Retail
IT should do more than work.
It should move with what customers expect tomorrow.
Trends in retail
The Dutch retail market faces major challenges: rising customer expectations, margin pressure, labor shortages and the collapse of traditional business models. Retailers need to decide how to deal with these obstacles while building a business model that can keep up with the future.
The shift to online shopping has sharply increased demand for technology solutions. Digital transformation is no longer a buzzword, it is an essential part of every retailer’s strategy. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this development. Many retailers had to digitize legacy systems and business processes and develop a data strategy. These changes put heavy pressure on operations.
That pressure is often reinforced by the separation between IT and operations. “IT is often seen as the neighbor down the street. Integrated collaboration between IT and operations creates a clear vision and strategy, and opens up new opportunities.”
Low-code & Retail
In today’s retail environment, customers expect a seamless omnichannel experience where every channel connects smoothly. A customer might land on the webshop through an ad and complete the order process without friction. Modern apps still need to work smoothly with outdated systems. Webshops, portals and dashboards also need to be integrated with relevant data.
This is where low-code comes in. Low-code makes it possible to make data and processes digitally transparent and to develop modern applications that are available across channels. Instead of relying on more staff to grow, digital transformation automates business processes and creates scalability. This makes retailers less dependent on manual capacity and helps them respond faster to market changes.
Low-code also gives retailers the freedom and flexibility to adjust systems quickly when market conditions change. By working with standard components, companies can update applications fast, which matters in a dynamic retail market. With low-code, you keep control and stay agile as a retailer.
How do you avoid the risks of legacy software as a retailer?
How long will you keep investing in your legacy software? You can replace it with modern software. Read more to learn why it matters to move on from legacy software and how to approach it.
Software for low-code
For low-code software in retail, we have seen the following applications and use cases:
Workflow Management
Make your operation more efficient by automating recurring tasks and activities. Read more about workflow management here.
Inventory management system
Create control by real-time insight in your inventory status and empower your sales strategy. Read more about inventory management here.
Customer portals
Build customer-friendly applications for different audiences and increase satisfaction. Read more about customer portals.
Order to Cash Automation
Accelerate cash flow: automate and integrate the complete order management process. Read more about order to cash automation.
LINKIT as low-code partner in retail
Many different platforms exist in the low-code market. From our LINKIT knowledge squads, we work with the two leaders in the enterprise low-code market, Mendix & OutSystems.
Mendix
With Mendix as a low-code platform, you bring IT & Business closer together. Thanks to the intuitive interface and visualisation, you also let ‘non-technical’ people work in Mendix, which means you involve them in the development process. In addition, Mendix is a platform where you can run cloud-native applications and easily integrate with external systems. Read more about Mendix here.
OutSystems
The OutSystems platform focuses on pure low-code functionality or High-Performance low-code. Software developers are flexible to add their own code and extend complex applications without limitations. In addition, you develop at breakneck speed due to high productivity and reusable components. Read more about Outsystems here.
Discovery scan
Are you looking for software that suits your business needs? Our discovery scan maps out your IT needs in 5 days. The scan is your starting point for a successful low-code journey.
We did these retail projects before
Are you considering low-code to innovate digitally as a retailer? Or are you looking for a partner to help you develop and support? Having a low-code partner provides a fresh perspective in your organization. Your benefits of working with LINKIT are:
- We understand your question and challenge you to develop the smartest solution
- Working with our experienced low-code squads of 80+ developers, including as many as 5 MVP’s.
- Work quickly and flexibly on your development challenge
- Computable has awarded LINKIT as the best software development employer. You always work with happy consultants!
Retail customers we help stay ahead
Retail clients we help stay ahead
Ready to accelerate as a retailer?
Are you a retailer looking to get started with low-code and wondering which platform is the best fit? Or are you looking for an innovative take on your existing application landscape? Contact us and tell us your story.
Justin Bunnik
