For decades, retailers have been collecting and analyzing point-of-sale data to get a better understanding of how buying trends impact revenue. In many ways, they pioneered the concept of “big data” well before it was a widely used term.
It’s no surprise then that more progressive companies are beginning to consider big data as a strategy to evaluate equipment performance, measure ROI and make better decisions that drive higher operating efficiencies. There are a number of factors converging to create the perfect storm for retailers. Facility system designs are becoming more complex, thus increasing the number of variables that need to be managed for efficient operations. Industry consolidation has led to fewer but larger retailers with enterprises that often contain a multitude of equipment brands and control platforms to manage. And, with a smaller percentage of today’s workforce pursuing education in HVAC/R, there are fewer experienced technicians working on disparate, more complex systems. Retailers are in a constant battle for operational efficiency, and having additional insight can help them with these issues.