Retail
Make each store's technology easier to review.
Compare connectivity, POS backup options, payment-network scope, renewals, and cloud voice across your locations. We help organize the brief and review available supplier options with you.
The Problem
The connectivity problem in retail.
Location-by-location decisions can leave providers, service levels, and renewal dates difficult to compare. A common brief makes the trade-offs visible before a new site, outage plan, or contract decision.
Point-of-sale downtime
An internet outage can interrupt connected payment terminals. Ask what happens to transactions if the primary circuit fails, and which systems a backup would need to support.
Multi-location inconsistency
Different providers, contract dates, and service levels can make a portfolio hard to compare. A site-by-site inventory gives the team a shared starting point.
Seasonal demand spikes
Peak trading periods can put more demand on POS, staff, and guest services. Review capacity against each store’s actual critical applications.
Guest WiFi vs. POS network
If guest and payment systems share infrastructure, assess whether access controls adequately isolate the cardholder data environment. PCI scope depends on the actual network design.
What to Review
Four areas to review with the right specialists.
Connectivity and POS backup
Compare primary and backup options against payment traffic, coverage, equipment, and shared infrastructure. Ask the supplier how switchover works, what may still be interrupted, and which acceptance tests can confirm the design at each site.
Multi-location coordination
List each location’s provider, service, contract dates, and known notice deadlines. That makes it easier to compare terms and plan a review before a renewal or new-site decision; changes still depend on the contract and supplier.
Payment-network scope
Adequate segmentation can reduce PCI DSS assessment scope when it isolates the cardholder data environment from other systems. Review the actual network and controls with your IT team and qualified assessor; a second internet circuit is not inherently required.
Cloud voice for store-to-store and head office
Compare calling plans, number-porting eligibility, device needs, and how stores reach head office. Confirm availability, costs, and migration timing with the selected supplier before changing service.
For payment-network scope, see the PCI Security Standards Council's scoping guidance. Your assessor should confirm what applies to your environment.
When to Call the Desk
Three moments to bring us in.
Opening a new store location
Include connectivity and payment requirements in the fit-out brief early. Supplier availability and installation dates need confirmation before setting an opening plan.
POS system upgrade
A new POS is the right time to evaluate whether the underlying network is fit for purpose — including failover, segmentation, and whether bandwidth has kept up with cloud-based systems.
PCI-DSS audit or assessment
Review the cardholder data environment, access paths, and any segmentation controls with your IT and compliance teams. A qualified assessor can determine the applicable scope.
How the Desk Works
One desk, every location.
Tell us about the locations and services you want reviewed. We can organize the details you share, compare available supplier options, and help coordinate a change you approve. Scope, pricing, and installation plans are confirmed with the selected supplier.
When you order through us, the supplier pays us a commission. We do not add a separate procurement fee; the supplier provides your quote. If the right answer for a location is staying with the current provider, that's what we'll recommend.
Questions for multi-site sourcing are covered in the multi-location connectivity use case — and the backup internet use case covers continuity planning for an outage.
FAQ
Straight answers for retailers.
Plan the next retail technology decision.
Tell us about your stores — current and upcoming — and a SwitchU advisor will come back within one business day.