*Southgate Centre in Edmonton. Photo: Ivanhoé Cambridge*

By Mario Toneguzzi

Canadian shopping centre landlord Ivanhoé Cambridge is helping small and medium-size retailers, as well as restaurants, across its portfolio by offering one-year free access to the Lightspeed Retail or Lightspeed Restaurant fully-integrated cloud-based programs.

Ivanhoé Cambridge has 25 shopping centres in Canada over six provinces with a total of 30 million square feet of retail space.

A spokesperson for the shopping centre landlord said the initiative could benefit several hundred businesses across the company’s portfolio.

“The idea here is that a lot of the smaller retailers, tenants, restaurants in these times are struggling and they’re an important part of the fabric of our economy but also of our shopping centres. So what we want to do basically at this point in time is help them have an opportunity to sell, help them have an opportunity to extend their market now in this emergency situation but into the future as the retail and the ecosystem evolve".

“So in very practical terms what we’re offering them is the ability to access for retailers a free one-year subscription to the Lightspeed Retail Point of Sale systems that also comes with the e-commerce system therefore allowing them to not only manage their brick and mortar store efficiency but to propel the inventory and to propel the sales online.

“That’s essentially the core offer. When it comes to restaurants, we’re obviously offering the equivalent, if you will, which is the Lightspeed Restaurant with the delivery module which means that it allows our restaurants to not only have access to the point of sale system but also to once again make it available for delivery, for pick up, working with third-party partners. So they have all the technology that allows them to extend their reach and their business into new markets and a newer customer base.”

Tenants will also have access to modules such as Lightspeed eCommerce and Lightspeed Delivery built within the retail and restaurant platforms, respectively.

*Poppy Barley store at Southgate Centre in Edmonton. Photo: Poppy Barley*

"Our goal is to ensure the small and medium-sized businesses in our cities – who are integral to the local economies – have access to the tools they need to be successful through these significant changes in consumer behaviour and as regulations for a staggered re-opening of retail centres and store fronts begin," said JP Chauvet, President, Lightspeed POS Inc., in a statement. "An omnichannel sales platform will support their needs in the short-term, while also fuelling the big picture as we look ahead to a post-COVID environment."

What the Partnership Means for Retailers who Adopt Lightspeed Retail:

An omnichannel point of sale (POS) solution that includes Lightspeed eCommerce and opens inventory to an increasingly digitally savvy consumer base;
Must-have tools to engage customers, including comprehensive loyalty programs, synchronized inventory management, and built-in reports with real-time sales data; and
Integration of local and national parcel delivery, via eCommerce

What the Partnership Means for Restaurants who Adopt Lightspeed Restaurant:

Lightspeed Delivery integration options to Uber Eats, and other local food delivery services;
Reach more customers by maximizing delivery zones, customizing a takeout menu, connecting to social media, and using data to understand ordering patterns; and
Options such as self-order kiosks or tableside service with an iPad POS system for in-restaurant experiences when doors reopen.

"During these unprecedented times, it's important to support our tenants. We understand that consumer expectations and shopping habits are evolving," said Nathalie Palladitcheff, President and Chief Executive Officer at Ivanhoé Cambridge, in a statement. "This is an opportunity, and we are proud to partner with Lightspeed to offer a safe, fluid and trusted omnichannel sales solution to our tenants wishing to serve the communities in which our shopping centres are located."

Another Ivanhoé Cambridge representative said that the success of restaurants and retailers and for the shopping centre landlord are directly tied.

“If these guys are around and healthy, so are we,” they said.

“It’s a very difficult environment. This is why we think something like the deal with Lightspeed and other initiatives we have are all the more important because essentially what we’re doing here for our food court partners and restaurant partners, by giving them this POS for one year but also by introducing the delivery capability, is allowing them to use their kitchen as a production facility and really facilitate delivery. A lot of them still don’t have easy access to integrated delivery modules and therefore it’s complicated for them.

“Other things we’re looking at and actually deploying in food is facilitating pick up. We are going to be piloting very shortly at one of our properties with a cut the line service, a pick up service. We’re seeing pick up in restaurants and retail being developed across the board whether it’s curbside pick up, in-store pick up. For the restaurants we’re also going to be doing this.”

Mario Toneguzzi, based in Calgary has 37 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist and editor. He worked for 35 years at the Calgary Herald covering sports, crime, politics, health, city and breaking news, and business. For 12 years as a business writer, his main beats were commercial and residential real estate, retail, small business and general economic news. He nows works on his own as a freelance writer and consultant in communications and media relations/training. Email: mdtoneguzzi@gmail.com

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