Rollout & Reviews
Part of Rolling out technology across stores
Choosing pilot locations that represent real conditions
Choose retail rollout pilot stores by the layouts, equipment, shifts and support conditions they need to represent.
Choose rollout pilot stores for the conditions they expose. Include ordinary trading and the variations most likely to change installation or staff work. A pilot can inform expansion only for conditions it has actually covered.
List relevant differences before naming stores
Start with the planned estate and group locations by differences that matter to this technology. A handheld stock tool may depend on stockroom layout and wireless routes. A fixed customer device may depend more on mounting, power, sightlines and an accessible approach.
| Variation | Question for selection |
|---|---|
| Layout | Does the task cross a counter, aisle, stockroom or shared service point? |
| Equipment | Are fixtures, mounts, devices or power arrangements materially different? |
| Working pattern | Will the tool be used on busy shifts and across handovers? |
| Connected systems | Do stores use the same relevant software and configuration? |
| Support | Can faults follow the intended route from this location? |
Use only the rows relevant to the project. Mark each variation as covered by a proposed pilot store, needing a separate check, or outside the first rollout wave.
Key Variations to Consider When Selecting Pilot Stores
- Layout
- Does the task cross a counter, aisle, stockroom or shared service point?
- Equipment
- Are fixtures, mounts, devices or power arrangements materially different?
- Working pattern
- Will the tool be used on busy shifts and across handovers?
- Connected systems
- Do stores use the same relevant software and configuration?
- Support
- Can faults follow the intended route from this location?
Choose sites that expose material risk
A typical store can show whether the ordinary workflow is practical. Add a store with a material difference when that difference could invalidate the installation or service method. Several similar stores do not become representative merely because there are more of them.
Suppose most stores use a counter-mounted device, while some need a wall mount in a narrow service area. A counter pilot would not settle the wall installation. Include that layout in the pilot, or hold it from the first wave until its installation has been checked.
Record any unusually experienced pilot staff or extra supplier help. If later stores will not receive the same support, repeat the relevant task under the support arrangement planned for them, or carry the extra support into the rollout plan.
Define what each site must reveal
For each selected store, record the intended task, layout, configuration and likely exceptions. Include a trading period when the task matters. Ask staff about workarounds and unresolved cases; a successful screen demonstration can conceal a handoff still done on paper.
Set the expansion rule before the trial: what must pass, what can be corrected and retested, and what would hold a store type back. Keep observations by store and condition. A combined success count could hide a failure confined to one layout or shift.
Pre-Pilot Site Selection Checklist
- Intended task for the siteDocument the core workflow the technology must support
- Layout and configuration detailsRecord physical setup including mounting, wiring, and access points
- Likely exceptions during operationIdentify potential disruptions such as peak hours or staff shortages
- Trading period with task relevanceEnsure trial occurs during high-impact trading periods
- Staff feedback on workaroundsCapture any existing paper-based processes still in use
Carry coverage limits forward
At review, record conditions observed, task outcomes, changes made and conditions still untested. Treat a passed pilot as support for stores that share the tested conditions. Give unmatched stores their own site check in a controlled wave. The result is a reasoned coverage decision, not a claim that one pilot represents every location.
Pilot Site Validation Process
- Record observed conditionsNote layout, equipment, shift patterns, and support availability
- Document task outcomesTrack success rates and failure modes by condition type
- Log changes made during pilotInclude fixes to configurations, hardware, or workflows
- Identify untested conditionsFlag store types not covered by current pilot data
- Apply expansion rulesOnly extend rollout to stores matching tested conditions
