Blog | nearby computing

Is your hardware limiting your choice of software? Are you struggling to find the right software that fits within your hardware constraints?

In many cases, retailers and quick service and multi-unit restaurant operators encounter vendors with a hardware-centric approach, which emphasizes the sale of new devices, servers, or point-of-sale (POS) hardware. While this approach aligns with the goals of hardware vendors, it doesn’t always meet the needs or budget constraints of retailers.

Focusing solely on hardware for retailers that tend to adopt edge computing strategies to meet customers’ evolving needs, face the following challenges:

1. Huge investment
2. Flexibility
3. Compatibility

These drawbacks are significant and can affect the return on investment (ROI) for which edge computing was adopted in the first place.

Moving away from a hardware-centric approach when deploying edge solutions in retail environments is crucial. This will enable your deployment to incorporate various software solutions that facilitate edge orchestration and monitoring.

Existing investment in edge infrastructure

Have you invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in building the IT and edge infrastructure? Retailers and quick service restaurant (QSR) operators with substantial investments in their current IT hardware aim to leverage it throughout its lifecycle. Hardware vendors asking them to replace their entire fleet or even a portion of the equipment with new devices can be impractical. For example, retailers that have recently invested in technology may follow a three- to five-year replacement cycle.

Retailers should seek solutions that integrate within their existing infrastructure. This would enable them to extend the life and value of their current hardware systems. Offering a hybrid infrastructure that seamlessly integrates new and existing hardware will be more appealing and financially sustainable.

Addressing flexibility and compatibility issues

Are you feeling constrained by costly, incompatible hardware systems? How can retailers effectively future-proof their IT and edge infrastructure for sustainable growth? It‘s essential for retailers to partner with vendors that provide solutions compatible with a variety of hardware platforms and operating systems. This approach enables the companies to integrate new infrastructure at their own pace, minimizing disruption to the overall IT environment and preventing the creation of isolated systems.

Retailers and QSRs often encounter vendor lock-in situations where compatibility and flexibility challenges emerge on the software side. As edge computing in the retail and QSR sector involves deploying hundreds, if not thousands, of devices at remote locations, administrators require the ability to monitor these devices and orchestrate the infrastructure through a unified interface.

Look no further; Nearby Computing has designed NearbyOne, a software solution to help retailers overcome vendor lock-in.

What can NearbyOne do for your edge infrastructure? The orchestration platform ensures that every layer of network infrastructure—from core to edge—is continuously monitored. With advanced observability features, adopters can gain real-time insights into network performance, anticipate potential issues, and optimize resources, resulting in reduced downtime and a marked improvement in customer experience.

Embracing Flexibility: The Path to Scalable and Cost-Effective Edge Computing in Retai

The retail and QSR industry has always been highly competitive and sensitive to costs while continually adapting to changing customer demands. Customer satisfaction remains the top priority, and edge computing has consistently provided solutions to address these challenges.

There are two solutions to this problem:

1. Agnostic to both hardware and software, or
2. By leading with a software-defined strategy to determine hardware needs

NearbyOne‘s software solution enables the industry to implement a flexible and cost-effective framework that seamlessly integrates with existing infrastructure. This solution effectively manages diverse workloads and enhances scalability. It emphasizes long-term strategic value rather than solely focusing on short-term hardware upgrades.