Asda is rolling out “faster, more reliable and resilient” internet connection to all of its more than 500 Asda Express sites, as part of a multi-year deal with tech firm Evolve.
The multi-year deal will see more than 450 stores upgraded this year, across the full range of Express formats.
Evolve provides retailers with a fully managed connectivity service that uses a range of carriers and connections, allowing them to “get sites online quicker”.
“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,” said Ashley Cowley, head of technology portfolio at Asda.
“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,” she added.
Evolve late last year secured a similar deal with Home Bargains to simplify and strengthen its network infrastructure at more than 650 stores across the UK, with 50 stores already rolled out.
Stores are increasingly reliant on a reliable and fast internet connection, relying on them for payment systems, digital retail media, electronic shelf labels and meeting the demands of food-on-the-go franchise partners.
Evolve’s own research finds the average internet outage for UK retailers lasts 84 minutes, and “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” the company said.
“Convenience retail depends on technology that works without compromise,” said Alan Stephenson-Brown, CEO at Evolve.
“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,” he added.
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