Traditionally, development and operations teams are kept separate in a practice known as siloing. This practice was sufficient to keep things moving and keep customers happy in the past. Still, as consumer demands change and the pace of the marketplace continues to accelerate, these traditional practices are no longer sufficient.
What is DevOps?
“DevOps” – a portmanteau of the words “development” and “operations” – breaks down the silo and combines both teams into a cohesive whole. DevOps is usually found in software development, but it is beginning to find a place in many other fields. How can companies apply a DevOps model in retail?
Moving Away From Brick and Mortar
E-commerce and direct-to-consumer sales are not new trends, but the COVID-19 pandemic seemed to catalyze the demise of brick-and-mortar stores and the increase of digital retail transformation. Everyone spent most of 2020 at home as they waited for vaccines or for it to be safe to travel again and spent their time ordering everything from groceries to furniture online.
Despite this push toward e-commerce, only about 13% of retail sales take place entirely online, including big-ticket items like automobiles.
The digital transformation is still coming, but if the past few years have proved anything, having a brick-and-mortar presence is still an essential part of a successful digital transaction. Consumers love the convenience of ordering online, but many would prefer to make returns to a brick-and-mortar storefront rather than endure the hassle of shipping the product back and waiting days or weeks for a refund.
Breaking Down the Silo
Traditionally, DevOps models work by breaking down the silo that previously existed to keep development and operations teams separate. These two teams can become one, allowing engineers and designers to collaborate directly. It may also include other facets of production and operation, such as quality assurance and security teams, all of whom are necessary to create the best possible customer experience.
Setting up a DevOps team in retail – or any industry – requires being willing to set up backup plans, configure networks for these new operations, and build new internal teams specifically to test and monitor the related processes.
Building a data warehouse the team can access is one tool for keeping everyone on the same page during these transitions. It’s a challenge, especially for hidebound companies set in their business practices. Still, once it’s in place, a functional DevOps team enables companies to create better products, provide a better customer experience, and build a more agile company that’s able to respond quickly to consumer and market needs.
Overcoming the Stall
DevOps models are becoming increasingly popular in retail circles, but they aren’t always easy to maintain. About 83% of companies have some DevOps practices in place, but more than 78% of them are stalled in the mid-stages of DevOps development. Established business practices are often challenging and can be prohibitive when breaking down the team silo to create a DevOps team.
One solution to overcome this seemingly inevitable stall is to consider outsourcing. Sometimes, relying on external experience and industry experts is the best way to keep things moving forward, allowing business owners to make the most of their DevOps team without struggling with the stall. It’s also easier to use these external tools for companies to develop their internal roadmaps to prepare for digital transformation in the future.
Keeping Up With Consumers
DevOps may have started and gained popularity in tech startups and software circles, but it quickly became an invaluable tool in retail and other customer-centric businesses. Companies that haven’t started breaking down their team silos in favour of an integrated DevOps team are missing out and may find themselves at a significant disadvantage as the industry-wide digital transformation gains speed and momentum.
