[{"_id":"project-settings","settings":{"translateMetaTags":true,"translateAriaLabels":true,"translateTitle":true,"showWidget":true,"isFeedbackEnabled":false,"fv":1,"customWidget":{"theme":"dark","font":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","header":"rgb(0, 0, 0)","background":"rgba(0, 0, 0,0.8)","position":"right","positionVertical":"bottom","border":"","borderRequired":false,"widgetCompact":true,"isWidgetPositionRelative":false},"widgetLanguages":[{"code":"es-LA","name":"Español (América Latina)"},{"code":"fr-CA","name":"Français (Canada)"}],"activeLanguages":{"fr-CA":"Français (Canada)","es-LA":"Español (América Latina)","de":"Deutsch","en":"English"},"enabledLanguages":["de","en","es-LA","fr-CA"],"debugInfo":false,"displayBranding":true,"displayBrandingName":true,"localizeImages":false,"localizeUrls":false,"localizeImagesLimit":false,"localizeUrlsLimit":true,"localizeAudio":false,"localizeAudioLimit":false,"localizeDates":false,"disabledPages":[],"regexPhrases":[],"allowComplexCssSelectors":false,"blockedClasses":false,"blockedIds":false,"phraseDetection":true,"customDomainSettings":[],"seoSetting":[],"translateSource":false,"overage":false,"detectPhraseFromAllLanguage":false,"googleAnalytics":false,"mixpanel":false,"heap":false,"disableDateLocalization":false,"ignoreCurrencyInTranslation":false,"blockedComplexSelectors":[]},"version":4686},{"_id":"en","source":"en","pluralFn":"return n != 1 ? 1 : 0;","pluralForm":2,"dictionary":{},"version":4686},{"_id":"outdated","outdated":{"#There are many important dates, including deadlines, to remember, but we marked the key ones to keep top of mind:":1,"#First things first: mark your calendar. The key is not only to start early but to plan ahead (read, not starting and filing in April).":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">1</span>. Make a plan and stick to it":1,"#iQmetrix | 5 Strategies to Get Through Tax Season":1,"#5 Strategies to Get Through Tax Season":1,"#We interviewed resident finance expert, Theresa VanderVeen, for financial tips and tricks to help wireless retailers get through tax season.":1,"#RQ tracks inventory purchases, reconciliation transactions, sales data, is cloud-based and has Quickbooks and other integrations to help manage every facet of retail management. Get the whitepaper to learn more.":1,"#Let’s dive in!":1,"#But what if there was a solution out there that fit your business, prepared you for the future of your industry, and didn’t cause a headache when it came time to rollout?":1,"#When you’re a busy retailer, trying to meet (and exceed) the rising expectations of today’s modern consumer, changing your retail technology is likely low on your priority list. Not only can you not afford any downtime with your retail software, you also don’t want to take your employee’s time away from selling.":1,"#Want more?":1,"#From a retailer’s perspective, less busy Tuesdays are a great time to set up operational practices inside their stores of completing the pesky operational tasks done, such as organizing the storage room, processing return merchandise authorization (RMA’s). Consider creating a checklist and holding your team to it making sure they’re accountable.”":1,"#We asked Teresa what the most important takeaway for retailers is to become, and stay, more organized:":1,"#Then you have time to give yourself a chance to do the other things you like doing. If you do start to feel overwhelmed, or your numbers are off, sometimes it’s as simple as getting up, walking around, having a conversation about something different for <span ljsid-1=\"\">20</span>, <span ljsid-3=\"\">30</span> minutes it gives your mind the space to come back and look objectively for the thing your trying to find.":1,"#It only takes one hour per week.":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">5</span>. Set up a routine":1,"#Read more <a ljsid-1=\"\">here </a>to learn how to protect yourself and your business.":1,"#We interviewed resident finance expert, Teresa VanderVeen, to get important planning and financial tips, tricks, and strategies that are guaranteed to help you, and your wireless business, get through tax season.":1,"#So, how can retailers protect themselves, and their stores, from fraud?":1,"#Scammers target people who are vulnerable and one may think it’s impossible to fall for a scam, but fraud organizations are highly skilled. Not only do they target vulnerable people but also those who are under pressure during a busy time in the workplace.":1,"#Turns out, it wasn’t:":1,"#Teresa runs a catering business in her spare time and spoke to how her husband received an email from one of their small, local vendors stating they did their invoice wrong, that money was owed, and must be repaid immediately. He knew to take pause, reach out directly to the vendor to see if the notice was legitimate.":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">4</span>. Beware of scams":1,"#Take the same thing and apply it to your accounting software. Ask yourself, how can I use this to help me manage my assets and the things I need to manage long term?":1,"#Popular opinion: filing taxes is everyone’s least favorite thing to do, perhaps only bested by having a tooth pulled. Yet, like it or not, it’s that time of year again: Tax filing season officially began on January <span ljsid-1=\"\">27</span><sup ljsid-2=\"\">th</sup>. And before you know it, April <span ljsid-4=\"\">15</span><sup ljsid-5=\"\">th</sup>, the deadline to file, will be here.":1,"#For example, think about the equipment that you purchase for your stores. Whatever system you’re using for managing your business, you should be able to create those large purchase items and check them into your system.":1,"#There are tons of different accounting management technologies out there, from Quickbooks to simple mileage counting apps that can help you streamline processes come tax season. Teresa often challenges retailers to think about how they can use existing accounting software outside its intended purpose.":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">3</span>. Think differently about how to make technology work for you":1,"#What big purchases did you make last year that need to be written off?":1,"#Did you get back all the money you were supposed to from RMAs?":1,"#Are your inventory counts accurate, so you aren’t paying tax on inventory that isn’t in your store?":1,"#Are all of your transfers where they need to be?":1,"#Are your purchase orders are up to speed?":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">2</span>. Make sure everything is closed out":1,"#Most importantly, set a cadence.":1,"#March <span ljsid-1=\"\">2</span><sup ljsid-2=\"\">nd </sup>is the deadline for farmers and fishermen to file <span ljsid-4=\"\">2018</span> income tax return (Form <span ljsid-6=\"\">1040</span>) and pay any tax due. However, you have until April <span ljsid-8=\"\">17</span><sup ljsid-9=\"\">th</sup> to file if you paid your <span ljsid-11=\"\">2019</span> estimated tax by January <span ljsid-13=\"\">17</span><sup ljsid-14=\"\">th</sup> <span ljsid-16=\"\">2020</span>.":1,"#February <span ljsid-1=\"\">28</span><sup ljsid-2=\"\">th</sup> : Deadline for businesses to submit forms <span ljsid-4=\"\">1099</span> and <span ljsid-6=\"\">1096</span>, if filing on paper. These documents relate to business transactions that aren’t covered by W<span ljsid-8=\"\">2</span> (anything that falls outside of tips and wages – hiring an independent contractor, etc.). If filing electronically, the deadline is March <span ljsid-10=\"\">31</span>.":1,"#February <span ljsid-1=\"\">15</span><sup ljsid-2=\"\">th</sup> <span ljsid-4=\"\">2020</span>: Deadline for businesses to give annual statements to recipients of specific payments made in <span ljsid-6=\"\">2019</span>. Business can use the appropriate version of Form <span ljsid-8=\"\">1099</span>. Form <span ljsid-10=\"\">1099</span> can be issued electronically with the consent of the recipient.":1,"#April <span ljsid-1=\"\">30</span><sup ljsid-2=\"\">th</sup>: CRA requires most business owners submit their tax returns by April <span ljsid-4=\"\">30</span><sup ljsid-5=\"\">th</sup>, or six months after their fiscal year if they observe a non-calendar fiscal year.":1,"#February <span ljsid-1=\"\">24</span><sup ljsid-2=\"\">th</sup>: Employees must be sent a T<span ljsid-4=\"\">4</span> information slip by the last day of February following the year to which the information slips apply.":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">5</span> Strategies to Get Through Tax Season":1,"#Our solutions are trusted by":1,"#by PayBright on Jul <span ljsid-1=\"\">27</span>, <span ljsid-3=\"\">2020</span>":1,"#by Devin Shrake, Co-Founder, Shiftlab on Sep <span ljsid-1=\"\">27</span>, <span ljsid-3=\"\">2021</span>":1,"#It’s not just about having coverage at the right times, but also have the right coverage. In the hospitality business, for example, switching out one bartender’s shift with another might not make a difference to drink sales. But in commission-based retail sectors, such as telecom, the sales associate who is on shift during high-sales hours can make a big difference. Especially when shortages of staff members can result in having inexperienced associates on staff, it is crucial to have your top performers working when you really need them. A powerful workforce management solution will enable you to schedule your top sales performer at the strategic times when they will make the biggest impact, so that you can get the best experience and the times the matter the most.":1,"#Using the right employees":1,"#As data people, we love analyzing detailed sales and traffic metrics and providing our customers with a calculated decision on their store hours. Looking at this information is essential, as it not only affects your labor’s productivity but also is the foundation for the staff shifts that you’re creating. For example, a store that is open from <span ljsid-1=\"\">9</span>am to <span ljsid-3=\"\">8</span>pm often has staff shifts that are <span ljsid-5=\"\">9</span>am to <span ljsid-7=\"\">5</span>pm. But when you examine most stores’ sales patterns, you might see that <span ljsid-9=\"\">9</span>am isn’t productive, and an associate leaving at <span ljsid-11=\"\">5</span>pm is the worst time, as you are about to see a post-work-day rush of customers. A simple switch to opening at <span ljsid-13=\"\">10</span>am would scoot those employee shifts, providing you better coverage while likely reducing labor costs.":1,"#Optimizing store hours":1,"#Generic nine-to-five shift types are not built for retail, where stores are open into the evening and there is a post-work-day customer rush. If your employees are just placing eight-hour shifts where they want to work , that won’t result optimally for the retailer. Instead of churning out the same workforce scheduling patterns, take a fresh look at what will work best for your store. The way to think about scheduling is to look at the data to understand your busy days and times and maximize coverage when you need it. For example, we see our best managers place shorter shifts on slow days — like from <span ljsid-1=\"\">9</span>am to <span ljsid-3=\"\">3</span>pm on a Tuesday, for example. This means that the manager can extend that employee’s coverage on a busy Friday or Saturday, from <span ljsid-5=\"\">10</span>am to <span ljsid-7=\"\">8</span>pm, where the sales volume is likely to be higher.":1,"#Strategic scheduling":1,"#Here are five solutions for maximizing staff scheduling efficiency:":1,"#Why Your Telecom Retail Operations Need Intelligent Workforce…":1,"#In this time of staff shortages, using a data-driven employee management system will help you revamp your workforce scheduling and rethink operating hours":1,"#Devin Shrake, Co-Founder, Shiftlab":1,"#Analysis of historical sales data, compared with workforce schedules bears this out. One metric that is helpful to look at is unproductive hours. On average, companies began using the Shiftlab offering in <span ljsid-1=\"\">2020</span> had more than <span ljsid-3=\"\">50</span>% of labor hours clocked during times with zero sales volume. Results from these clients ranged from <span ljsid-5=\"\">70</span>% of labor hours being unproductive downtime to <span ljsid-7=\"\">30</span>% for some companies that were super optimized.":1,"#Interesting in learning more about Shiftlab’s data-driven telecom workforce management solutions?":1,"#Especially in retail, the management of store operations and scheduling creates a major difference in your guest experience and your profit optimization. A couple of tweaks in any of the categories above naturally eliminates unproductive hours and ultimately gives your customers a much better experience.":1,"#Too often, retail operators are compromising their workforce scheduling based on using a cumbersome tool that is not designed to be adaptable. It’s important to use a flexible system that’s highly configurable, so that you can use the strategy that works for your specific store locations, and the tool simply executes this for you. This tool also needs to allow you to scale for the size of your retail operations without losing its adaptability, so even if you are a cruise-ship-sized retail organization, you can make strategic moves like a jet ski. The right workforce management tool relies on data to thrive. Now that Shiftlab has been acquired by iQmetrix, which offers advanced data and reporting in its market-leading retail management system, we can build integrations that will create even more <a ljsid-1=\"\">intelligent workforce scheduling</a> and a seamless client experience.":1,"#Using an intelligent, flexible, data-driven scheduling tool":1,"#Break percentages are hard to calculate. Are your team members taking their allotted breaks, or are they just slipping out of the store an hour earlier each day? The retailers we work with typically have between <span ljsid-1=\"\">10</span>% and <span ljsid-3=\"\">75</span>% of shifts where breaks are being taken — a wide range. Not only do breaks help optimize for slow times during the day, but they also stretch out your scheduling pattern to cover the hours that matter most. There’s so much downtime in the middle of the day, if you can schedule your associate to take a lunch break at a strategic time instead of leaving early, then you don’t negatively affect customer service and you get to keep that person in the store for longer, which is important for a lean retailer. Consider this: the difference between <span ljsid-5=\"\">10</span>% and <span ljsid-7=\"\">75</span>% is nearly $<span ljsid-9=\"\">10</span>,<span ljsid-11=\"\">000</span> of labor per store per year that could be eliminated or redistributed to busier times.":1,"#Leveraging employee breaks":1,"#For any retailer, labor management is a fundamental part of daily store operations and should be treated as an important business strategy that requires creativity and insight. But overworked store managers and a lack of data can mean employee scheduling is treated as a cookie-cutter task, rather than a key piece of the operation requiring thought, strategy, and effective planning to produce the highest ROI. Standardizing the scheduling process creates a shocking number of labor hours clocked by employees that result in zero sales . This fact is particularly galling in a time when the retail sector is suffering severe employee shortages.":1,"#6 Reasons Canada’s Biggest E-commerce Stores Offer Buy Now, Pay Later":1,"#Upduo Webinar Recap: Peer Learning and Performance Data to Upskill Your Workforce":1,"#by Joannah Connolly on May <span ljsid-1=\"\">3</span>, <span ljsid-3=\"\">2022</span>":1,"#VAULT designs rugged, cable-free hardware solutions that keep Apple devices powered, protected, and payment-ready throughout the workday.":1,"#VAULT":1,"#by Joannah Connolly on Jan <span ljsid-1=\"\">11</span>, <span ljsid-3=\"\">2024</span>":1,"#Definitions of terms are <a ljsid-1=\"\">defined here.</a>":1,"#These terms are pursuant to the Master Services Agreement and Merchant Agreement or Payment Solution Schedule between you and iQmetrix.":1,"#Unified Commerce is a phrase that often used to describe the <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">“</span>next level” of omnichannel. This might be where you have all the multi-channel integrations that enables a customer’s omnichannel journey, while also using a <span ljsid-5=\"\">360</span>-degree view of the customer, using data and analytics, to enhance that customer experience. This could be through product personalization, promotions based on previous buying patterns, or other such insights.":1,"#nearby retail stores appearing in customers’ online search results for specific products (<a ljsid-1=\"\">Local Inventory</a>).":1,"#offering in-store customers a choice of unstocked products from an online catalog with the option to ship to home (Endless Aisle and <a ljsid-1=\"\">Dropship</a>), and":1,"#virtual store <a ljsid-1=\"\">Queue Management</a>,":1,"#Here, we offer <em ljsid-1=\"\">The</em> Ultimate Guide to Omnichannel Strategies and Solutions for Telecom Retail, bringing together our most current and relevant industry insight, thought leadership, and solutions pages all in one place. Bookmark this page for a one and done!":1,"#iQmetrix | Why Your Telecom Retail Operations Need Intelligent…":1,"#However, what happens when you look deeper than surface stereotypes like <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">„</span>Gen Z is incapable of doing anything without a smartphone” and <span ljsid-5=\"\"></span><span ljsid-7=\"\">„</span>Baby Boomers always hold their phones at weird angles on video calls”?":1,"#The pace of this technological revolution is happening faster than any other time in history, which has predictably resulted in very different generational approaches toward this technology. Adults in their early <span ljsid-1=\"\">20</span>s have literally grown up using this technology, while Baby Boomers can still remember when <span ljsid-3=\"\"></span><span ljsid-5=\"\">„</span>computers” were machines that took up an entire room.":1,"#The Top 5 Challenges for 5G Operators":1,"#Even after massive investment, the rollout of <span ljsid-1=\"\">5</span>G in North America has been decidedly rocky. In addition to the <a ljsid-3=\"\">logistical difficulties of implementing <span ljsid-3-1=\"\">5</span>G</a>, telecoms have also faced a variety of market-based obstacles that have impeded their ability to fully monetize their <span ljsid-5=\"\">5</span>G investments, to the point that many in telecom have <a ljsid-7=\"\">notably lost enthusiasm</a> for research into <span ljsid-9=\"\">6</span>G.":1,"#5G operators continue to face a variety of technical and market-based challenges to already rocky 5G network deployments, including fights over spectrum,…":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">4</span>. Competition from satellite companies will only continue to heat up.":1,"#Additionally, venues often aren’t in a hurry to make these upgrades, which are often expensive and disruptive, because customers are already used to switching to Wifi — especially at locations they visit frequently.":1,"#At the same time as telecoms are squabbling over use of the <span ljsid-1=\"\">6</span>GHz band by unlicensed Wi-Fi, they are also coming under fire for interference concerns from expanded use of <span ljsid-3=\"\">5</span>G in the C-band. In January, the FAA <a ljsid-5=\"\">gave airlines another year</a> to fix or replace about <span ljsid-7=\"\">1000</span> altimeters that would experience interference from C-band <span ljsid-9=\"\">5</span>G signals.":1,"#Telecoms face many hurdles to overcome in <span ljsid-1=\"\">5</span>G network expansion efforts.":1,"#In <span ljsid-1=\"\">2021</span>, AT&amp;<a ljsid-3=\"\">T took the FCC to court</a> over the Trump-era FCC’s decision to open up the <span ljsid-5=\"\">6</span>GHz spectrum to unlicensed Wi-Fi, in a court case that saw telecoms squaring off against Apple, Google, and Cisco (among others). In their filing, AT&amp;T argued that <span ljsid-7=\"\"></span><span ljsid-9=\"\">“</span>very likely to result in harmful interference at unpredictable places and times”.":1,"#Recently, T-Mobile had to issue an <a ljsid-1=\"\">FCC filing against a Pennsylvania homeowner</a> due to ongoing interference with the homeowner’s security system with local <span ljsid-3=\"\">5</span>G operations, in which months of back-and-forth with the owners and in-person visits from both FCC officials, the homeowners declined to make the changes to their security cameras that would stop the problem.":1,"#Despite all these technical and market challenges, <span ljsid-1=\"\">5</span>G is still expected to experience massive growth in the coming years. Analysts are <a ljsid-3=\"\">varyingly bullish</a> about <a ljsid-5=\"\">the future of <span ljsid-5-1=\"\">5</span>G operators</a>, but all predict massive growth in the <span ljsid-7=\"\">5</span>G market through <span ljsid-9=\"\">2030</span>.":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">5</span>. Enterprise companies have lost faith in <span ljsid-2=\"\">5</span>G’s ability to deliver profits.":1,"#We’ve written previously about <a ljsid-1=\"\">the escalating competition <span ljsid-1-1=\"\">5</span>G operators face from satellite</a>. While current implementations of satellite for D<span ljsid-3=\"\">2</span>D (direct-to-device) service still face severe technical limitations, satellite companies are already picking up telecom’s slack in providing rural broadband service to historically underserved communities. Satellite also offers a compelling use case for IoT deployments, offering seamless connectivity regardless of location.":1,"#Ultimately, however, the FCC decision was <a ljsid-1=\"\">upheld by the courts</a>.":1,"#5G vs Satellite: Telecom’s Old Darling Battles its New Fling":1,"#One of the technical limitations of <span ljsid-1=\"\">5</span>G is that its shorter wavelengths are less able to penetrate doors and windows, leading to loss of signal strength indoors. This makes <a ljsid-3=\"\">universal <span ljsid-3-1=\"\">5</span>G coverage a challenge</a>, especially since the majority of <span ljsid-5=\"\">5</span>G infrastructure investments have focused on outdoor coverage. It’s possible to get around this problem by installing private <span ljsid-7=\"\">5</span>G equipment in buildings and venues, but it requires tackling the problem one building at a time.":1,"#The decrease in spending isn’t surprising when you consider the hurdles <span ljsid-1=\"\">5</span>G operators are facing. What do those challenges include?":1,"#Despite these challenges, <a ljsid-1=\"\">a recent report from Ericsson</a> suggested that <span ljsid-3=\"\">5</span>G operators should continue investing in <span ljsid-5=\"\">5</span>G, citing a <span ljsid-7=\"\">7</span>% increase in revenue in the top <span ljsid-9=\"\">20</span> <span ljsid-11=\"\">5</span>G market. This recommendation is unsurprising, however, when you consider how much of the Swedish giant’s profits are tied up in <span ljsid-13=\"\">5</span>G; in April, Ericsson’s stock fell sharply after posting <a ljsid-15=\"\">disappointing Q<span ljsid-15-1=\"\">1</span> results</a>, including a <span ljsid-17=\"\">2</span>% decrease in sales of network hardware.":1,"#Even if operators are facing an uphill battle, <span ljsid-1=\"\">5</span>G will continue to grow.":1,"#One possible reason for this: the complexity of <span ljsid-1=\"\">5</span>G integration with existing technology and processes — which was cited as the top internal challenges informing the approach to <span ljsid-3=\"\">5</span>G. That complexity seems to be acting as a barrier to deployment, as only <span ljsid-5=\"\">11</span>% of companies surveyed reporting that <span ljsid-7=\"\">5</span>G deployments were currently operational within their organizations.":1,"#In addition to competing for market share, satellite companies are also competing with telecoms for spectrum rights in the <span ljsid-1=\"\">12</span>GHz band. Telecoms want <span ljsid-3=\"\">12</span>GHz to be opened up for auction, something which Intelsat VP Peter Davidson has described as <a ljsid-5=\"\">an existential threat <span ljsid-5-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-5-3=\"\">“</span>to the space economy”</a>.":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">3</span>. <span ljsid-2=\"\">5</span>G notoriously loses signal strength indoors.":1,"#Take-up of <span ljsid-1=\"\">5</span>G still very low, because difficulty in scaling <span ljsid-3=\"\">5</span>G networks have weakened the value proposition for <span ljsid-5=\"\">5</span>G implementation in enterprise companies. In a November <span ljsid-7=\"\">2022</span> survey of <span ljsid-9=\"\">1325</span> enterprise companies worldwide, <a ljsid-11=\"\">only <span ljsid-11-1=\"\">21</span>% of companies surveyed</a> said they were currently investing in <span ljsid-13=\"\">5</span>G — compared with <span ljsid-15=\"\">64</span>% that were currently investing in analytics and AI. Further, interest in <span ljsid-17=\"\">5</span>G deployments varies greatly by industry. Only two of the eight verticals identified in the survey (consumer and energy) reported significant increases in <span ljsid-19=\"\">5</span>G investments from <span ljsid-21=\"\">2022</span> to <span ljsid-23=\"\">2023</span>. Automotive, financial services, and healthcare saw only modest increases, while <span ljsid-25=\"\">5</span>G investments by manufacturing and technology companies actually decreased.":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">2</span>. Regulatory hold on expansion in C-band continue to drag on.":1,"#And this is far from an isolated incident.":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">1</span>. Unlicensed <span ljsid-2=\"\">6</span>Ghz Wi-Fi causes interference with <span ljsid-4=\"\">5</span>G operations.":1,"#<strong ljsid-0=\"\">Enhance Your Terminal Look:</strong> Deploy on-brand payment prompt screens and enhance your idle terminal display with custom promotional screens.":1,"#Share one device between multiple RQ or RQmobile workstations and save hundreds of dollars on hardware costs.":1,"#See how Terminal Solutions can transform your payment devices.":1,"#<strong ljsid-0=\"\">Real-Time Device Data: </strong>View all device data from one central spot, including their latest software configuration, serial number, transaction history, trends, and much more.":1,"#Save on hardware costs by removing your dependency on a <span ljsid-1=\"\">1</span>-to-<span ljsid-3=\"\">1</span> device to workstation ratio.":1,"#<strong ljsid-0=\"\">Optimize Your Terminals:</strong> Turn bottom-line breakers into money makers by ensuring your brand look and promotions reach every customer as they checkout on the terminal.":1,"#<strong ljsid-0=\"\">Schedule Your Promotions: </strong>Our simple scheduling tool lets you easily queue up new promotional screens ensuring your terminals are always on-message. Screens can be added to one location, a region or your entire operation.":1,"#<strong ljsid-0=\"\">PCI Compliant: </strong>Maintain DSS <span ljsid-2=\"\">9</span>.<span ljsid-4=\"\">9</span>.<span ljsid-6=\"\">1</span> PCI compliance by easily exporting an up-to-date list of your terminal inventory from our online Hub platform.":1,"#Reporting Features":1,"#Optimize devices by running more transactions through your existing certified hardware.":1,"#Share devices across any of our certified EMV <a ljsid-1=\"\">payment terminals</a>, including our mobile devices, and any desktop or tablet workstation.":1,"#Branding Features":1,"#<strong ljsid-0=\"\">Device Agnostic:</strong> Capture all device data in your operations no matter the make or model.":1,"#Terminal Reporting & Branding":1,"#<strong ljsid-0=\"\">Troubleshoot With Ease:</strong> Identify problem devices by filtering your device list by region, location, or active vs. non-active and view KSN and firmware information.":1,"#Improve the checkout process by ensuring your customers never wait in line to pay":1,"#<strong ljsid-0=\"\">Keep Up to Date:</strong> With EMV firmware updates delivered remotely to your device, you can rest assured that you and your business are always compliant.":1,"#How iQmetrix Fertility Benefits Resulted in Our Daughter Scottie":1,"#Inventory Insights <span ljsid-1=\"\">1</span>: Unify Your SKUs and Product Identifiers":1,"#here":1,"#Why Telecom Retail Must Leap Forward at MWC 2026":1,"#Omnichannel Retail Data Cubes":1,"#Data and Analytics Solutions for Omnichannel Retail":1,"#iQmetrix Award-Winning Omnichannel Retail Suite":1,"#Omnichannel Retail for Tier 1 US Carrier":1,"#Omnichannel Retail for BOPIS, ROPIS, and BORIS":1,"#Omnichannel Retail for Fulfillment Flows":1,"#Omnichannel Retail Guide":1,"#Omnichannel Retail Strategies for a Unified Customer Experience":1,"#Omnichannel retail is the ability to connect with and sell to retail customers across multiple channels in a consistent and unified way. And it can mean a lot of things but, for telecom retailers, it means staying competitive in the future of the industry. For customers, it means enjoying a seamless purchasing, fulfillment, and returns flow across multiple retail touchpoints — whether that’s online, in-store, on social media, or anywhere else. Since the COVID era, this type of shopping has become expected by increasingly demanding consumers. For retailers, now more than ever, omnichannel has become essential.":1,"#Omnichannel Retail 360 Degree View of Your Customer":1,"#Unified Commerce is the New Omnichannel Retail":1,"#Omnichannel Retail for Success During the Holidays":1,"#Omnichannel Retail for Success In Telecom":1,"#Omnichannel Retail Technologies for Telecom":1,"#From Legacy to Omnichannel Enabled":1,"#Omnichannel Retail?":1,"#iQmetrix Data and Analytics Solutions":1,"#Omnichannel/Unified Commerce Solutions Hub":1,"#Fortunately, iQmetrix’s Interconnected Commerce solutions are designed to tackle exactly these challenges. What’s more, within that suite of solutions, the iQmetrix Omnichannel suite has won multiple awards for its innovation and ability to help telecom brands go through their digital transformation, enabling the optimal customer experience.":1,"#There can be many technology challenges faced when upgrading a legacy system to one that is omnichannel-enabled. Efficiently and cost-effectively integrating multiple solutions and siloed databases — and making sure systems work together optimally — is one of the biggest issues that telecom retailers’ IT and operations departments face.":1,"#Added to that, a true Unified Commerce strategy must use robust data and analytics, along with an efficient Customer Relationship Management system, to create a personalized and targeted retail experience.":1,"#Further integrations with additional platforms, vendors, and supply-chain partners are also required to support other omnichannel elements, such as Local Inventory, Dropship, and a range of customizable marketing services.":1,"#For example, when it comes to BOPIS/ROPIS/BORIS, in order to make these complex flows easy and invisibly seamless for the customer, they must be supported by technology that has deep integrations with the carrier, the authorized retail channel, and the device manufacturer.":1,"#As mentioned above, some of the technological solutions to creating omnichannel flows can be quite challenging, especially when it comes to linking disparate systems from various players. The solution is to use a single, end-to-end technology suite that connects all those systems.":1,"#Omnichannel and Unified Commerce experiences must be supported by a full-suite of advanced, wireless-specific technology solutions such as iQmetrix Interconnected Commerce.":1,"#What is":1,"#What Solutions Do You Need for Seamless Omnichannel/Unified Commerce Flows?":1,"#Tier <span ljsid-1=\"\">1</span> US Carrier BOPIS Case Study: Meeting the Customer Where They Are":1,"#BOPIS, ROPIS, and BORIS: What’s the Difference and How Do You Implement?":1,"#BOPIS (etc.) Resource Hub":1,"#For example, in the case of BOPIS, it is very common for the customer to buy or reserve a product from a corporate-operated website and pick it up or return it at an authorized-retailer-run store operating on a different system. There may also be contractual hurdles that restrict a carrier from seeing inventory at their retailer’s stores, creating a major challenge for the carrier operating the corporate website and wanting to offer a BOPIS option (as in the case study below). See the next section for more on the technology needed to support these flows.":1,"#While these purchasing and fulfillment flows may seem simple in today’s retail vernacular, the behind-the-scenes technology required can be much less simple — especially in the complex vertical of telecom retail.":1,"#This newer phrase is an extension of BOPIS, but rather than picking up the product in-store, the customer has additional choices of where to pick up — such as parcel lockers, for example.":1,"#<strong ljsid-0=\"\">BOPA</strong>—Buy Online, Pick up Anywhere":1,"#The customer buys the product and receives it at their home, but wants to return or exchange it, so they can do this in the store of their choice (saving them from having to mail it back to the retailer).":1,"#<strong ljsid-0=\"\">BORIS</strong>—Buy Online, Return In-Store":1,"#First, the basics.":1,"#As above, only the customer merely reserves the product to pick up and pay for in store, as opposed to paying in the online flow.":1,"#<strong ljsid-0=\"\">ROPIS</strong>—Reserve Online, Pick up In-Store":1,"#This concept as simple as it sounds — a customer buys a product from an e-commerce channel online, and picks it up at the store of their choice. Given that the customer will have already paid for the product online, this is where Curbside Pickup can be added for extra convenience.":1,"#<strong ljsid-0=\"\">BOPIS</strong>—Buy Online, Pick up In-Store":1,"#Now that we have all the bigger definitions pinned down, let’s take a closer look at some of the most established purchasing and fulfillment flows in any given omnichannel strategy. There are a lot of acronyms used in the space, and it’s worth setting those out before we start.":1,"#What are BOPIS, ROPIS, BORIS, and BOPA?":1,"#Read more on our blog post: <a ljsid-1=\"\">Interconnected Commerce and What it Means for Your Telecom Retail Business.</a>":1,"#All of which means that a telecom retailer’s Omnichannel and Unified Commerce strategies are powered by Interconnected Commerce solutions — which also do much more besides!":1,"#iQmetrix’s suite of <a ljsid-1=\"\">Interconnected Commerce solutions</a> is a complete set of technologies that are modular, flexible, wireless-specific, and seamlessly connect disparate systems. In combination with our ecosystem of integrated partners, Interconnected Commerce is a streamlined tech stack designed to carry the complexities and weight of telecom retail so all carriers, OEMs, retailers, and sales associates can have frictionless and uplifting experiences — ultimately creating one for your customers.":1,"#It’s worth taking a sidebar here to explain how iQmetrix Interconnected Commerce differs from the more general Unified Commerce, given that they may sound quite similar. Whereas Unified Commerce is a general retail concept that is supported by many technologies, Interconnected Commerce is a category of technology solutions.":1,"#What is Interconnected Commerce (and is it different from Unified Commerce)?":1,"#Watch Now":1,"#Unified Commerce: Achieving a <span ljsid-1=\"\">360</span>-Degree View of Your Customer":1,"#Achieving a <span ljsid-1=\"\">360</span>-Degree View of Your Customer":1,"#Unified Commerce Resource Hub":1,"#As advanced technologies such as AI and augmented reality become increasingly ingrained into retail, this data can be used in new ways as part of the omnichannel experience. For example, interactive store shelves — which display product information on demand — can identify products to the customer that fit their specific needs, such as an accessory that matches the device the customer is in-store to pick up. And AI can parse huge amounts of data to create entirely personalized retail relationships between a telecom brand and every one of its customers.":1,"#As a practical example, this might be where a customer’s regular wireless retail brand texts them with personalized promotions tailored to their choice of device or current rate plan. Engaging with this text could then send the customer into an omnichannel purchasing flow for that product, or an invitation to book a time in-store for a consultation.":1,"#Using these results, present the right items, offers, and services to each customer at each moment of an interaction. This not only allows you to keep products in view of the customer, it ensures that each product and promotion shown is actually of interest to that customer.":1,"#For a retail sector that is mired in legacy systems and a range of technological challenges, achieving all of that is no small feat. And without a robust omnichannel technology solution at the core of your business, this kind of unified commerce just isn’t possible.":1,"#Mining that data for consumer insights and business opportunities using advanced analytics and/or AI analytical tools.":1,"#Bringing all relevant data from your functional business areas together within a single repository, creating a single version of the truth.":1,"#When layered in with Omnichannel strategies, Unified Commerce could be broken down into three strategies:":1,"#Whereas Omnichannel focuses on the <strong ljsid-1=\"\">front-end</strong> <strong ljsid-3=\"\">experience</strong>; i.e. sales channels communicating with each other":1,"#It interconnects <strong ljsid-1=\"\">all systems and software</strong>, <strong ljsid-3=\"\">customer touchpoints</strong>, and <strong ljsid-5=\"\">data</strong> so that the customer has the same consistent, personalized experience regardless of the channel they choose":1,"#Unified Commerce unifies <strong ljsid-1=\"\">back-end systems</strong>; brings all data into a single centralized platform":1,"#How does Unified Commerce differ from Omnichannel?":1,"#(and is it different from Omnichannel)?":1,"#What is Unified Commerce":1,"#Customers expect retailers to meet them in their chosen channel or platform, to personalize their offerings, to offer a seamless purchasing, fulfillment, and returns flow throughout different channels, and to create the same immaculate brand experience at every touchpoint and stage.":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">5</span> Omnichannel Strategies Essential for Success During the Holidays":1,"#Read The Playbook":1,"#Omnichannel Retail Playbook: Post-COVID Success in Telecom":1,"#Playbook":1,"#Omnichannel Resource Hub":1,"#These strategies all apply to wireless retail, with <a ljsid-1=\"\">BOPIS</a> being the most frequently implemented.":1,"#In today’s digital age, shoppers demand a unified omnichannel experience across all your retail channels — one that offers flexibility, continuity, and consistency no matter where they are.":1,"#booking store appointments online,":1,"#buying online, getting home delivery, and returning the item to a store,":1,"#curbside pick-up,":1,"#buying or reserving a product online and picking up the item in the store of your choice (also known as <a ljsid-1=\"\">BOPIS/ROPIS</a>),":1,"#Some practical examples of omnichannel retail include:":1,"#Companies with strong engagement across channels see a <strong ljsid-1=\"\"><a ljsid-1-0=\"\"><span ljsid-1-0-0=\"\">9</span>.<span ljsid-1-0-2=\"\">5</span>%</a></strong> YoY increase in revenue":1,"#<a ljsid-0=\"\"><strong ljsid-0-0=\"\"><span ljsid-0-0-0=\"\">94</span>%</strong> </a>of consumers are frustrated by disjointed experiences across a brand":1,"#Other research has shown:":1,"#In a <a ljsid-1=\"\">global Omnichannel trends research report</a> by digital consultancy and research group Kin + Carta, <span ljsid-3=\"\">66</span>% of consumers across the US and UK have spent more time and/or money because of an immersive experience. Conversely, <span ljsid-5=\"\">44</span>% of respondents said they have stopped shopping with a retailer because of digital channel frustration.":1,"#Omnichannel Retail Strategies and Solutions for Telecom":1,"#The Ultimate Guide to":1,"#iQmetrix | The Top 5 Challenges for 5G Operators":1,"#iQmetrix Careers":1,"#That was much tougher. Immigration is very challenging, but it was what we wanted, we’d made the decision to do it a long time ago, and we embraced it as a family.":1,"#And then, in that process, what made you choose iQmetrix as a potential Canadian employer?":1,"#When I started the application process with VanHack, I couldn’t see the names of the employers — instead, the system matches you with compatible positions. After I had started the process, a position that looked very compatible with me was listed, and it was at iQmetrix. Looking at the iQmetrix company profile, I saw that it also looked like a great fit for me. This feeling was validated by the first one or two rounds of interviews. I felt very comfortable with the recruitment process, and everyone I spoke to was very welcoming and humble.":1,"#To find out what that feels like, iQmetrix spoke to one of its newer VanHack recruits — Nils Telleria, who came with his family from Havana, Cuba to Regina, Saskatchewan in November <span ljsid-1=\"\">2022</span> to join iQmetrix as a Senior Software Engineer. Here’s his story.":1,"#Infographic: Tech Sector's Gender Stats Show We Still Need to #BreakTheBias":1,"#iQmetrix: Nils, you’ve been through a huge change to come to Canada and join iQmetrix — and you brought your wife and children with you. We’d love to hear your story. Where were you working previously, and why did you decide to look for a tech role in Canada?":1,"#iQmetrix and its recruitment partner VanHack have searched the globe to bring top international technology talent to the company—and to a new life in…":1,"#I had previously done some remote work for a company in Toronto, so when I started to think about getting a job in Canada, I spoke to them, and they referred me to VanHack. I also have family in Toronto who went through the VanHack program to get work in Canada. So this helped me with my final decision to use VanHack to find a Canadian job.":1,"#Over the past couple of years, iQmetrix has been working with a Vancouver-based international technology recruitment program, <a ljsid-1=\"\">VanHack</a>, to source some of its candidates from overseas. This involves much more than just the usual hiring process, as these are not remote-working positions. Which means that successful candidates — and often their family — also need to go through the immigration process and settle in Canada before starting work. That’s quite the major life change.":1,"#From Cuba to Canada: How iQmetrix’s Overseas Recruitment Drive Gave…":1,"#Once you’d accepted the iQmetrix job, how was the immigration process for you and your family?":1,"#<strong ljsid-0=\"\">Nils: </strong>I was living in Havana, Cuba, working as a software development consultant. In the last few months before leaving to join iQmetrix, I was working remotely for a company called ONSITE.LIVE in Spain. I decided to make Canada my target for a new technology role because I already had a lot of friends in Canada, and I have family in Toronto. I knew that Canada had a lot of great tech companies offering good positions. So, in order to improve my family’s personal finances and income, we decided we would move to Canada.":1,"#How did you get involved with the VanHack technology recruitment program?":1,"#iQmetrix | From Cuba to Canada: How iQmetrix’s Overseas Recruitment…":1,"#And how is it now, living in Regina and working at iQmetrix?":1,"#Finding top talent is a challenge, and iQmetrix has always been dedicated to bringing in nothing but the best when a skills gap arises. Even if that means searching the globe and jumping through hoops to get the right person for the job.":1,"#To learn more about career opportunities with iQmetrix, visit our Careers page.":1,"#Now that we’re living in Regina and I’m working at iQmetrix, I’d say our plans and decisions have been totally validated. That’s in terms of my compatibility with iQmetrix, the company’s values, the way people work here, and how welcoming everybody is. The weather has been very cold! But that’s something we will learn to deal with.":1,"#iQmetrix | Payment Terminal Solutions":1,"#Payment Terminal Solutions":1,"#Optimize your fleet with powerful terminal reporting, branding and sharing tools developed exclusively for the wireless industry.":1,"#Intelligent Commerce replaces fragmented legacy stacks with a single, modular operating layer built specifically for telecom. It connects telcos, retailers, OEMs, and vendors into one coordinated commerce flow, enabling modernization without disruption. Cloud-native, AI-native, and ODA-aligned, it provides a scalable foundation for multi-channel, multi-market retail operations.":1,"#Intelligent Commerce: The AI-Native Foundation Modern Telecom Commerce is Built On":1,"#Three Signals from MWC <span ljsid-1=\"\">2026</span> That Will Reshape Telecom Retail":1,"#iQmetrix | Why Total Wireless Master Agent Gen 7 Uses iQmetrix's…":1,"#What Makes a Customer Loyal to a Wireless Store":1,"#women in wireless":1,"#Email: <a ljsid-1=\"\">stefmer@cdw.com</a>":1,"#RQ Hardware US":1,"#iQmetrix | RQ Hardware US":1,"#iQmetrix | Telco Retail: Going Phygital at The Dawn of AI Commerce":1,"#Customers shouldn’t have to guess when it comes to what is and isn’t accepted for remote payments. Mobile payment options — like PayPal, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Apple Pay — and major credit cards are accepted.":1,"#Remote Pay uses mobile technology to enable flexible payments for modern telecom consumers. With the same capabilities as physical payment terminals, remote payment functionality empowers associates to deliver elevated customer service with advanced transactional features.":1,"#Mobile-First Payments":1,"#Reduce the number of partners you work with by unifying payments across users and channels within a single platform. Reduce vendor complexity, streamline troubleshooting, and resolve issues faster with a single source of truth.":1,"#Is Unified Commerce the New Omnichannel?":1,"#Learn More About Shiftlab":1,"#Telecom Defined: <span ljsid-1=\"\">5</span> Essential Omnichannel Technologies":1,"#How to Create a Unified Customer Experience":1,"#Why the iQmetrix Omnichannel Suite is Award-Winning":1},"version":4686}]