December is a time for holiday traditions. For many of us, that means lots of shopping. But the retail experience at the holidays (and all year) is changing drastically. It’s not just about fighting the in-store crowds anymore. It’s about the blend of digital and in-person shopping, influenced by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This transformation is fueling retail innovation. At VMware Explore Las Vegas, we presented the session Transforming the Retail Experience with VMware Edge Compute Stack, demonstrating how VMware by Broadcom is revolutionizing the retail experience for both retailers and consumers.
Watch the video of the session to gain a deeper understanding of these concepts and the immense potential of VMware Edge Compute Stack™ in transforming the retail experience.
The edge is increasingly important for retail
In the next five years, Gartner predicts that half of our data will be generated outside of traditional data centers or cloud environments. This shift reflects the growing trend of distributed application architectures, which are expanding beyond the confines of the cloud and reaching the Edge. But what exactly is “the edge”? It’s the physical location where business operations take place and where a significant amount of data is generated. With businesses increasingly embracing digital transformation, there is a growing need to analyze and draw insights from this data. However, not all of this data needs to be sent back to the cloud. Instead, it requires capabilities at the edge that can extend applications and processes into the real world.
VMware Edge Compute Stack in action
Consider the example of “click and collect” – the practice of purchasing items online and then picking them up at a physical store. This type of application illustrates the need to process data in real time at the edge. By sending the clickstream data to the cloud for analysis, businesses can gain valuable insights into customer behavior, improve efficiency, and optimize store layouts to drive sales and increase profit margins.
The edge enables the use of data in the store itself, allowing for local loop processing. This could be used for maintenance checks or to detect theft. Imagine a scenario where a customer attempts to cheat the system by scanning a cheap bottle of wine twice instead of scanning a more expensive bottle. With local loop processing, cameras can quickly identify this mismatch and alert the store manager, who can promptly address the situation and prevent any potential theft. These capabilities at the edge enable real-time actions and enhance business operations.
From automation in inventory analysis to loss prevention using facial recognition and computer vision, retailers have the power to revolutionize their operations. Imagine the ability to customize marketing strategies, optimize product placement, track customer traffic, and so much more – all at the touch of a button. This is what gives retailers the edge they need to drive profits.
By implementing VMware Edge Compute Stack, retailers can also improve the employee experience by automating operational tasks and facilitating digital transformation within the store.
VMware Edge Compute Stack can be used in a number of scenarios—detecting fraud and loss through computer vision, quickly responding to spills to enhance the customer experience, or automating inventory analysis and microcenter fulfillment. VMware Edge Compute Stack allows for the consolidation of various applications, from VMs to containerized and even VDI solutions. It’s versatile, efficient, and can reduce hardware sprawl.
The platform helps retailers predict demand accurately, ensuring wise investments and successful scaling. And with VMware’s flexible, use case-based platform approach, retailers can easily adapt as their needs change. Whether it’s virtual machines today or modern Kubernetes applications tomorrow, the Edge Compute Stack has got you covered.
Technical capabilities of VMware Edge Compute Stack
The video continues with a closer look at technical capabilities of VMware Edge Compute Stack. In the diagram above, edge infrastructure at the bottom of the stack is the backbone that enables you to run additional services. This includes VMware Edge Cloud Orchestrator™ (VECO) which allows you to manage not only existing VMware SD-WAN™ and VMware SASE™, but also edge clusters, which can be single appliances or multiple servers.
But what can you actually do with this infrastructure? There’s a world of possibilities. You can leverage services such as SASE, private 5G, and AI/ML. SASE provides secure connectivity to the cloud, branches, and data centers, while private 5G boosts connectivity on-site. Additionally, VMware’s partnership with NVIDIA allows you to run computer vision at the edge, and IoT observability further enhances your capabilities. The partnership enables the use of GPUs, which are critical for computer vision.
At the top of the stack are critical edge-native applications that are vital to your line of business. While the services and infrastructure are important, their ultimate goal is to enable the modernization and digitization of stores through VMware Edge Compute Stack.
Consolidated hardware, consistent management, reduced security risks, and an open platform ecosystem are at the core of VMware’s value proposition for the edge. Consolidating hardware and offering a consistent management experience provide simplicity and efficiency. Reducing security concerns is made possible through services like SD-WAN, and our open platform ecosystem ensures a comprehensive and compatible solution.
VMware Edge Cloud Orchestrator allows the management of stores on a large scale. For major retailers with thousands of stores, managing them without a centralized system becomes almost impossible. VMware Edge Compute Stack allows you to run containers and VMs together, offering flexibility during the transformation process. Along with services such as VMware SD-WAN and VMware vSAN, you can create a comprehensive retail solution tailored to your specific needs.
This isn’t a journey we embark on alone. VMware by Broadcom has forged strategic partnerships with companies like TrueScale and NVIDIA to further strengthen the Edge Compute Stack ecosystem. These partnerships enhance the already impressive solution, ensuring it remains at the cutting edge of industry advancements. Together, we’re revolutionizing retail and shaping the future of the industry. Join us on this exciting path to success.
