Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 112 | Page 32

INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY
RETAIL

Smollan unites data and technology brands to launch Smollan Technologies

Smollan, a global leader in retail solutions operating across 60-plus markets with 90,000-plus people on the ground, has announced the launch of Smollan Technologies, a unified data and technology entity formed by bringing together seven specialist technology companies under a single brand and operating model.

Smollan Technologies unites Argility, DataOrbis, Cquential, Chirp, FleetDomain, Mediametrics and Skydata into one integrated company. The new entity operates as an independent business with 300-plus data and technology specialists across three continents, serving retailers, FMCG brands and distributors within Smollan and externally.
Retail margins are under pressure. Supply chains are more volatile. The brands and retailers that win are those that can act on data faster, execute more precisely and adapt in real time and they need technology partners that can match that pace across the full operation, not a patchwork of point solutions.
Each of the specialist brands have built deep expertise and strong client relationships in their respective domains, however, the fragmented structure translated into clients having to navigate multiple brands, contracts and relationships for various capabilities. This move aims to remove that complexity and offer clients a seamless interaction with one entity, Smollan Technologies.
The unification is guided by three strategic imperatives:
Simplify: Giving clients a single partner, a single contract and a single ecosystem in place of multiple vendor relationships.
Integrate: Connecting data, software and cloud capabilities so they reinforce each other across the retail value chain.
Innovate: Embedding AI and shared infrastructure across the portfolio so that new capabilities reach clients faster than was possible under a fragmented model.
These imperatives shape how Smollan Technologies has organised its portfolio into three strategic pillars:
• Data and AI
• Software Solutions
• Cloud Infrastructure and Advisory
“ Every product, every expert, every client relationship remains intact. They now operate with greater integration, global reach and a shared precision
The brands and retailers that win are those that can act on data faster.
strategy behind them. Our clients no longer need to navigate multiple brands for related capabilities. They have one partner, one ecosystem and one conversation. Behind that conversation sits an integrated portfolio of over 20 products designed to work together, not in isolation,” said Marko Salic, CEO, Smollan Technologies.
Retail Precision
Salic explains that the ability to make the right decision, at the right moment, at every point in the retail value chain – sits at the centre of the Smollan Technologies strategy. The entire portfolio is engineered to deliver it. From demand forecasting and pricing intelligence to field execution, shelflevel visibility and the cloud infrastructure that connects it all, the ambition is to close the gap between insight and action across the retail operation.
The company’ s immediate focus is on accelerating AI integration across its product portfolio, deepening connectivity across product lines and expanding the client base beyond the Smollan ecosystem.
Smollan Technologies Exco Team
“ For decades, our competitive advantage has been the combination of people on the ground and data-driven insight. By uniting our technology brands into a single, scaled entity, we are ensuring that the intelligence behind our retail execution and the technology we offer our clients, keeps pace with the demands of modern retail,” said David Smollan, CEO of the Smollan Group. •
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