Retail Two Way Radios – A Quick Guide to Two Way Radio Communication for the Retail Sector

Communication is vital to effective teamwork. But how you keep teams talking depends very much on the type of organisation you are.

In retail, for example, the challenge comes from the fact that teams aren’t operating in static environments. Staff need to be able to move around to serve customers, re-stock shelves etc. There’s a clear separation between the shop floor and stock rooms. And the larger the premises are, the more of a strain there is on team communication.

Communication in a mobile environment requires a mobile solution. And for thousands of retailers up and down the country – indeed, across the world – the go-to mobile comms solution is two-way radio.

MTECH Brentwood Communications has been supplying retail two way radios for half a century. In this article, we explain why radios for retail is such a good match. And we recommend the best two-way radios for retail currently on the market.

Why Two-Way Radio Communication Matters in Retail?

Retail teams often work across multiple departments and floors—stockrooms, tills, fitting rooms, and customer service desks. Mobile phones aren’t always practical for quick communication, while shouting across aisles isn’t professional. Two-way radios offer an instant, efficient, and cost-effective solution for seamless staff communication.

4 Typical Problems that Poor Communication Can Cause in the Retail Sector

To understand why two-way radios have been trusted by so many retailers for so long, let’s start by considering what happens when there isn’t a good level of communication between retail staff. Take away regular dialogue and coordination, and common problems include:

1. Poor customer service: A simple query about stock availability, or a price check at the till, becomes a frustrating wait if staff members have to traipse all the way to the stock room to ask someone, go to check themselves, or wait for messages to be relayed across the shop floor.
2. Decreased productivity: The extra time taken handling queries and issues like this is a huge drain on productivity.
   Staff dissatisfaction: The delays caused by not having an efficient means of communication in place are as frustrating for staff as they are for customers, especially if it leads to complaints and confrontations.
3. Inventory issues: Empty shelves are not just another cause of frustration for customers, they also lead to lost sales. But busy staff may not have the time to address stock running low as and when they spot it. It is, however, something that could be easily resolved by better communication between the shop floor and stock room.
4. Safety and security risks: Finally, poor communication exposes retail workers to security and safety risks. There are a shocking half a million recorded incidents of abuse and violence aimed at retail workers every year in the UK, on top of shoplifting and other criminal acts. Staff report feeling isolated and vulnerable when asked to work alone or away from colleagues, for example at night. Having strong and visible communication links not only reassures and protects staff, they act as an effective deterrent, too.

6 Key Benefits of Two-Way Radios in the Retail Industry

Two-way radios are the ideal solution to the above problems for six good reasons:

1. Team communication made easy

Two-way radios aren’t the only mobile communication option around. But unlike smartphones, they are designed specifically to connect teams. The one-to-many standard broadcast feature, made as simple as can be with an intuitive push-to-talk (PTT) button, is ideal for keeping everybody in the loop and coordinating teams on the move.

2. User-friendly and adaptable

It isn’t just the PTT button that makes two-way radios easy to use. Modern digital models let you program different features so they, too, are activated with a single push. This could be talking to different call groups or individuals, sending pre-programmed messages to save time, alarms or other security features, and more. This makes life so much easier when you are on your feet and have your hands full with other tasks.

And talking about being on your feet, radios are very adaptable in terms of how you carry and use them. Many contemporary models are designed to be ultra-compact and lightweight so they don’t get in the way or become an annoyance on a long shift. They can be attached to belts, lapels or carried in holsters. Most come with headset accessories as standard and can be used ‘hands-free’ with voice activation technology. And there are even radios designed in a headset format.

3. Scalable for stores of any size

Another adaptable feature of two-way radios is how easily you can scale them up and down to suit different-sized premises. For smaller shops, most models can be used ‘back-to-back’ – that is, allowing individual handsets to communicate directly with one another. In larger premises and over larger distances, you can add repeater units to boost signal range and strength. And in very large buildings, for example department stores and shopping centres, you can use IP (internet) connections and software to further increase range, or connect multiple radio networks together.

4. Reliable voice communication

Mobile phone audio is notoriously hit-and-miss and dependent on the quality of signal. Two-way radio is much more reliable over shorter distances and handsets are designed to prioritise high fidelity voice reproduction. They also come with features such as noise cancellation, so you can be sure of getting clear audio even in loud environments. This ensures messages are heard and understood every time, which is important for keeping things running smoothly.

5. Cost-effective

Another advantage radios have over mobile phones is affordability. Compared to high-spec smartphones, two-way radios are a fraction of the price. There’s also a much broader range of price points, from budget-friendly basic voice-only radios to advanced digital models packed full of features. Two-way radios are also more durable and stand up to heavy use for longer, so you get more for your money over time.

6. Increasing security and personal protection

Finally, two-way radios speak directly to concerns over security and staff safety in retail. It’s not just that having an instant mode of communication on you at all times gives you the reassurance of being able to call for help whenever needed. Professional two-way radios often come with bespoke safety and security features as standard, such as one-touch alarm buttons, priority interrupt calling so you can always get through to colleagues in an emergency, and features like Lone Worker for monitoring staff while working alone.

On top of this, radios can be set up to sync with external systems, whether that be telephony connections to raise the alarm with emergency services, premise-wide alarm systems, or radios used by security contractors etc.

Top 4 Recommended Communication Solutions for Retail

So let’s get down to the crux of things. If you’re a retailer looking for the ideal two-way radio to boost communication, what should you go for?

There is a huge choice of products that work great in retail. But here are four stand-outs that we strongly recommend considering.

1. Hytera S1 Mini Radio

The Hytera S1 is an ultra-modern radio designed with convenience in mind. With dimensions of 99 x 30 x 16 mm and weighing just 48g, it’s equivalent in size to a pager but provides one-touch voice communication via an accompanying earpiece and microphone. It’s even got a mini screen that displays battery status and current call channel.

Why we recommend the S1 to retailers: The Hytera S1 Mini Radio is tailor-made for the needs of modern retail. Not only does its tiny size make it easy to carry. It’s also discreet, so you can continue listening to colleague messages via the earpiece while talking to customers. Another benefit is the super low price, helped by the fact that the S1 uses free-to-access PMR446 public radio frequencies – so you don’t need to buy a licence.

MTECH Brentwood is the exclusive distributor of the Hytera S1 in the UK. Get in touch with our sales team to find out more.

2, Motorola CLP446e

The Motorola CLP446e is very much in the same mold as the Hytera S1. Ultra-compact, versatile, licence-free and affordable, it delivers most of the same benefits to retailers. The differences are mainly cosmetic. While slightly smaller in its dimensions, the CLP446e is about twice the weight of the S1 – although, clocking in at under 100g still, it makes little difference to portability and convenience. The CLP446e also has a magnetic clip that makes it easier to mount wherever you want. It also has longer battery life (20 hours max versus 18 hours), but lower maximum power output (0.5W vs 1W).

Why we recommend the CLP446e to retailers: See everything we wrote about the Hytera S1. The Motorola CLP446e is a little more expensive but still very affordable. And it shares the same core features and performance benefits, right down to its discreet operation via a headset.

3. VoCoVo

VoCoVo is one of the most innovative retail comms solutions on the market. It offers a suite of products built around wireless radio headsets – no handsets to carry, no wires, just radio-enabled earpieces and microphones for the ultimate in convenient communication on the move. Solutions include:

• VoCoVo Link, a plug-and-play option for small teams, with up to eight headsets connected ‘back-to-back’;
• VoVoVo Go, which connects up to 29 headsets via a base station;
• VoCoVo Enterprise, a premium solution for large teams which includes customer call pads and telephone integration, so staff can answer external calls and respond to customer requests from anywhere in a store.

Why we recommend VoCoVo to retailers: VoCoVo is purpose-built to meet the needs of customer-facing teams, so it’s a perfect match for retailers. With PTT buttons and completely wire-free, VoCoVo headsets provide the ultimate in hands-free convenience and discreet use for staff who are on the move throughout their shifts. Other benefits include exceptional battery life (up to 48 hours per headset) and rapid charging times.

4. Motorola R2

Finally, for a ‘classic’ two-way radio option, the Motorola R2 is an outstanding general-purpose two-way radio. Building on the long tradition of Motorola’s MOTOTRBO digital range, the R2 is described by the company as a ‘next-level workhorse’. It combines the simplicity and usability of a traditional walkie-talkie with some of Motorola’s industry-leading advanced technologies – noise cancellation, optimised signal range, enhanced battery life and more.

Why we recommend the R2 to retailers: The R2 is hard to beat for solid all-round performance at a reasonable price. The classic walkie-talkie design means it’s easy to use straight out of the box. It’s built to last, passing five years of field use in testing, so it will stand up to the rigours of daily use in retail.

FAQs

Are walkie talkies better than mobile phones for retail?

Yes, two-way radios are better than mobile phones for use in retail for several reasons. With their push-to-talk (PTT) buttons, one-to-many instant broadcasting and pre-programmable call groups and other features, walkie talkies are much better suited for team communication than phones. They are also easier to use, more durable and have more reliable connectivity indoors. Another benefit is that two-way radios come in a wider range of user-friendly form factors, including ultra-compact, lightweight models for easy carrying, and headset radios that provide hands-free use on the move.

Should I choose digital or analogue two way radios for retail stores?

Whether you choose digital or analogue radios for your shop depends on the size of your premises and what sort of added-value features you want. For smaller stores where your priority is simple voice communication, analogue radios should work fine. They are also cheaper. Digital radios have better signal range and better audio even at the margins of that range, so they are a safer choice for larger, multi-level stores or shopping centres. They also tend to come with more features, be that extra communication options, safety features, or the ability to integrate with other digital systems.

Can walkie talkies cover large shopping centres?

Yes, two-way radios provide ample signal coverage over even the largest shopping centres, There are various options for increasing two-way radio range to cover larger areas, from choosing digital models to deploying repeater units and antennas to boost transmission and reception.