How to solve data integrity challenges for frictionless retail stores

This article originally appeared in the August'24 magazine issue of Electronic Specifier Design – see ES's Magazine Archives for more featured publications.

Fast-food chains and supermarkets have introduced automated solutions like ordering kiosks and self-checkout stations, achieving notable success. This technological shift is now evolving further, aiming to operate stores almost entirely through technology, thereby reallocating staff to more productive tasks.

One example is Tesco's trial in central London, where a combination of cameras and weight sensors tracks customer selections, charging them via a mobile app after they leave. This system requires robust, real-time data processing and secure storage to manage customer and stock level information, ensuring availability for dispute resolutions.

Traditionally, retail systems relied on conventional IT hardware, such as rotational hard disk drives, for data storage. However, modern retail operations demand more sophisticated solutions, with data processing increasingly happening at the ‘Edge’ of networks rather than centrally. This shift necessitates distributed storage solutions across various devices, catering to diverse needs from enterprise-scale Cloud storage to compact, low-power options for mobile devices.

The use of high-definition video streams and AI for product identification in stores has made the performance of storage systems crucial. Rotational drives, despite improvements, lag in meeting the requirements of modern, real-time retail applications. Here, NAND flash storage presents a superior alternative, offering faster read/write speeds, higher bandwidth, lower latency, and better reliability due to its solid-state nature.

NAND flash storage is now more affordable and available in various capacities and form factors, suitable for numerous retail applications – from point-of-sale terminals to digital signage. These devices are rugged, temperature tolerant, and customisable, providing a tailored solution that balances cost, performance, ruggedness, and power usage.

Security and data integrity in retail storage

In retail, where customer data security is paramount, NAND storage offers robust protection features. For instance, Silicon Motion's FerriSSD range includes authenticated firmware protection and AES 256-bit encryption, ensuring secure operations and data safety against unauthorised access or firmware tampering.

Data integrity is critical, especially in IoT-driven retail environments that depend on accurate real-time sensor data and long-term customer analytics. The FerriSSD range enhances data protection across the entire data path from device to cloud, with features like error detection, data recovery algorithms, and intelligent firmware that adapts to environmental conditions and usage patterns to optimise performance and extend device longevity.

Additionally, these SSDs support various performance and durability modes (SLC, MLC, TLC), and offer multiple connectivity options (NVMe, PCIe, SATA, PATA), making them adaptable to different retail applications. The Ferri-UFS and Ferri-eMMC families further cater to high-performance and low-power needs, complying with latest standards and offering high reliability in compact, cost-effective designs.

Conclusion

The retail sector is being driven by the need for more efficient, customer-centric solutions. Legacy IT systems no longer suffice in the face of these demands. NAND storage, with its versatility, security, and performance capabilities, is pivotal in supporting the future of retail. Silicon Motion's FerriSSD range exemplifies the flexibility and innovation required to enhance development times, improve performance, and reduce ownership costs, positioning retailers to better manage their operations and provide superior customer experiences.