(image credit/Pixabay/Bluebudgie)Retail and eCommerce highlights this week include: Research from Centrify suggests, UK business are dismissing staff due to security concerns since the start of COVID-19. NHS Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has secured its entire 300 device estate of laptops and tablet computers with Absolute. A new partnership Marketplacer & Tryzens will transform and simplify dropship capability for brands and retailers online. More than half of e-commerce platforms won’t be fit for purpose next year, Wunderman Thompson Commerce reveals.

UK businesses sack staff breaching company security policy

Research from Centrify suggests, UK business are dismissing staff due to security concerns since the start of COVID-19. Thirty-nine percent of UK business decision makers have sacked staff due to breaches in company cybersecurity policy since the outbreak.

The survey of 200 UK business decision makers, conducted by independent polling agency Censuswide, also revealed 65% of companies have made substantial changes to their cyber security policy in response to COVID-19 and 100 per cent remote working. Despite this, 58% agreed that employees are more likely to try and circumvent company security practices when working from home. This indicates a fundamental flaw in the execution of security measures in a remote-working model.

To combat poor employee security practice, 57% of business decision makers are currently implementing more measures to securely authenticate employees. Such measures include biometric data checks, such as fingerprint and facial recognition technology. Other multi-factor authentication steps when gaining access to certain applications, files and accounts are also being considered.

Also, 55% of businesses already have, or plan to formally ban staff from using personal devices to work from home.

NHS Healthcare Group secures remote working with Absolute

NHS Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has secured its entire 300 device estate of laptops and tablet computers with Absolute.

NHS Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is a membership organisation of 45 general practices in London. The organisation, which is responsible for commissioning health services in Hillingdon. This includes community health and hospital services, provides IT equipment and support for 45 health practices across the borough.

Recent investments and improvements have included purchasing laptops for clinicians and practice staff to work from home during the COVID-19 crisis. Tablet computers were acquired so that patients can complete questionnaires about the state of their health upon arrival at the GP surgery.

Due to increasing security standards and compliance requirements, Hillingdon CCG wanted to upgrade and improve its existing cyber security systems. The upgrade was required to ensure devices and sensitive information remain protected. After a competitive review process, Hillingdon CCG chose the Absolute platform, The solution enables full visibility into the location and status of all devices. This includes those that lack necessary security updates, and the ability to freeze or wipe devices if required.

With Absolute, Hillingdon CCG was able to enhance its endpoint security posture by:

  • Protecting sensitive patient data across every endpoint, in any location, with a persistent connection to all devices.
  • Improving security and IT operations with fast discovery and remediation of any at-risk device.
  • Responding to incidents faster with automatic location, device freezing, and deletion of data.

Tryzens & Marketplacer to revolutionise eComm store range expansion

Marketplacer, and international digital commerce consultancy, Tryzens, have partnered to enable online retailers to drive sales, gain rapid access to sellers, and manage products via a simplified dropship system.

Marketplacer is a global technology platform enabling customers to create complete online marketplaces. The platform provide retailers with the ability to expand their product range through seamless dropship capability. This delivers new shopping categories, regional fulfilment options, and enhanced consumer engagement opportunities. Tryzens’ team of digital commerce strategists, trading specialists and technical experts implement the solution to a client’s specific requirements. They also work with clients to optimise performance across all channels, ensuring the revenue growth opportunity is maximised.

The strategic Tryzens-Marketplacer partnership promises an attractive marketplace and range extension strategy, a truncated time to market, and simplified administration. Both companies share a vision of enabling a digital-first strategy where channels are successful, connected and scalable.

eCommerce platforms won’t be fit for purpose next year research reveals

Research commissioned by Wunderman Thompson Commerce suggests 57% of businesses say their current commerce platform will only support them for the next 12 months.

According to the “Headless, Microservices and The Future of Commerce Platforms” report online buying has increased during lockdown. However, eCommerce systems are under more pressure then ever before. The increased activity has left many UK organisations concerned that their digital infrastructure demands a rapid upgrade.
This lack of confidence has been felt acutely amongst heads of IT and CIOs, with 64% believing that their eCommerce platform should be updated in the next 12 months. This is a sentiment echoed by nearly half 49% of heads of digital and eCommerce.

Essential changes for critical times

Organisations are now starting eCommerce modernisation, with a focus on four technologies – Headless, Microservices, API-first and Cloud-native. To enable them to quickly pivot operations and evolve their digital offering in line with consumer demand.
Top of the shopping list is scalability. Eighty-four percent of respondents keen to invest in a platform that is capable of growing to support their organisation’s ambitions. Eighty-four percent wanted something easy to integrate, while reliability and stability (83%), and ease of customisation (81%) were also considerations.

The report estimates the time-frame for businesses planning to implement these new technologies averaging 7.4 months. It suggest time is running out for organisations to get their digital house in order.

Organisations accept they can’t do it all themselves. Eighty percent of respondents admitted they prefer to work with experienced technology delivery partner. They believe it will better leverage their current eCommerce platform or to help them move to a more modern architecture.

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