5 Practical Steps for IT Leaders to Prepare for the 2025 Smart Retail Store
As we enter 2025, Australian retail is embracing the Smart Retail Era, where technology like AI, IoT, and AR is driving innovation. The global smart retail market is projected to hit USD 58.23 billion (Grand View Research), and Generation Z, forecast to contribute 48% of Australia’s retail spending by 2030 (Retail Australia), is reshaping consumer expectations.
To remain competitive, IT leaders in retail must tackle four key challenges—staff safety, operational efficiency, shrinkage, and rising demands for personalised customer experiences—all while ensuring their technology strategy aligns with business goals.
Four Key Challenges for IT in Retail in 2025
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Staff Safety: With 88% of frontline workers experiencing verbal abuse (SDA Survey, 2023), IT teams must implement robust security technologies like AI-driven surveillance, panic button systems, and centralised alerting to ensure rapid response and protection for staff.
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Operational Efficiency: IT teams are responsible for streamlining checkout systems, integrating inventory management, and ensuring technology infrastructure minimises customer frustration and transaction errors.
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Shrinkage: IT plays a crucial role in deploying tools like RFID tracking, loss prevention analytics, and smart cameras to reduce theft and prevent loss, which costs Australian retailers $7.5 billion annually (Australian Retailers Association).
- Customer Experience: From personalisation engines to seamless in-store and online integrations, IT must enable to business to believer customer-first solutions that meet evolving expectations for convenience and interactivity.
5 Technologies for a Competitive Edge in Retail in 2025
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AI-Enhanced Surveillance and Analytics
AI-powered cameras are increasingly used not only for security but also to provide actionable insights into customer behaviour and operational performance. For example, queue management systems can identify congestion patterns, enabling better staffing decisions and layout optimisations.
2025 Insight: In 2025, 50% of large retail chains globally will use AI-driven video analytics to optimise operations and improve customer satisfaction (Cisco Annual Internet Report).
Truis Insight: Explore use cases for cameras beyond security, consider solutions that leverage AI analytics for operational intelligence. The Truis Store of Tomorrow uses Cisco Meraki cameras that provide real-time visibility into customer activity and enable IT teams to act swiftly on emerging trends.
- Internet of Things (IoT)
IoT in retail allows real-time inventory tracking, dynamic pricing adjustments, and customer flow analysis. Connected devices deliver critical data for automating manual processes and reducing inefficiencies.
2025 Insight: The IoT in retail market is expected to reach USD 177.90 billion by 2031, a sixfold increase from 2021 (Cisco IoT Insights Report).
Truis Insight: Deploy IoT-enabled analytics tools supported by robust, scalable networks these solutions ensure seamless integration and reliable data flow across all store environments.
- Smart Networks for Seamless Operations
As retail environments grow increasingly complex, maintaining a secure, efficient network is vital. Modern networks must support bandwidth-intensive applications such as video analytics, IoT devices, and cloud-based systems.
2025 Insight: By 2025, 70% of global enterprises will adopt SD-WAN solutions to enhance network performance and security (Forrester).
Truis Insight: Consider if your network has bandwidth to support a Smart Retail environment and support your 2025 business objectives. Consider SD-WAN streamline network operations for consistent performance, robust security, and simplified management across multiple retail locations.
- Omnichannel Integration
Meeting modern consumer expectations means integrating online and in-store systems to create a unified shopping experience. This requires synchronising inventory, POS, and CRM systems in real time.
2025 Insight: 73% of consumers expect integrated shopping experiences in 2025, with frictionless transitions between channels becoming a baseline expectation (Cisco Retail Trends Report).
Truis Insight: Leverage platforms that unify your retail operations across all channels. Take a health check on your current environment, is it futureproofed to support the demands of 2025?
- Sustainability Initiatives
As sustainability becomes a key priority, IT solutions are revolutionising the retail sector by reducing energy consumption, minimising waste, and supporting greener operations. Smart technologies, such as IoT sensors and energy-efficient systems, not only improve efficiency but also align with increasing consumer and regulatory demands for environmentally conscious practices.
2025 Insight: In 2025, 60% of retailers will adopt energy-efficient IT solutions to meet consumer and regulatory demands for sustainability (Cisco Sustainability Insights).
Truis Insight: For Truis, sustainability isn’t just a goal—it’s a core value at the heart of everything we do. From recycling E-waste and upgrading to energy-efficient LED lighting, to installing solar panels and diverting waste from landfill, our commitment to reducing environmental impact drives every decision we make.
For our Store of Tomorrow, we selected Cisco Meraki solutions because of their shared commitment to sustainability, empowering businesses to minimise power consumption and streamline operations.
Take a meaningful step towards sustainability by evaluating your current IT infrastructure. Does it align with your company’s sustainability strategy? Identify one actionable change today to make a lasting impact.
A Note on Shopper Privacy
While adopting advanced technologies, maintaining shopper trust and privacy is essential. Modern solutions incorporate compliance measures to ensure that consumer data remains secure, helping build trust and align with regulatory requirements.
The Truis Store of Tomorrow
Truis spent over three years researching the right technology partners with the best of breed solutions and best future roadmaps specifically for retail. After an In-depth industry analysis Truis selected Cisco Meraki’s solutions for cameras, IoT and networking.
Retail Technology Partner for the Store of Tomorrow with:
Cisco Meraki Networking Switching
Cisco SD-WAN
Cisco Routers
IoT sensors
Wireless access points
Visit the Store of Tomorrow
Discover how Truis can help you prepare for the Smart Retail Era. Our Brisbane showroom showcases cutting-edge solutions from leading technology partners.
Learn how secure networks, smart analytics, and IoT-enabled systems can transform your operations.
Visit the store of tomorrow here