not just in terms of home delivery , but infrastructure , warehousing and logistics , as a whole ,” he concludes . ■
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