Asda has signed a new partnership with tech firm Evolve that will see all 500 Asda Express sites receive faster, more reliable and resilient internet connections that are critical to the operation of its IT, payment and security systems.
The multi-year deal will see more than 450 stores upgraded this year.
Asda operates a variety of Express retail formats, from forecourts to high streets, and each has increasingly data-hungry technology, from payment systems to digital media, including the demands of food-on-the-go franchise partners.
Evolve is disrupting the conventional way retailers set up internet connections for their stores, by providing a fully-managed service that gets sites online quicker, using a range of carriers and connections.
Its data shows that the average internet outage for UK retailers lasts 84 minutes, halting payments and other systems used in stores. With less than 30% of payments now being made with cash, any outage can significantly affect retail revenues, particularly when processing high-value transactions at forecourts.
Ashley Cowley, Head of Technology Portfolio at Asda, said: “Our Express store expansion is a key part of our growth strategy, and we’re committed to ensuring every location delivers the convenient, reliable service our customers depend on.
“Investing in a new, resilient connectivity infrastructure means our teams can focus on serving customers confidently, knowing the technology behind the scenes is working as it should.”
Alan Stephenson-Brown, CEO at Evolve, added: “Convenience retail depends on technology that works without compromise. When payment systems fail or security systems go offline, the impact on revenue and customer trust is immediate.
“Our partnership with Asda shows that reliable connectivity hasn’t been just an IT add-on for the team, but something that underpins its Express growth strategy.
“We’re proud to provide the always-on infrastructure that keeps Asda’s Express stores delivering the fast, seamless experience customers expect.”
Asda’s Express rollout represents the most ambitious convenience store expansion programme in the grocery sector, targeting locations where quick, reliable service is essential to customer satisfaction.
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