Wipro launches cloud service for retailers

Indian IT service provider Wipro Technologies has launched a cloud computing service that will support the growing need for retailers to boost online sales.

The Digital Customer Experience Platform (DCxP) will help retailers engage online with customers, allowing them to pay as they go.

Retailers are becoming increasingly dependent on online sales and shoppers who use the web are demanding retailers engage with them through social media.

The pay-as-you-go model suits them because online sales are still relatively small, although growing fast.

Online retailers saw 26.5% growth in December, up from 16.9% in November and the highest level of growth in 2009, according to figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Online retail growth is exceeding overall retail growth, with overall sales rising 4.2% compared with December 2008. But the internet is starting from a low base, with sales still only accounting for around 4% of total retail sales.

Wipro announced the service at the national Retail Federation Conference in New York.

DCxP helps retailers manage their online businesses by integrating social media, community features and customer personalisation.

"Consumer behaviour is changing with the emergence of social networks and expectations of consistent cross channel experience. Wipro's Digital Customer Experience platform provides an integrated toolset that enables retailers to leverage these trends," said Bhanu Murthy B M, senior vice-president retail at Wipro.

Research by Internet Retailer revealed that 72.4% of online UK retailers plan to increase their spending on technology this year. A total of 14% of companies surveyed said they would increase spending by more than 50% and 13.1% said they would increase it by between 20.1% and 50%.

Wipro announced its strategy to provide services via the cloud in May. It is using Oracle grid computing software to build a software as a service platform known as w-SaaS to enable existing and new business applications to be delivered as services over the internet.