- Tom Nelson, Executive VP for Rimowa Distribution
Popularity of connectivity is growing among consumers
but as a last-year’s article in The Economist on the
Internet of Nothings pointed out, businesses have been
operating with this kind of connectivity “for ages” and “without any hoopla.” In fact, such connectivity is
the fundamental premise to Retail Pro. Its platform design makes it the mission-critical retail management
software backbone through which retailers connect all their applications and drive processes.
Tom Nelson, Executive VP for Rimowa Distribution, shared in an interview with Retail Pro how this network
effect impacts their ability to connect with customers and earns them a reputation for 5-star service. “The
network of connection – between customer data stored in Retail Pro, geolocation data, and the human
connection of stellar, take-on-any-challenge customer service – enabled our company to deliver an excellent
brand experience.”
Long before the tech trend’s recent rise to fame, Retail Pro has been giving its customers complete flexibility
to “[interope] with adjacent applications,” as a Retail Info Systems article on the new POS put it. Retail Pro
is the foundation, connecting all of the data from retail processes – both in stores and online – for a unified,
omnichannel view of company-wide operations and customer engagement.
Rimowa’s entire philosophy of retail revolves around making the experience special at any touchpoint.
Whether it’s service in the field or in stores at the checkout area, Rimowa’s luxury customer experience is
enabled by the wealth of customer details stored in their Retail Pro. “Every customer is a VIP customer,”
Nelson told us, and they treat them as such. The exclusive VIP area in each store allows for shopper
connectivity as well, both technological with Wi-Fi accessibility and personal, with Rimowa sales associates
taking time to really get to know their customers.
Rimowa employees love the ease and intuitiveness of using their Retail Pro, because it allows them to focus
on clienteling. As part of their engagement strategy, Rimowa is planning to taking on mobile POS. “We’re
going to be that cool company on mobile,” Nelson commented. Their Retail Pro Business Partner, Retail
Information Systems, is their go-to resource for all their implementation support needs.
The increasing adoption of IoT goods promises more opportunities for retailers and manufacturers to build connectivity into their customer relationships, and progressive companies have been leading the way among their industry peers. With phenomenal luxury luggage and the efficient, integrated retailing made possible by their Retail Pro retail management software, companies like Rimowa are getting connected in the network of IoT.