The Record - Issue 18: Autumn 2020

27 Digital technologies are key to the ongoing success of retailers, says Raj Raguneethan, retail lead at Microsoft Asia. “Covid-19 is changing the nature and business of retailing on many levels, and those who play in this space must adapt. But how?” said Raguneethan, in a Microsoft article. “New digital technologies are key – not only for managing current challenges and working toward eventual recovery but as tools to reimagine the future.” Brands such as IKEA, Myntra and Woolworths are using Microsoft solutions to adapt to the changing industry as a result of Covid-19. Raguneethan believes that retailers must do three things in order to adapt, recover and thrive in the evolving industry: • Boost omnichannel touchpoints and redefine the role of the brick-and- mortar store • Offer contactless shopping options • Ensure operational agility with accurate inventory counts. “New partnerships to ensure the above will thus play a pivotal role in the new future,” he said. “Retailers should start now, by fostering collaborations within and beyond the industry to address challenges imposed by the pandemic and grab the opportunities to meet customers’ needs that will continue evolving in the ‘new normal.’” Microsoft: Digital technologies are key to the success of retail ScaleOut Software has launched its ScaleOut Digital Twin Streaming Service, a software-as-a-service solution that harnesses in-memory computing in the Microsoft Azure cloud to provide real-time analytics. By creating real-time digital twins that simultaneously analyse telemetry from thousands of streaming data sources, the solution enables deeper introspection and better real-time decision-making than previously possible. With its ability to immediately analyse data in motion from individual data sources in milliseconds and deliver continuous, aggregate analytics every few seconds, ScaleOut’s streaming service can fundamentally change the way industries like real-time monitoring, healthcare, logistics, retail and financial services process live data streams. ScaleOut Software launches streaming analytics for Azure Tyco Cloudvue transforms security at national recycling chain Textile recycling company 7th Generation Recycling has digitally transformed its security at 96 locations in the USA to decrease vandalism and theft. The company recycles clothing, shoes and textiles and funds programmes benefitting local communities and people in third-world countries. Due to issues with crime and the high cost of typical security solutions, 7th Generation digitally transformed its security with more cost-effective and cellular connected cloud solutions from Tyco Cloud. Mike Nijmeh, co- owner of 7th Generation, said “the simplicity and scalability of theTyco Cloudvue solution makes it easy to make our world a safer place.”