Have you ever wondered what would happen if your system suddenly stopped? During the recent CrowdStrike outage, millions of retailers experienced this. They entered their shop, only to find their computers frozen and no-one of taking in eftpos. It's enough to make any business owner break out in a cold sweat as he looks at all the staff just sitting around.
The CrowdStrike Outage: A Global Crisis
Last week, the retail world was rocked by what experts call the most significant computer outage. It had a global impact, affecting businesses everywhere.
The Scope of the Problem
- Duration: For many, this outage lasted a few days. The day after, I took a picture of a supermarket checkout at my local supermarket.
- Geographical Reach: Businesses from Australia to Europe and North America reported issues.
This unprecedented event highlighted the critical need for robust POS system backups and comprehensive business continuity planning.
The Impact on Retailers
A Digital Domino Effect
The CrowdStrike outage wasn't just a minor inconvenience. For many retailers, it was like someone had pulled the plug on their entire operation. Here's what we saw:
- Computer Chaos: Many retailers' computers stopped working, and suddenly, people were manual.
- Manual Mode Activated: Shops had to dust off their old-school methods and operate manually, highlighting the importance of maintaining manual operational skills.
- Payment Pandemonium: Electronic payment disruption was widespread. For many stores, it was cash or nothing, underscoring the ongoing importance of cash transactions in our increasingly digital world.
Brick-and-Mortar Business Resilience Tested
This crisis put the spotlight on brick-and-mortar business resilience. Stores that had prepared for such scenarios fared better, while others struggled to maintain even basic operations. It became clear that in the face of retail technology failure, having a solid backup plan is not just advisable - it's essential.
Our Experience
Interestingly, none of our clients seemed affected by this widespread issue. We were ready, armed with fixes and procedures, but no one called. It was a bit like preparing for a party, getting dressed up and not going—frustrating, to say the least!
We even initiated a ring at a few sites we thought might be in trouble, but they were all fine.
Lessons Learned
The Golden Rule of Updates
I was gobsmacked to learn that many affected sites had broken the cardinal rule of IT: Never do an update on a Friday. It's like tempting fate just before the weekend! This incident is a stark reminder of the importance of timing in system maintenance and updates.
Insurance Implications
Those impacted should definitely touch base with their insurance providers. Your policy might just cover such tech-related interruptions.
Cash is Still King (Sometimes)
Meanwhile, this shows that we cannot yet get rid of cash. We are not yet equipped for a cashless society. Never undervalue the role of cash today!
Preparing for Future Outages
Create a Backup Plan
- Develop offline procedures for critical operations
- Train staff on manual processes
- Keep physical copies of important information
- Regularly test and update your retail tech disaster recovery plan
Build Resilience
- Diversify payment options: Don't put all your eggs in one digital basket
- Maintain offline capabilities: Keep those old-school skills sharp
- Stay informed: Keep an eye on tech news and potential threats
- Invest in reliable POS systems: Choose solutions with robust backup features and offline capabilities
Conclusion
This massive outage exposed our vulnerability to tech failures. As retailers need to stay alert and flexible. Learning and developing comprehensive backup strategies will help your stores weather future tech storms.
Smart retail isn't just about the shiniest new systems – it's about being prepared for system failures. Heed the warnings from this worldwide tech meltdown and shield your business from upcoming digital challenges.
