Use Cases for Apache Kafka in Retail

The retail industry is completely changing these days. Consequently, traditional players have to disrupt their business to stay competitive. New business models, great customer experience, and automated real-time supply chain processes are mandatory. Event Streaming with Apache Kafka plays a key role in this evolution of re-inventing the retail business. This blog post explores use cases, architectures, and real-world deployments of Apache Kafka including edge, hybrid, and global retail deployments at companies such as Walmart and Target.

(Originally posted on Kai Waehner’s blog: “Apache Kafka in the Retail Industry for Omnichannel, Customer 360, Inventory Management, and Recommendations”… Stay informed about new blog posts by subscribing to my newsletter)

Disruptive Trends in Retail

A few general trends completely change the retail industry:

• Highly competitive market, work to thin margins
• Moving from High Street (brick & mortar) to Online (OnmiChannel)
• Personalized Customer Experience — optimal buyer journey

These trends require retail companies to create new business models, provide a great customer experience, and improve operational efficiencies: