C-stores are embracing AI, data analysis and mobile loyalty programs as they enhance customer engagement, streamline operations and drive personalized experiences.
In the past year, EG America (EGA) has made a conscious shift in how it approaches technology, deciding to move away from traditional, siloed tools and point solutions building integrated, cohesive systems.
“This integration-over-fragmentation strategy will help boost efficiency,” explained Sorin Hilgen, group chief digital officer & U.S. CIO for EGA, which has more than 1,500 stores across 30 states. “It’ll help improve maintainability and increase the speed to market. This is seen in being able to roll out artificial intelligence (AI)-powered capabilities; modernize internal systems; focus on building more robust, scalable platforms that can adapt quickly and really make sure that it aligns with ever-changing business needs.”
This push for integration reflects a broader trend across the industry. As technology evolves at an unprecedented pace, interoperability between systems is becoming not just a nice-to-have, but a business imperative.
“Most retailers want to be marketers, not technologists. If systems are talking to each other natively or through simplified integrations, marketers can spend more time growing the business versus troubleshooting technology,” noted Mike Templeton, partner with c-store advisory firm NexChapter.
