How Retailers Benefit From Voice Software

Voice software is joining the migration to the cloud, giving large, midsize and small retailers the opportunity to leverage the latest, most advanced technologies for optimizing warehouse operations. Cloud-based voice solutions help retailers more effectively receive, act on and communicate information critical to their business without requiring significant internal IT costs. Using internet connectivity, retailers can quickly implement voice software to improve business processes while bypassing the traditional up-front cost, time and resource commitments associated with on-premise solutions.

As the popularity of online shopping has exploded in recent years, retailers — especially larger ones — have spent millions creating powerful online storefronts. Many, however, haven't given enough attention to optimizing their supply chain. As a result, the initial buying experience is great, but the last piece, order fulfillment, is often mediocre or poor, negatively impacting the customer experience. By employing cloud-based voice solutions, retailers can leverage leading technology partners to manage their supply chain, allowing them to focus their IT resources on revenue-generating technologies.

Furthermore, cloud-based voice solutions bring the benefits of voice to retailers who traditionally couldn't afford to undertake a voice deployment project. Smaller and midsize organizations can now gain the same advantages as larger ones, enabling them to stand on more equal footing in an incredibly competitive industry. Here are seven key benefits that retailers of all sizes can enjoy by leveraging cloud-based voice software:

1. Minimal IT infrastructure costs: The voice solution provider has already invested in the infrastructure needed to host and scale the voice solution. This infrastructure is more robust and extensive than any single company would implement because it's a managed service, giving retailers the benefits of a world-class IT infrastructure without having to purchase it.

2. Less impact on IT resources: A cloud-based solution limits how much strain is placed on the retailer's IT team. The IT team is no longer burdened with installation and management of servers or software. Instead, it will experience a straightforward, one-time setup to get the solution up and running.

3. Cost effective: A cloud-based voice solution includes all hardware and software upgrades within the subscription pricing model. Software updates are automatically uploaded into the system over a broadband internet connection while hardware refreshes occur at predetermined dates at no additional cost.

4. Operating expense financial model: Because a cloud offering is paid for via a subscription, retailers are able to move from a CAPEX to an OPEX financial model for their voice solution. This fixes operating costs (e.g., rent and other regularly recurring costs), stabilizing the year-on-year budgeting process while eliminating CAPEX justifications during challenging business conditions.

5. Scale usage up or down: More advanced cloud-based offerings allow retailers to acquire additional capacity when they need it, such as during a peak period when dozens of additional voice users are brought into the operation. Retailers can then easily return to their normal capacity and only be charged for the actual usage.

6. Faster time to value: Cloud voice offerings deliver high-impact operational benefits without disrupting current systems or requiring additional resource commitments. Retailers can therefore continue on schedule with other projects without hiring additional employees or placing more strain on current resources.

7. Highly configurable: As a pre-packaged, configurable solution, cloud-based voice software is more readily deployed to meet a retailer's specific needs. This flexibility also lets retailers more easily adapt as needs evolve over time.

Cloud-based voice technology provides retailers with a fast, cost-effective solution to ensure the speedy, accurate communication of essential information. As a result, they can quickly and cost effectively achieve greater operational efficiency, improve customer satisfaction and ultimately drive increased profitability.

Keith Phillips is the president and CEO of Voxware, a provider of voice solutions.