Retail’s Next Normal: The Inexorable Rise of the Agile Store

Until recently, retail thrived on a one-size-fits-all operational model that featured highly standardized assortments, a mostly self-service consumer experience, and supply chains built to optimize economies of scale.

While that model is highly optimized and scalable, it is not built with flexibility in mind. So, as we enter our “next normal”, we must recognize that significant store changes are now as fundamental to retail as forecasting and planning. To survive, stores must find ways to become inexorably adaptable and agile.

This iPaper was developed in collaboration with Retail Systems Research. Our objective was to help retailers better understand how modern microservices-based platforms can create enterprises capable of quickly and effectively adapting their store experiences to constantly shifting marketing conditions.