The 2018 Technology & e-Commerce Issue of Canadian Retailer Magazine features an article on designing retail technology deployments by Lisa Cook, a member of the Kinettix Global Advisory Team.
The article, “The Importance of Designing Retail Technology Deployments,” outlines the differences between a retail deployment plan and a retail deployment design.
“The reality for retailers is that simply ‘planning’ your technology deployment is not enough. You need to ‘design’ your technology deployment,” Cook writes. “A deployment plan usually tells you what you are going to do. Whereas a deployment design tells you how you will actually do it.”
The article includes real-world examples that illustrate the difference between a deployment plan and a deployment design, as shown in the following chart: 
In addition to serving on the Kinettix Global Advisory Team, Cook is also the founder of OPL Technologies, a premier provider of Retail Technology Design and Training services. With over 30 years of experience in the technology field, she is a thought leader in overcoming the challenges associated with complex, multi-site technology deployments.
Cook’s proven approach to designing retail technology deployments has led to over 30,000 successful deployments for national and global clients, including Walgreens, Ulta Beauty, OfficeMax, Walmart, American Eagle, Blockbuster, Chrysler, Simon Property Group, and CBL & Associates.
Cook is also the author of the book Designing Retail Success: A Blueprint for Designing Retail Technology Deployments; a whitepaper, 10 Ways to Make Your Retail Deployment Workforce Smarter, published by WorkMarket; and several posts for the Kinettix Global Growth blog.
