The digital world is built on software. Code that enables extraordinary experiences, delivering cutting-edge products and services that are used at work, on the road, at home or anywhere people connect with content and each other.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that agility and elasticity are paramount to business differentiation, highlighting the need for modern software engineering approaches that include Agile, cloud-based development, DevOps with end-to-end automation, and human-centric design. As remote work and digital interactions surge, retailers must build more engaging experiences while enabling operational efficiencies, improved decision making and software-driven innovation to continually satisfy and delight customers.
We recently surveyed more than 170 retail business leaders worldwide — as part of broad cross-industry study — to understand their modern software engineering ambitions. Our study revealed a large gap between their intent and tangible actions and results to advance on their software agenda.
This is particularly true for retail companies, whose ongoing challenges of fierce competition in an increasingly digital marketplace and evolving consumer behaviors are further exacerbated by the pandemic.
To emerge stronger, we offer six recommendations on ways retailers can transform into software-centric businesses.