Retail Revolutionized: How Accenture and Google’s Intelligent Edge Solution Elevate Your Retail Strategy

By Sandip Gupta and Stephanie Pagano  

In today's competitive retail landscape, customer experience reigns supreme. Retailers must constantly innovate to meet evolving expectations for speed, convenience, and personalization – all while uncertainty looms in the macro. Edge is the past, present and future of the retail industry. 

The combined power of Accenture's Intelligent Edge Solution and Google Distributed Cloud Edge (GDCE) provides a transformative solution for modernizing retail operations.  

With Edge, The Possibilities are Virtually Endless 

• Autonomous Shopping: Enhances workforce efficiency and elevate customer experiences through technological advancements 

• Digital Signage: Elevates footfall and enhance profitability with cutting-edge digital solutions such as digital displays, intelligent mirrors, and interactive screens 

• Warehouse Automation: Catalyzes digital evolution within logistics and retail sectors, optimizing backend operations and streamlining warehouse logistics 

• Loss Prevention: Implements strategies for tracking and minimizing inventory shrinkage in retail environments 

• Personalization: Crafts bespoke customer journeys by tailoring experiences to individual preferences and behaviors 

• Shelf Stock Monitoring: Fosters sustainability and precision in inventory management by minimizing waste and ensuring accurate stock replenishment 

Establishing Your Foundation is Critical – And It Doesn’t Have to Be Hard 

Many of our clients strategically leverage hardware refresh cycles to establish an edge computing foundation. This foundation serves as a launching pad for deploying various AI/ML applications, allowing for rapid scaling across multiple use cases.  

Concurrently, a robust framework for edge data, derived from IoT devices, OT/IT integration, and sensors, is developed through intelligent edge deployments. This approach optimizes data transmission to the cloud, reducing network bandwidth and storage costs.  

Across retail industry segments, early Proof of Concepts (PoCs) consistently demonstrate the benefits of interoperability and integration of multiple data sources at the edge, empowering clients to accelerate and bolster their generative AI initiatives. 

Google Distributed Cloud Edge, Google Cloud's fully managed, hardware and software offering, now has a retailer-focused configuration   

In a recent press release Google discussed Google Distributed Cloud Edge (GDCE) for Retailers. The solution enables retailers to deliver modern customer experiences with AI across thousands of locations with low or no internet connectivity. Retailers can save valuable IT resources with three small form-factor servers that can be conveniently installed in any store, all managed by Google Cloud. With this product in a store's back room, retailers can do everything from gathering comprehensive store analytics to streamlining mission-critical store operations.  

The technology is also scalable, meaning retailers can roll out next-generation applications and AI-enabled solutions such as frictionless checkout experiences for shoppers, or providing store associates with visibility into the daily merchandise volume. And since Google Cloud provides, deploys, operates, and maintains the hardware, retailers can focus on serving their customers.  

Accenture's Intelligent Edge Solution De-Risks Your Edge Initiatives: 

Accenture's extensive experience in edge computing and retail consulting complements GDCE perfectly. We offer a comprehensive suite of services, including: 

• Planning and Design: Expert guidance on identifying edge use cases, strategizing deployment, and designing optimal edge infrastructure. 

• Modernization and Migration: Seamless integration of existing IT systems with GDCE to enable smooth transition and minimize disruption. 

• Application Development: Building innovative edge applications to optimize operational efficiency, personalize customer experiences, and unlock new revenue streams. 

• Operation and Management: Continuous monitoring, performance optimization, and security management of your edge environment. 

Accenture and Google are Collaborating with Market Leaders 

Accenture is working with leading retailers to help execute their strategy to leverage the latest edge technology and apply generative AI solutions across its outlets worldwide to improve operations as well as create new customer and crew experience. Through this work, the retailer can also will enhance the digital capabilities of its employees.  The combined power of Accenture's Intelligent Edge practice and GDCE empowers retailers to: 

• Personalize customer journeys: Deliver targeted promotions, recommendations, and loyalty programs based on real-time customer data and behavior. 

• Optimize inventory management: Track inventory levels in real-time, prevent stockouts, and optimize purchasing decisions. 

• Enhance operational efficiency: Automate repetitive tasks, reduce waste, and improve resource allocation. 

• Unlock new revenue streams: Develop innovative edge applications and services to create unique customer experiences and drive growth. 

Are you Ready?  

Whether you're just starting your edge journey or looking to expand your edge capabilities, the combined expertise of Accenture and Google can help you move with speed, at scale. By leveraging this powerful combination, you can unlock the full potential of edge computing and revolutionize your retail operations - driving increased customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and ultimately, competitive advantage. 

Let’s elevate your edge strategy together. Contact Stephanie Pagano, Sandip Gupta from Accenture Google Business Group today to discover, assess and plan how GDCE and Accenture’s Intelligent Edge practice can help you transform your business. 

To learn more about our Accenture and Google Cloud partnership, please visit: accenture.com/google.