According to Ericsson’s (NASDAQ: ERIC) State of Enterprise Connectivity report, connectivity issues are an ongoing challenge for retailers across Europe, resulting in more than a third (35%) experiencing some revenue loss and 22% stating it has led to top talent leaving the business as they became frustrated with underperforming technology.
According to the survey conducted by Censuswide, 89% of retailers in Europe believe a new era of connectivity is required if they are to unlock business innovation, including AI and IoT deployments. Meanwhile, a further 92% state 5G connectivity is necessary to accelerate R&D initiatives within their businesses, as it provides the necessary bandwidth and low latency needed to support next-generation technology within their stores.
In fact, for retailers who have already embraced 5G connectivity, 46% of them are using it to solve security and surveillance challenges, 42% to support the rollout of AI and machine learning, and 42% are improving their warehouse management and logistics solutions. These applications are helping make retailers more resilient to wider macroeconomic trends and provide a better service to their customers.
The National Retail Federation reported stores across Europe have seen an increase in shoplifting incidents, noting a 93% rise in the number of shoplifting incidents between 2019 and 2023 alone. It’s unsurprising then that according to The State of Enterprise Connectivity report 44% of retailers are planning to use mobile connectivity to improve security systems in the next 12 months, and 44% are already deploying 5G to enhance worker safety to help address this surge. These solutions can help enhance inventory tracking through IoT devices, support CCTV across remote sites, and share data such as live-streamed video with law enforcement to help track down shoplifters.
Paul McHugh, Head of Sales EMEA at Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions, stated, “Retailers are navigating unprecedented pressure – from tariffs and consume uncertainty to rising crime. To secure their future, they must harness the power of AI and Io to unlock new levels of efficiency and resilience. Embracing cellular innovation is essential to transforming operations and thriving in a rapidly changing world.”
If you are interested in hearing more about wireless connectivity solutions for your organisation, please find Ericsson in Hall 4, stand T 096 at NRF Europe 16-18th September.
Ericsson commissioned Censuswide to survey 189 technology decision makers at medium/ large retail businesses (250+ employees) across the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK between March and May 2025.
