Connectivity is a Costly Distraction for F&C Retailers – Time to Leave it to the Experts

Here we explore how the increasing time and effort F&C retailers are spending on managing connectivity, is time and effort that can’t be spent responding to the massive changes sweeping the industry. And how working with a managed service provider can help them get back to business. 

In the fast-evolving fuel and convenience (F&C) retail sector, technology is reshaping business operations and customer expectations. Forecourts are less fuel-centric than they used to be and are becoming diversified, consumer-oriented hubs, brimming with integrated adjacent services such as food and beverage, last-mile delivery, and digital loyalty programs. 

However, the pace of service innovation has not been evenly matched by innovations in managing the networking, connectivity and payments infrastructure that knits all these new offerings together. Many F&C retailers continue to burden themselves with the complexity of managing their own connectivity. They do a great job of keeping things moving, but this work diverts valuable resources from more strategic, customer-focused work. It also makes responding to change slower and more expensive, hampering innovation. All of which makes it imperative for retailers to rethink their approach to connectivity. 

The Problem: Siloed Systems and Operational Complexity 

Connectivity is at the heart of modern F&C operations, supporting everything from cashless payment processing to guest Wi-Fi, self-checkout, and security cameras. But, as explored in our recent eBook ‘Accelerating fuel & convenience retail growth,’ years of DIY solution sourcing and management has led to fragmented vendor landscapes, less than optimal interconnectivity between systems and inefficient processes. 

Instead of the streamlined, simplified and scalable environments they need, F&C retailers are often stuck with: 

• Siloed technologies that limit visibility and efficiency. 

• Disjointed vendor ecosystems that increase costs and complexity. 

• IT teams spending too much time and money on reactive network maintenance, consuming IT resources that could be better used elsewhere. 

This self-managed approach creates a drag on growth, forcing IT teams to act more like a support center focused on fighting fires and keeping the lights on, rather than a driving force for innovation. 

The Opportunity Cost of DIY Network Management 

Retailers that continue to manage connectivity in-house face significant opportunity costs. The fuel industry is evolving, with analysts predicting a continued decline in fuel sales while non-fuel services grow in importance. Successful F&C operators need to dedicate their energy toward this transformation, not network troubleshooting. Time and effort spent managing networking and connectivity is time and effort that can’t be spent building a better customer experience. 

Consider the challenges of maintaining secure, high-performance networks while expanding services and IoT devices. Each additional connected device — from digital signage to smart refrigeration — adds another layer of complexity. As retailers scale, they encounter exponential growth in network management demands, making a DIY approach increasingly untenable. 

The Solution: Partner with a Managed Network Service Provider 

Instead of navigating the complexities of network infrastructure and network security alone, F&C retailers should partner with a managed network service provider (MNSP). These specialized partners bring decades of expertise, economies of scale when sourcing and deploying the latest solutions, and in-built scalability, all of which frees retailers to focus on business growth. Here’s how: 

• Seamless integration: MNSPs provide unified networking solutions that streamline operations and increase flexibility across forecourt, in-store, and back-office functions. 

• Proactive security and compliance: With cyber threats rising, MNSPs ensure that networks are secure, PCI DSS-compliant, and updated with the latest technologies. 

• Operational efficiency: Retailers can rationalize their vendor landscape down to a single partner; one able to provide 24/7 support, centralized monitoring, and automated updates. This reduces downtime and operational disruptions. 

• Scalability and futureproofing: As businesses expand, MNSPs provide the flexibility to integrate new locations and emerging technologies without overburdening IT teams. 

The Business Case for Letting Go 

Fuel and convenience retailers are at a crossroads. Do they stay on the treadmill of sinking time and money into managing connectivity in-house, working ever harder just to stay still? Or do they embark on a strategic overhaul with an MNSP that will deliver a streamlined, scalable and more cost-effective solution? The latter option empowers retailers to redirect their focus to customer experience, revenue diversification, and innovation. 

By partnering with an MNSP, retailers can unlock faster time-to-market for new services, reduce IT overhead, and enhance operational resilience. In a rapidly shifting industry, those who prioritize business reinvention over network management will be the ones riding highest on the next wave of growth. 

Read the eBook ‘Accelerating Fuel & Convenience Retail Growth’ to discover more about how you can let go of DIY connectivity and refocus on what truly matters: the future of your business.