Retail
Radiocommunication enhancing the shopper experience
Two-way radiocommunication has proved its worth in a variety of retail environments for many years, giving store and facilities managers, retail staff, stock controllers and security teams the means to communicate discretely and effectively to improve stock availability, reduce stock loss, improve productivity, and deliver a better customer experience.
It’s been a challenging few years for the retail sector as businesses transform to fully integrate digital channels and data to inform direction and strategy, while those encumbered by onerous leases a poor online presence or an undifferentiated positioning have fallen by the wayside.
There’s no doubt the shopping experience has changed in line with consumer preferences and expectations, but while online continues to grow and change the way we browse, it doesn’t replace the live experience of seeing and touching products and goods in the flesh and the human interaction of physical shopping.
The pace and scale in the adoption of automation and AI in retail is relentless and transfers the lessons learned from online retailing - making discovery, upselling and purchase seamless and integrating with the supply chain to ensure stock availability on the floor.
As retail undergoes a metamorphosis into more convenient, sociable and vibrant places using data and predictive analytics, dynamic pricing, exclusive in-store events etc., to improve the way goods are presented, their availability, streamline the purchase process and provide a personalised customer service, it’s equally important that the environment in and around shops feels safe and welcoming and an attractive place for consumers to spend their leisure time.
Attracting increased footfall involves investment to make it easy to access shops, the continual regeneration of the surrounding environment, reducing crime and anti-social behaviour and not least improving worker safety so that retail staff are at ease and able to deliver a better customer service.
HOW RADIOCOMMUNICATION ENHANCES THE SHOPPER EXPERIENCE
Despite the ubiquity of smart phones and the introduction of Push-To-Talk-over Cellular (PoC) devices, two-way radiocommunication remains the optimum communication tool of first and last resort in the retail sector that continues to work indoors and out even in the event of cellular network overloads, IP and Wi-Fi service outages.
Robust, low purchase cost and with no dialling, waiting for a connection, dropped calls, service contracts, call or data charges are just some of the benefits of two-way radio, providing instant communications at the push of a button indoors and out without unnecessary distractions.
Hand-portable two-way radios (walkie-talkies) can provide one-to-one, group and all users communication options, giving you the flexibility to build a radio system that supports your operations
Typical applications include:
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- Protection of staff |
- Monitor and log workforce activities |
PROVEN PERFORMANCE
KENWOOD two-way radio systems and devices have been employed in retail operations for many years in applications as diverse as high-end boutiques, supermarkets, shopping malls and city centres.
The systems enable retail managers to deliver clear voice and data transmissions to different teams at the push of a button to prioritise work, maintain stock availability, respond to situations, manage emergency procedures - and ultimately, to improve safety and security, maximise the efficient use of resources and enhance the shopper experience.
Solutions range from the simplicity of license-free digital dPMR446 walkie-talkies to highly flexible, voice and data enabled digital conventional, IP networked and trunked DMR and NEXEDGE NXDN communications systems – the utility of which can be greatly extended with the addition of applications and software suites to include dispatch and location capabilities, automated and event triggered audio and text alerts and real time asset tracking and monitoring.
KENWOOD DMR and NEXEDGE NXDN systems can also be integrated with existing enterprise, buildings and maintenance systems, so offer a failsafe and future-proofed communication solution.
KENWOOD systems are employed in the management of retail and mixed usage facilities across Europe, Middle East and Africa, including One New Change (London), Zorlu Centre (Istanbul), and the Exeter Business against Crime initiative.
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One New Change LondonNEXEDGE NXDN provides the radiocommunication system at the landmark One New Change building housing offices and sixty shops and restaurants serving workers, discerning shoppers and diners in the City as well as drawing visitors from outside of the area. |
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Zorlu Centre IstanbulZorlu Center in Istanbul brings together upscale residences, offices, a hotel, shopping centre and art and culture venues. Learn how a NEXEDGE NXDN system supports the FM team at this 102,000sqm site. |
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Exeter City Centre Management PartnershipSince its introduction by Exeter City Centre Management Partnership in 2005, demand to join the Exeter Business Against Crime (EBAC) initiative has grown consistently to include shops, pubs, restaurants, car parks, police and even street chaplains operating in the city centre. Read how a KENWOOD NEXEDGE system supports safety and security in the city centre. |
KENWOOD RADIOCOMMUNICATION OPTIONS
ProTalk License-Free PMR446 – simple and effective
The simplicity and convenience of analogue and digital license-free PMR446 technology has made it a popular choice for use within stores, particularly supermarkets, garden centres and DIY outlets where its reliability, ruggedness and ease of use has provided instant communication between individuals and groups at the push of a button.
Digital dPMR446 is by far the most popular format with professional users. It offers better reception to the full extent of the coverage area, and with 32 digital channels and 16 analogue channels, it’s particularly suited to operations in congested city areas and larger open spaces or where channels are allocated to specific teams. Durability, a long battery life between charges and simplicity of operation in all conditions are some of the key attributes of the current generation of KENWOOD ProTalk dPMR446 radios, along with many more advanced features only previously found in licensed radios.
KENWOOD licensed digital radio – the flexibility to meet the demands of larger and multiple sites
For larger single sites or communications to teams across multiple sites, a licensed KENWOOD DMR or NEXEDGE NXDN digital radiocommunication system brings even greater benefits, including:
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- Individual, group and all radios calls |
- Programmable automated alerts |
KENWOOD DMR and NEXEDGE NXDN digital protocols both offer the capability to build flexible and scalable systems suitable for covering single or multiple sites, while native analogue/digital Mixed operation (enabling radios to communicate automatically with existing licensed analogue radios), provides a predictable, economical migration path to digital two-way radio operation at an affordable cost and the basis on which to build a scalable, future-proof radio system.
KENWOOD DMR or NEXEDGE NXDN system equipped with GPS devices can not only provide multiple communications channels and talk groups but also, with optional KAS-10/20 software or Trackuracy ‘asset’ tracking suites, allow you to monitor and track every radio so you always know where staff are and can pinpoint and move resources to where they are needed and when necessary identify those best able to respond quickly to situations .
Health & Safety
In addition to the efficiency that radio communication brings to coordinating activities and service delivery, it also helps you comply with health and safety and security requirements/regulations, for example, alerting staff to the presence of threats, calling for medical assistance, reporting accidents and anti-social behaviour.
Advanced Lone Worker protection
Lone workers carrying out their duties out of sight from colleagues, for example stockroom, cleaning, maintenance, loading bay and security staff can have their radios programmed and monitored to provide the reassurance that help is never far away. All KENWOOD NEXEDGE NXDN and DMR digital two-way radio devices feature an Emergency Key and Emergency Call features as standard, while more advanced models additionally offer built-in or optional GPS modules, Lone Worker, Motion Detection and compatibility with Location services, which can be programmed to deliver automated proximity triggered prompts.
These advanced safety features offer an added layer of protection in support of emergency protocols with the ability to automatically send alerts and alarms to the command centre and/or other radio users, for example:
| Priority Call: |
The Priority Call feature ensures the availability of a radio channel in the event of an emergency and allows a dispatcher to interrupt all existing calls on a channel. |
| Emergency Key: |
An alarm is triggered along with the user ID of the sender and when the Emergency Key button is pressed. GPS equipped radios can additionally send the location (GPS coordinates) of the user. |
| Lone Worker: |
An alarm is triggered along with the user ID of the sender if a user does not respond to a status prompt within a specified time. |
| Man Down: |
An alarm is triggered along with the user ID of the sender if the radio is tilted beyond a pre-determined angle indicating that the user may have fallen or become incapacitated. Other programmable features include: - Stationary Detection: Emergency mode is triggered along with the user ID of the sender when the radio remains in a stationary position for a period exceeding a pre-set time, indicating that the user is unable to operate the transceiver, or it’s has been lost, mislaid etc. GPS equipped radios can additionally send the location (GPS coordinates) of the user to a control centre using software such as KAS-10 and KAS-20 AVL and Dispatch suites. - Motion Detection: Emergency mode is triggered along with the user ID of the sender when the radio is vigorously shaken or swung for a period exceeding a pre-set time, indicating that the user is running to or from an incident. GPS equipped radios can additionally send the location (GPS coordinates) of the user to a control centre using software such as KAS-10 and KAS-20 AVL and Dispatch suites. |
| Location Services: |
NEXEDGE NXDN and DMR radios equipped with GPS can additionally be programmed to send location information to the control centre using software such as KAS-10 or KAS-20 AVL and Dispatch suites so that the user at risk can be located quickly and response times reduced. |
| Asset Tracking and Monitoring: |
With Trackuracy, KENWOOD DMR and NEXEDGE NXDN systems can be equipped with low-energy, real-time asset monitoring and tracking across single and multiple sites, indoors and out. Alerts and alarms delivered as audible tones, voice or data messages can be programmed to trigger automatically should the user stray off course or enter restricted areas. |
| Remote Monitor: |
Remote Monitor allows control centre staff to listen in to a radio through its microphone in situations where an alarm is activated, and the radio user is unable to respond. This provides the Safety Officer with the intelligence to assess a situation in real time and to quickly initiate an appropriate response. |
EXCEPTIONAL AUDIO QUALITY EVEN IN NOISY ENVIRONMENTS
KENWOOD radiocommunication devices benefit from JVCKENWOOD Group’s 60-years’ experience in producing consumer audio and visual equipment (Trio, JVC and KENWOOD), renowned for exceptional sound quality.
This transfer of knowledge and experience has led to the development of a number of novel and innovative solutions which overcome the problem of cancelling ambient noise while improving the audio clarity of the transmitted voice - in any operating environment.
COST-EFFECTIVE MIGRATION FROM ANALOGUE TO DIGITAL
The beauty of a KENWOOD digital two-way radio solution is that your investment in new equipment when upgrading from analogue can be phased over time as all KENWOOD digital radio devices feature automatic analogue/digital Mixed operation (which allows them to communicate automatically with any existing analogue radios (whatever the make) providing a predictable and cost-effective path to full digital implementation.
BUILT TOUGH TO WITHSTAND RAIN, DIRT AND THE ROUGH AND TUMBLE OF DAILY USE
As you would expect, all KENWOOD professional hand portable walkie talkies and mobile radios conform to MIL-STD-810 C/D/E/F/G for ruggedness and durability and are IP54/55/67 Water & Dust Intrusion rated, making them suited for use in any environment.
In addition, KENWOOD can offer ATEX IECEx devices for use in hazardous, explosive atmospheres.
EXPLORE KENWOOD SOLUTIONS FOR THE RETAIL SECTOR
To discover more about the millions of KENWOOD devices in use by countless customers in hundreds of applications around the world, including the innovative, multi-protocol NX-5000 Series (NXDN, DMR, P25 and FM Analogue), NX-3000 Series (NXDN, DMR and FM Analogue) and exceptional value offered by the entry-level NX-1000 Series hand portable walkie talkies and mobiles, please click on the banners below.
For more information on KENWOOD digital system solutions, including DMR Tier 3 trunking and Simulcast, NXDN Type-C, Type-D, and Gen2 trunking, click here.
If you’d like to learn more about our TRACKURACY, our real-time Bluetooth Low Energy asset tracking and monitoring solution, click here.
Alternatively, please post an enquiry to us or contact an authorised KENWOOD Communications reseller.
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