Darrell Harvey
Recent Posts
Scotland is introducing a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in August 2023.
Customers will pay a 20p deposit when they buy a drink, which they will get back when they return their empty bottle or can. Given that nearly all retailers are looking for ways to reduce their impact on the environment, the positive outcomes for plastic waste reduction are clear.
But, the challenges of implementation are acute in an industry already dealing with economic pressures from inflation and recession. More than 500 Scottish companies have signed a letter calling for a delay in the legislation.
Retail margins are under pressure from all directions – labour costs, supply chain challenges, inflation, and digital budgets that need to meet customer expectations – yet retailers are missing opportunities to automate store management.
Every retail CIO faces the same challenge: how to maintain profitability in the face of perpetual disruption. The possible impact of persistent inflation is just the most recent addition to the profitability challenges faced by the retail industry since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
Picture this: Your smart refrigerator would soon be able to sense your groceries and milk supplies that need replenishment. This list will be automatically sent to your Smart Digital Assistant (Alexa, Google Home, etc.), which in turn will send it to an automated chatbot within the premise of your local departmental store.
Result: Fresh supplies delivered, as required, without your intervention.