NCR Corporation
Turning Retail into an Exceptional Experience

Find the best price on a comparison-shopping site. Add it to your e-commerce shopping cart. Pick it up in the store. Return a product without leaving the house. The modern-day consumer continuously oscillates between the physical and the virtual world, and the same complex pattern reflects in their buying behavior . In such a scenario, retail success is all about creating a seamless transition between online and in-store shopping. A research by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) reveals that by 2020, the demand for an omnichannel customer experience will be amplified by the need for near perfect execution. Having said that, most retailers still struggle to achieve a unified-view of their customers across multiple touchpoints, since most retail infrastructures have not been originally designed to handle multi-direction data flow and synchronization. This is where NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) steals the show with their suite of next generation omnichannel solutions and managed services that help retailers of all sizes deliver a superior shopping journey. From mobile point-of-sale (POS) applications to full scale customer-engagement programs, NCR's solutions are scalable, easy to integrate, and support the end-to-end operational cycle. “NCR is helping businesses evolve from legacy processes and effectively engage with digital consumers at every touchpoint,” says Bill Nuti, CEO and Chairman, NCR Corporation.

Inspired Retail Innovation

To create a unified shopping experience, NCR's POS software is designed to support both customer-based functions as well as back-office tasks. The software comes with a suite of customizable applications and also allows sales associates to interact with shoppers at all times, as it’s optimized for mobile devices.

The company has recently released an advanced and comprehensive POS software and store management solution called NCR ENCOR that has been specifically designed for independent grocers and regional chains. NCR ENCOR offers interfaces and APIs to migrate from legacy software, and seamlessly connect with a variety of NCR and third-party applications such as digital coupons and back-office management.

Keeping in mind that quality customer service is key to brand loyalty, NCR also provides a set of robust preferences and loyalty management programs. This feature-rich solution helps retailers build sophisticated loyalty programs, promotions, and diverse campaigns across different store formats and enables them to achieve their retention goals. To identify trends, track historical transactions, and maintain optimal inventory levels, the NCR Counterpoint Inventory Management is a state-of-the-art solution by the company. Through this program, retailers can access a cross-channel view of available merchandise, order fulfillment, and inventory updates all in real time through powerful reports. In order to leverage data and improve business performance, the company also offers a business intelligence and analytics solution that helps build the ultimate personalized experience.

The efficacy of NCR Counterpoint is such that a high-end gift and collectibles chain based in Georgia uses the solution to carry out all its operations. From ticketing inventory to marketing merchandise, operational decisions have never been easier to make for the client as the solution offers a complete real-time view of all processes that is spread across 500 vendors. Above all, since the gifting company has been in business since 1925, they were on a lookout for a solution that was compatible with their existing systems. NCR Counterpoint was the perfect fit as it was highly customizable with a SQL open architecture.

Unified Commerce Made Complete

Often, established retailers in the marketplace look for a solution that will help them leverage existing systems rather than commit to burdensome transformation projects. To empower organizations to stay ahead with connected digital systems, NCR Retail ONE is an innovative commerce hub that comprises a wide set of retail services and is powered by service oriented architecture. The solution supports rapid deployment of digital capabilities, and easily connects to existing applications such as POS and self-checkout solutions. Moreover, in partnership with PTC, a software company, NCR recently came out with an IoT-centric platform that allows customers to connect all active and passive devices across the front- and back-end of a store into its database for real-time insights through advanced analytics. The solution strengthens the services lifecycle management capabilities to be more proactive and predictive, which in turn minimizes IT spend and elevates consumer experience.

Governed by the aim to eradicate all possible complexities that a retailer might face, NCR goes the extra mile and offers a plethora of managed services. The company takes charge of endpoint security, compliance, and technology for its clients across global retail environments. Moreover, NCR also offers round-the-clock helpdesk services to ensure that clients’ systems are up and running seamlessly at all times. In case of an emergency, NCR even has provisions for remote monitoring and management carried out through best-in-class cloud-based IT infrastructure and support applications.

A hands down expert in the area of digital transformation and omnichannel movement, NCR's comprehensive retail ecosystem is a reflection of the next era in retail innovation. In the upcoming days, the company will drive strategic investments in mobile, cloud, big data, and IoT. “NCR continues to position itself as one of the world’s largest companies facilitating omnichannel commerce and digital transformation, and as we enter 2018, we are confident about our growth strategy,” says Nuti.