By Jonathan Allmayer, Senior Account Executive, Dell Technologies South Africa

There are extensive synergies between South African and US retailers in their strategies to maximise operations and profitability. Technology plays a critical role in these pursuits as retailers on both continents strive to create better customer and employee experiences.

An overarching goal is to deliver more capabilities in store while consolidating technology, resources and expenses, and there is a marked shift to using AI for personalised recommendations, improved customer service and more efficient operations. Ultimately, the aim is to create greater customer satisfaction and increase sales.

In both territories, the power of AI partnerships is reshaping retail. Partner collaboration is crucial for creating retail AI solutions. Strategic collaborations between organisations unlock the transformative potential of AI, creating ecosystems that drive innovation, solve complex challenges, and deliver scalable solutions across organisations.

That’s the promise of a great AI partnership for today’s retail leaders navigating high-stakes decisions and complex systems. By working with partners, organisations can unlock AI’s full potential, delivering smarter, more inclusive solutions that transform your organisation.

The benefits of strategic AI partnerships include:

·       Speed to market: Collaborations speed up development and deployment.

·       New market access: Partners bring vertical knowledge to unlock untapped opportunities.

·       Resource sharing: Data, infrastructure, and domain expertise become assets.

Dell Technologies empowers South African and US-based retailers – as well as those around the globe - with secure, scalable, and innovative solutions to optimise operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive meaningful outcomes. Our innovative solutions empower retailers to deliver exceptional customer experiences, optimise operations, and remain competitive.

From conversational AI to personalised shopping assistants, AI has the power to elevate customer satisfaction and loyalty. For example, Edge AI is revolutionising how retailers operate by bringing intelligence directly to where data is created, enabling real-time decisions and smarter outcomes at scale. In fact, Edge AI is transforming retail by turning AI into a true collaborative partner that learns, reasons, and drives meaningful business results. Powered by model optimisation, efficient silicon, and Agentic AI, Dell's solutions like NativeEdge and AI PCs empower retailers to harness this potential seamlessly.

Dell NativeEdge empowers retailers to easily deploy, manage and scale AI applications across their retail store fleet – from POS to digital signs, and from smart sensors to edge servers. In addition, Dell’s pioneering computer vision technology detects shrink, enhances safety, and ensures smooth, secure operations across your stores. Plus, our AI-powered tools transform raw data into actionable insights that drive growth and efficiency.

Retail success is no longer just about meeting customer expectations; it’s about exceeding them in every interaction. At Dell Technologies, we’re committed to helping retailers leverage cutting-edge technology to achieve that. Whether you’re optimising operations, adapting to market demands, or enhancing in-store experiences, we’re here to empower your transformation.

But real transformation requires more than technology - it requires collaboration. As edge ecosystems become more complex, retailers face challenges like fragmented orchestration frameworks and non-standardised security practices. Dell partners with leading silicon providers, software developers, and open-source communities to champion industry standards and ensure interoperability, so every organisation can benefit from a unified edge experience.

Edge AI is driving continuous innovation for retailers, and at Dell, we’re committed to building solutions that empower every organisation to move forward - confidently and responsibly. No matter where retailers are on their digital transformation journeys, Dell Technologies has the technology and resources to help achieve that strategic goal of creating better customer and employee experiences with digital intelligence.