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FEATURE: SDN
Software-defined
Networking (SDN) is
an approach to cloud
computing that aims
to improve network
performance and
monitoring. Intelligent CIO
hears from one industry
expert, who argues that
the store of the future
will use seamlessly
integrated technology
to create a wonderful
retail experience for all its
customers and lower costs
at the same time.
M
etacom CEO Réan van
Niekerk believes that
what makes a retail
experience great is being
recognised and valued as
an individual. “Fifty years ago, or perhaps
even today in small neighbourhood stores,
that could happen because owners, staff
and customers all know each other,” said
van Niekerk. “Massive retail chains killed
that personal experience, but technology is
starting to bring it back.”
It’s already possible for retailers to identify
regular customers the moment they walk
into the store and send special offers to
their phones, or even arrange a personal
greeting by the manager. “The only thing
that’s stopping your local retailer from
doing it tomorrow is the cost, but it doesn’t
have to be expensive,” added Van Niekerk.
“Personalised service to customers these
days is dependent on reliable, fast and
secure communications. The dawn of the
Software-defined Wide Area Networking
(SD-WAN) means that standard of
communication is now within reach of every
retailer, no matter how tight their margins.”
Van Niekerk says Metacom’s managed
network can deliver anything from financial
transaction processing, Internet radio,
Internet video and VOIP telephony to free
wi-fi for customers.
“We can switch and control anything you like,
using almost any protocol communicating
with any hardware,” he said. “And we can
remotely upgrade and configure our systems
anywhere in the world.”
Pepkor IT executive Conrad Reinke revealed
at the inaugural Metacom Insight event that
Metacom provides all networking services to
nearly 4,000 group stores across Africa.
“We serve the cost-conscious market so
cost control is very important to us, but so
is reliability and that is why Metacom is the
right partner for us,” said Reinke. “Metacom
is the reason our stores now provide a
wide range of value-added services like bill
payments, airtime purchases and money
transfers, as well as handling peak volumes
with ease.”
Metacom’s new MC6000 Enterprise Router
is a key component of its ability to roll out
future services
SDN will enable
the store of the future
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