Running a retail or hospitality business today isn’t easy. Customers expect personalized experiences; teams need real-time visibility, and expansion plans often stall because of fragmented systems and disconnected software.
To understand how modern operators are overcoming these challenges, we spoke with Sigurdur Ari Sigurjonsson, Vice President of Strategic Accounts at LS Retail. With years of experience helping enterprise retailers and hospitality operators modernize their technology, he has seen firsthand how replacing many separate systems with a single platform can simplify operations, reduce costs, and make it easier to scale.
Here’s what he had to say:
Q: Why are so many businesses rethinking their technology today?
A: “Too many businesses are still juggling a bunch of disconnected systems—POS, inventory, loyalty programs, accounting, reporting—you name it. In global organizations, it’s not unusual to see different POS systems across regions, a separate system for accounting, loyalty handled outside the stores and eCommerce, and in some cases even manual inventory processes in certain locations. Keeping all of that running is expensive and time-consuming, and it makes it really hard to scale or deliver a consistent, personalized experience to customers.”
Q: What’s the real cost of sticking with old, fragmented systems?
A: “Honestly, it surprises a lot of people. A lot of the cost comes from just keeping these old systems alive—patching gaps, building workarounds, and relying on specialized staff who know how to make it all run. Multiply that across multiple platforms, and you’re burning budget every day. On top of that, fragmented systems create risk, like security holes, messy reconciliations between POS and ERP, inconsistent promotions, and poor inventory visibility. It slows everyone down.”
Q: How does a modular platform simplify a business’ technology stack?
A: “A modular platform lets businesses run their core operations—including sales, inventory, loyalty, reporting, financials—all on the same platform. The real advantage is flexibility. Companies can start with the capabilities they need today and then add more as they grow or as their requirements change. Because everything is built to work together from the start, they don’t have to worry about stitching together multiple disconnected systems that add complexity over time. That’s really what modular is about.”
Q: Can you give an example of how modular architecture works in practice?
A: “Sure. We see this a lot with grocery chains expanding their in-store food offerings, for example. They might start with core POS and inventory management across all their stores. Later, they add cafés selling hot dishes, sandwiches, and drinks, so they layer on kitchen management, recipe tracking, and automated replenishment. Then maybe they introduce self-checkout lanes. With a modular platform, all these features can be added easily because they’re designed to work seamlessly with the system already in place.”
Q: Why is LS Central a good fit for businesses looking to simplify their technology stack?
A: “For retailers and hospitality operators looking to simplify their technology and scale, platforms like LS Central provide a strong foundation. Everything works together within a single database, giving businesses the flexibility to grow while keeping data and operations connected across locations.
LS Central supports businesses in 157 countries, with localizations for language, currency, tax, and compliance. Updates or regional configurations can be rolled out across markets in a matter of weeks, allowing companies to maintain consistent operations globally while still adapting to local needs, whether that means supporting multiple brands, franchise models, or region-specific regulations.”
Q: What if a business already has an existing ERP—can LS Central integrate with it?
A: “LS Central integrates natively with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central but is also designed to work with major ERPs like SAP S/4 HANA, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&SCM through our CentralConnect integration. That means businesses can leverage their existing ERP systems while still taking advantage of LS Central’s retail and hospitality capabilities. It avoids costly custom integrations and keeps data consistent across locations.”
Q: How easy is it to scale?
A: “Scaling is actually straightforward. LS Central can handle everything from 10 stores to 10,000. The cloud-based system standardizes processes, so adding a new location doesn’t mean re-architecting your technology. And POS terminals can even work offline, so you don’t lose sales during network outages, which is also critical for high-volume operations.”
Q: How flexible is LS Central with payments and other third-party tools?
A: “It works on pretty much any hardware—registers, tablets, smartphones. LS Pay, our secure EFT software, lets retailers work with their preferred payment service providers while staying PCI-compliant. And the open APIs means you can easily integrate to loyalty platforms, CRM, or warehouse tools. Businesses can create a highly customized setup without losing control over their data.”
Q: What kind of benefits do businesses see after switching to a platform like LS Central?
A: “The biggest difference is that every team—across all stores, brands, and regions—is working from the same data. Everything updates in real time, so HQ always has accurate performance insights and can make smarter decisions faster. You also get less stress on IT because updates, compliance, and security are handled in the cloud and within the same platform.”
Q: How does AI fit into this?
A: “LS Central works seamlessly with Microsoft’s AI tools, including Copilot. With Copilot enabled within the platform, employees can ask the system questions naturally, like "Where’s this product?" —instead of navigating menus. Analytics tools like Microsoft Fabric can run automatically to spot trends or customer patterns. And with third-party computer-vision integrations, AI can even help detect potential theft in real time at checkout.”
Q: Bottom line: why should retail and hospitality businesses consider LS Central?
A: “Old, siloed systems just can’t keep up with modern retail and hospitality expectations. LS Central gives businesses a single platform designed specifically for their industry, while still being flexible enough to grow with them. Retailers and hospitality operators can integrate to their preferred ERP, payment service providers, hardware, eCommerce platforms, or loyalty solutions without having to rip and replace existing systems. This reduces complexity, makes scaling easier, and helps businesses deliver better experiences for customers.”
Curious to know more about how LS Central can help you grow your retail or hospitality operations and reduce complexity? Contact our experts to learn more.
Meet our expert
Sigurdur Ari Sigurjonsson (Siggi Ari) has dedicated over two decades to LS Retail, initially focusing on licensing before transitioning towards the commercial aspects of the business. Presently, Siggi concentrates on enhancing value for LS Retail's Strategic Accounts, ensuring their vision aligns with LS Retail's objectives and contributing to the growth of LS Central. He leads a team responsible for account management, supporting sales efforts through RFI and RFP responses, providing architectural guidance, and facilitating connections with Microsoft.
