The thinking behind ThinkEdge in our Store of Tomorrow
In late 2024, we opened the doors of our retail concept store, a lab we’re continually changing and evolving. The first of its kind, the Store of Tomorrow is a conceptual retail environment built to give both our team and our clients hands-on experience with retail’s emerging technologies.
While we cut the ribbon on the space two years ago, the Store of Tomorrow’s journey began well before that, as a direct result of our own research and development into the retail sector.
In a bid to understand the existing and emerging state of play within the market, we conducted extensive qualitative research, interviewing hundreds of staff across all levels of retail businesses.
One of the most consistent themes that emerged from our conversations was not a lack of technology, but the difficulty navigating it.
Retailers are aware that there are many technologies on the market designed specifically for the in-store experience. However, the challenge for so many is two-fold. First, it’s understanding which of these technologies are actually relevant for their environment, and second, how all the different components fit together.
The gap between knowing what these technologies are and knowing how they work together is where the Store of Tomorrow concept first sprouted.
The objective was to open retailers’ eyes to new and emerging in-store technology they have at their disposal, understand how this tech clicks together, and fully grasp the potential magnitude and business benefit of such systems.
But as we dug deeper, another insight became clear: The majority of retail IT teams are already managing incredibly complex environments across dozens, hundreds, and sometimes over a thousand stores.
Keeping those environments stable (maintaining networks, devices, security, and supporting frontline teams) already consumes so much of their time. This means that if the underlying technology stack isn’t simplified and standardised, exploring new technologies quickly becomes overwhelming.
That realisation shifted our thinking. It wouldn’t be enough to help retailers understand their options and how various systems fit together. We needed to show how new and emerging tech could be introduced into environments that are already under pressure.
As such, one of the first areas we focused on for the Store of Tomorrow wasn’t the flashy tech itself, but the infrastructure that supports it.
The Store of Tomorrow needed a system that would:
- Handle demanding AI workloads
Many of the technologies running inside the Store of Tomorrow rely on artificial intelligence working behind the scenes. From computer vision that understands what’s happening on the shop floor to systems that personalise the experience for each customer, these tools process enormous volumes of data in real time. Supporting them requires infrastructure that can comfortably handle heavy AI workloads without slowing the experience down. - Deliver real-time data processing
Purchase decisions, inventory updates, customer enquiries: the vast majority of decisions made in a store happen in the moment. Real-time data processing means insights are generated and applied as events unfold, allowing the technology in the store to respond instantly rather than after the fact. - Scale to support a growing tech stack
The Store of Tomorrow was never intended to be static. As new technologies emerge, we continue to integrate new technologies into the experience. That means the underlying infrastructure needs the flexibility to support additional applications and increasing workloads without requiring a complete rebuild each time we add something new. - Be a welcome fit in retail environments
The infrastructure also had to work in a space designed to be experienced in the same way a real store would be. Considering traditional servers are designed for back rooms and not shop floors, we needed to identify a solution that was quiet and unobtrusive. Essentially, something that could operate comfortably within a retail environment while still delivering enterprise-level performance behind the scenes.
Why we chose Edge infrastructure
Early on, we identified that edge infrastructure would provide the strongest possible backbone for the Store of Tomorrow.
Unlike cloud or hybrid models, edge infrastructure processes data close to where it’s captured. This local processing translates to faster performance, the ability to run data-heavy applications in real time, and less reliance on distant data centres.
For us, this meant we could run computer vision and programmatic advertising, and have the infrastructure to bring in other technologies in the future, such as intelligent inventory tracking and advanced POS systems.
On top of this, edge infrastructure is particularly well suited to businesses operating across multiple locations.
Why we chose Lenovo ThinkEdge
Once we’d determined that edge infrastructure was the right architectural approach, the next step was identifying which system was going to be the best fit for us.
For us, Lenovo ThinkEdge stood out early.
Designed specifically for environments outside of traditional data centres, ThinkEdge systems are built to operate wherever computing power is needed. Think: retail floors, warehouses, and operations centres. In other words, exactly the kind of environments our retail clients operate in every day.
This made it a natural fit for the Store of Tomorrow. ThinkEdge allowed us to deploy powerful edge infrastructure directly within the store environment itself, supporting the AI workloads, real-time data processing, and expanding technology stack the space demanded.
Equally important was the platform’s ability to support distributed environments. Retail organisations rarely operate from a single location. Instead, they manage anywhere from dozens to up to a thousand of stores that each require reliable infrastructure on site.
ThinkEdge systems are designed with this reality in mind. They can be deployed across multiple sites, yet importantly, they offer a centralised view of the entire system.
What retailers can learn from our experience
The infrastructure powering the Store of Tomorrow quickly became a demonstration in its own right. Since launch, visiting IT managers and CIOs can see up close how edge systems support and simplify multi-site retail environments.
For its guests, the Store of Tomorrow offers a practical environment to explore emerging in-store technologies and understand the infrastructure required to support them.
It’s an evolving space where we continue to experiment, learn, and share insights with retail teams navigating similar challenges.
