Novel technology collaboration integrates real-time loyalty information into the checkout screen to improve fan experience at merchandise concession stands

Teamwork Commerce, a global retail management solution, and LAVA, a real-time AI data platform that delivers unparalleled brand engagement, have partnered to enhance the experience of sports fans at the point of sale (POS). The initial partnership integrates fan loyalty and real-time marketing campaign benefits at Teamwork Commerce POS locations within sporting stadiums and arenas, enabling teams to streamline and enhance the game-day experience of their fans.

Powered by its unique, real-time AI data activation technology, LAVA gives Teamwork Commerce customers the ability to engage, influence, and delight consumers ‘in the moment’ — which helps loyalty managers create personalized experiences that drive engagement, deepen loyalty, and generate incremental spend.

The combination of Teamwork Commerce and LAVA was successfully deployed with an NFL team this season, where the integration enables the team season ticket member ID lookup, retrieval of the fan’s member discounts and stored value balance, and subsequent redemptions through Teamwork Commerce’s POS devices.

Dave Landa, chief business officer at LAVA, explained, “Fans are the most important aspect of any brand, and brand and loyalty managers must do everything in their power to engage the social network that is their fan base, including consistently delivering a memorable in-person brand experience with each interaction, be it in person or in digital.

“Our partnership with Teamwork Commerce helps our joint clients achieve this goal. By integrating our two systems, clients can easily deploy long-term loyalty benefits as well as real-time, in-the-moment campaigns for fans that can be seamlessly redeemed at all appropriate POS locations, providing fans with memorable surprise-and-delight moments.”

Amber Hovious, VP of marketing and partnerships at Teamwork Commerce, added, “We are committed to helping sports teams provide value to their fans at every opportunity. The point of sale is the final touchpoint of any transaction, and it is our goal to help our customers deliver exceptional experiences that leave fans feeling valued and satisfied.

“Our partnership with LAVA helps us to facilitate this in a unique way, creating personalization that helps franchises create bespoke interactions that provide meaningful value to enhance the excitement of game day.”

The two companies see additional opportunities for collaboration beyond the sports and entertainment sectors. Next week, LAVA and Teamwork Commerce are participating in NRF 24, the National Retail Foundation’s annual conference, where they will discuss how sports-fan-type engagement and loyalty can be brought to the retail sector.

Florida, US – December 2023: Teamwork Commerce, a leader in technological solutions for retail, has today announced its collaboration with leading sporting goods retailer, Innovasport. Having gone live with its Point of Sale (POS) solution in over 250 Innovasport locations across Mexico, Teamwork Commerce has successfully deployed over 2,000 POS terminals within the retailer’s stores.

Specializing in the sale of footwear, clothing and sports accessories from leading global brands, Innovasport is recognized for its constant innovation, quality and the unique experience it offers its customers. With Teamwork Commerce’s POS terminals integrating with the Innovasport online store, the retailer can now offer a range of omnichannel capabilities to its customers, including Buy Online Pickup In-Store (BOPIS) and Ship to Store with same-day delivery. Innovasport can now deliver a frictionless shopping experience between online and in-store interactions.

Features within Teamwork Commerce’s Point of Sale solution include: user management – with roles and permissions included; loyalty integration, virtual gift cards, real-time inventory connectivity across all channels, and an Employee Benefit Program, offering exclusive discounts for Innovasport’s internal staff.

Further to POS deployment, the partnership between Teamwork Commerce and Innovasport has also started additional initiatives for the retailer. This includes Item Personalization and Referenced Payments systems, respectively. With these features integrated, customers will be able to start their purchases online, add products to a wishlist and complete the purchase in any physical store of their choice. 

Teamwork Commerce’s open architecture will allow this solution to integrate seamlessly with Innovasport’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), as well as its Order Management System (OMS) and eCommerce platform, optimizing Innovasport’s internal processes for greater efficiency and simplified operations.

Sergio Borrego, CTO of Innovasport, said: “This collaboration not only improved our operations, but also strengthened our connection with customers by providing a unified experience in physical and online stores. Payment flexibility, platform stability and customer service have been optimized thanks to this collaboration.

“We are excited by the benefits in the store management, and the ease of adding new functions according to our needs. In conclusion, this collaboration was key to offering a quality service and a satisfactory experience for our customers.” 

Ricardo Castañon, Director of Teamwork Commerce Mexico, said: “Technology plays such an important role in providing high-quality customer experiences in today’s environment. Innovasport’s determination to push the boundaries of retail innovation is allowing the business to deliver these experiences. Equipped with efficient Point of Sale and seamless omnichannel fulfillment capabilities, Innovasport is future-proofing its operations with evolving customer expectations in mind.”

About Innovasport

Innovasport is a renowned chain of sports stores in Mexico that stands out by integrating sports into everyday life, promoting an active and healthy lifestyle through its wide range of products. Specialized in footwear, clothing and sports accessories from leading global brands, Innovasport is recognized by its constant innovation, its quality and the unique experience it offers its customers. Its commitment to excellence is reflected in the close collaboration with suppliers and recognized brands, always seeking to provide a differentiated style for every sports lover. https://www.innovasport.com/

About Teamwork Commerce

Teamwork Commerce is a flexible tech stack for retailers that includes POS, OMS, Clienteling, Inventory Control and Reporting. With Teamwork’s omnichannel solution, retailers gain a deeper understanding of their customers to provide personalized experiences through invisible technology. Trusted by top retailers globally including, Moose Knuckles, Colorado Rockies, Asics, Milwaukee Bucks, and Catbird. https://teamworkcommerce.com

New features in Teamwork Commerce will be built with Google Cloud’s foundation models and generative AI capabilities in Vertex AI

Clearwater, Florida — October 9th, 2023 — Teamwork Commerce, a global retail management software, has today announced a new partnership with Google Cloud to develop new generative AI features in its industry-leading mobile Point of Sale (mPOS) and Order Management System (OMS). This partnership will bring a fusion of Teamwork’s innovative retail solutions with Google Cloud’s generative AI capabilities, with the intent to redefine and uplift the retail experience for enterprise retail organizations.

Teamwork Commerce is the retail management solution of choice for global retail organizations. With advanced omnichannel capabilities, the organization provides retailers with a unified view of inventory, orders, and customer data. Teamwork Commerce has worked in partnership with Google Cloud to solve complex issues that global retail organizations face. Its integration with Google Cloud generative AI brings cutting-edge technology to the hands of retailers and their customers.

With accelerated changes in customer behavior, the need for technology-driven efficiencies could significantly enhance customer experience. The integration of generative AI models into Teamwork Commerces mPOS and OMS applications offers many opportunities for retailers to improve efficiency, customer engagement, and sales.

As part of the new collaboration , mobile devices carried by retail associates will include a generative AI assistant specifically trained to help with inventory questions, allowing staff to quickly check backroom stock or other locations for specific customer requests.

Additionally, retail associates can utilize a generative AI model that can create natural language summaries of current inventory levels, sales trends, and other important metrics. These reports can be shared with staff to better inform them of evolving product trends and customer interests The new partnership will also allow retailers to utilize an AI-powered generative search engine to quickly customize and configure settings to optimize organizational workflows. Retail organizations often see differences in the way each geographical brick-and-mortar location operates. A retail software solution that is agile in configurability allows global organizations to adapt to differences in global markets. Executives will also be able to access live and historical performance using free-form text questions.

Amber Hovious, VP of Marketing and Partnerships, Teamwork Commerce, explains how this technology will provide value to the global organizations Teamwork serves:

“The integration with Google Cloud  generative AI in Teamwork’s enterprise retail solution will allow the global retailer to serve their customers better at every touch point.

“We’re proud that Teamwork Commerce will tap into Google Cloud’s generative AI capabilities to help retail organizations of all sizes create better buying experiences and ultimately drive more revenue,” said Rodrigo Rocha, Head of AI and Business Applications Partnerships at Google Cloud.

About Teamwork Commerce

Teamwork Commerce is a flexible tech stack for retailers that includes POS, OMS, Clienteling, Inventory Control and Reporting – a cloud-based system that is constantly evolving to provide cutting-edge technology to meet the needs of the ever-changing retail landscape. With Teamwork’s omnichannel solution, retailers gain a deeper understanding of their customers to provide personalized experiences through invisible technology. Trusted by top retailers globally including, Acne Studios, The Row, Asics, Princesse Tam Tam, Comptoir des Cotonniers, and Moose Knuckles. Learn more at www.teamworkcommerce.com

MEXICO CITY, July 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Enriching the lives of pets is an ongoing mission for Petco, a leading American health and wellness company in the pet industry, providing premium products and services for beloved companions.

In order to enhance its expansion in Latin America, Petco has implemented Teamwork Commerce’s omnichannel solution to manage its more than 118 stores in Mexico and Chile. This implementation includes Point-of-Sale (POS), Loyalty Program and Inventory Control, all integrated with their CRM and Online Store.

Thanks to the cloud-based functionalities of Teamwork Commerce, Petco offers “Club Petco,” a program where customers receive coupons based on their purchase accumulation, whether they bought in-store or online. Furthermore, a strategy was implemented to streamline the checkout process by incorporating QR code scanning for grooming services and bulk products, allowing multiple items to be added with a single scan.

For Petco, this initiative proves to be highly valuable as it consolidates information into a single system, facilitating the checkout process and eliminating human error through devices that provide a better user interface and enhanced experience. Additionally, by adopting a “paperless” philosophy, customers can opt to receive their receipts via email or through the Petco app.

“Teamwork Commerce has become one of the key pillars in achieving omnichannel capabilities at Petco. It has reinforced Club Petco, our successful loyalty program, and we have been able to implement real-time targeted experiences to pamper our customers both in physical stores and on the ecommerce platform,” said Guillermo Prieto Cortes, CIO of Petco Mexico.

Teamwork Commerce is a flexible tech stack for retailers that includes POS, OMS, CRM, Clienteling, Inventory Control and Reporting – a cloud-based system that is constantly evolving to provide cutting-edge technology to meet the needs of the ever-changing retail landscape. With Teamwork’s omnichannel solution, retailers gain a deeper understanding of their customers to provide personalized experiences through invisible technology. Trusted by top retailers globally including, Petco, Prada Mx, InnovaSport, and Weber. For more information, please visit: www.teamworkcommerce.mx

Originally posted in SalesTechStar

Self-checkout solutions are starting to redefine brick and mortar experiences; Aleksander Martyshko, Senior Mobile Software Architect at Teamwork Commerce dives into a few upcoming trends and benefits:

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Welcome to this SalesTechStar chat Aleksander – tell us about yourself and your role at Teamwork Commerce

As a Senior Software Architect with expertise in RFID technology, I am responsible for leading the development of mobile applications that leverage RFID technology to improve inventory accuracy, reduce out-of-stocks, and provide real-time data insights.

I have a proven track record of designing and implementing innovative mobile solutions for the retail industry, with years of experience in developing software for RFID-based inventory management and customer engagement systems.

I love learning new technologies and I always want to improve my skill set. In my free time, I love reading books related to mobile development. I also read short stories – I find them useful for me to keep myself updated with new technologies, and they help me to write good code.

Read More: SalesTechStar Interview with Gregg Aamoth, CEO of POPcodes

We’d love to hear about some of the platform’s latest innovations and how it enables end users

We recently announced the launch of our RFID-powered self-checkout solution, and at the core of that product is our commitment to creating a much more streamlined checkout experience for consumers, while delivering security and highly streamlined operations for retailers.

The technology utilises RFID technology to instantly scan all items in a shopper’s basket or cart, and in-store visitors can complete transactions on their own within seconds. Meanwhile, from a retailer’s perspective, fewer staff members are tied to Point of Sale (POS) terminals – enabling them to focus more time on delivering a high-quality experience for customers, and with RFID tags attached to every product, the risk of theft is minimised significantly. Retailers will experience fewer losses and enhanced security at checkout.

How are RFID powered self-checkout systems changing the game for retail brands in today’s marketplaces? Can you discuss more on how leading brands are using this feature to drive in-store impact?

Self-checkout, for many, has been a breath of fresh air for consumers and retailers alike. It is clear that these terminals are here to stay. It has played a strong role in cutting queue times down for retailers, but this doesn’t mean that it can’t be improved – checkout times can still be more streamlined.

We want to play our part in the evolution of the retail industry and RFID-powered self-checkout will help retailers take an important step in the right direction. In today’s retail environment, customer experience is everything. As the last touchpoint a shopper has with a store, more checkout options for customers can not only significantly improve overall customer satisfaction, but they can reduce queue times – which benefits everyone. Customers are finished sooner. And retailers can optimise the amount of time visitors spend in-store.

Why in your view will self-checkout become the next big thing or one of the next big things in retail?

I think it is the natural progression of retail. Convenience is becoming critical to attracting and retaining customers, and retailers are recognizing that. However, convenience alone isn’t enough. It needs to be paired with an excellent customer experience. Until now, e-commerce has been providing the convenience that customers crave, but we’re starting to see a shift in consumer preference back towards in-store, experiential retail.

It is also worth noting that although RFID technology has existed for decades, it has typically been seen as an expensive solution. In recent years, a lot of great work has been done to make the technology more affordable, which is giving retailers better access to its capabilities.

RFID-powered self-checkout enables retailers to provide the best of both worlds: a completely streamlined in-store experience where customers can checkout in seconds if they want to, but without the need for manned checkout stations, store staff can instead focus on other technologies – such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Clienteling platforms, Reporting and Analytics, and Inventory Management solutions – to create personalised experiences for in-store visitors.

They can make recommendations based on previous purchases, suggest alternative items to products that are out of stock, or even facilitate omnichannel fulfilment options such as buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) and buy online, return in-store (BORIS).

RFID-powered self-checkout plays a unique role in the development of retail. It might become the next big thing for retailers. However, if brands really want to develop long-term relationships with customers and drive sustainable growth, they need to invest in an all-encompassing retail technology stack that incorporates a range of solutions that communicate in real-time to deliver the ultimate customer experience.

What are some thoughts you have in mind regarding the future of retail management software?

Consumer demands continue to evolve and change. Whether retailers need to deliver convenience, personalization, or simply have better vision into their business operations, the right retail management software helps them remain agile. Agility is the key to the future of the industry – we only have to look at the past few years to recognize that. So, retail management software must deliver that.

The question then becomes more focused around how the software can ensure a high level of flexibility for retailers. The answer is simple: options. The management software has to be able to integrate with a vast number of technologies that reach from the manufacturing of a product, to its sale and then motivating and engaging repeat customers. Only then can a retailer have complete visibility of their operations. And with the right technologies in place – from managing supply chains and order management all the way through to POS – better decisions can be made in real time.

If customers want convenience, better omnichannel solutions can be developed. If they want personalization, retailers can merge their CRM with Mobile POS systems to make recommendations on products and complete transactions from anywhere in-store. If the economy is struggling and retailers need to put on promotions to help customers spend, they can leverage Analytics and Reporting solutions to understand the best way to deploy them. Most importantly, those options should all be available from one system. That is the future of retail management software.

Read More: E-commerce Businesses Can Fight Inflation – Here’s How

Can you highlight more on the impact of AI in this market?

AI is an interesting topic at the moment – especially with the level of attention being given to ChatGPT nowadays. From a retail perspective, I think the conversation goes back to creating convenience and amazing in-store experiences.

AI and wider automation technologies, remove the need for manual labour – processing returns, counting stock levels, analysing data, and much more. If a team of people are handed any of those tasks manually, it will take a significant amount of time to complete them and there is a likelihood that not all data available is considered.

Manual processes create an opportunity cost for retailers. Instead of spending hours counting stock, in-store associates can better spend their time interacting with customers, delivering a high-quality in-store experience. Furthermore, the inaccuracies created by manual processes can significantly hinder an entire retail operation.

The retail industry is starting to adopt automation and wider AI as a result of this, and it is being heavily driven by the evolving demands of customers.

Florida, US – May 15th, 2023: Teamwork Commerce, global retail management software, has today announced that it has attained SOC 2 Type 1 compliance for all Teamwork Commerce Premier Edition customers. The accreditation serves as a benchmark for a company’s ability to safeguard its clients’ data.

SSAE (Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements) No. 21 System and Service Organization Controls (SOC) is a set of standards developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The compliance audits are performed by an independent third-party service auditor. SOC 2 compliance is a rigorous process that involves a comprehensive evaluation and testing of a company’s policies, procedures, and safeguards related to data security, availability, and confidentiality.

Teamwork Commerce customers are already benefiting from the comprehensive security measures implemented during the compliance process. SOC 2 compliance proves that a company adheres to best practices concerning data security, availability, and confidentiality and that it represents these practices fairly. SOC 2 compliance is an indication that a company prioritizes data security and has implemented appropriate safeguards.

Tom Godfrey, VP of Technical Services at Teamwork Commerce, says: “At Teamwork Commerce, we recognize the significance of data security for retailers, particularly in today’s context where cyber-attacks and data breaches are becoming increasingly common.

“When it comes to customer data as well as server and application access, Teamwork Commerce ensures that security, availability, and confidentiality are built into our product and processes. Our recent SOC 2 readiness program confirms it. We are committed to enhancing our platform and processes to provide exceptional customer service.”

The organization is now committed to working towards achieving SOC 2 Type 2 compliance, which involves not only implementing the necessary controls but also demonstrating that they have been continuously in place and effective for a period of 12 months.

Teamwork Commerce is also working towards achieving ISO 27001 certification. This international standard similarly provides a framework for information security management systems and requires a comprehensive approach to risk management and data protection.

About Teamwork Commerce

Teamwork Commerce is a leading Omnichannel Solution, providing retailers with Point-of Sale, Order Management, Inventory Control, CRM and Analytics. They also boast an ecosystem of integrations with top solutions making unified commerce a seamless activity. Serving top retailers in over 20 countries globally including, Moose Knuckles, Colorado Rockies, Asics, Milwaukee Bucks, Catbird and Paul Stuart. Learn more at www.teamworkcommerce.com.