Fractional Retail CTO Chief Technology Officer Service

Chief Technology Officer for Ecommerce & ERP-Led Retail

Retail technology challenges rarely sit within a single system. They emerge when ecommerce, stores, ERP, fulfilment and data platforms evolve at different speeds, and no one owns how the full retail tech landscape fits together.

The Fractional Retail CTO Service from Cogent2 provides senior, part time technology leadership for retail businesses operating across stores and ecommerce. This role operates at an executive level, owning technology strategy, system architecture and decision making across the full retail stack, not just one platform.

It is designed for retailers that have outgrown reactive tech support and agency-led decisions, but do not need or want a full-time CTO. The focus is clarity, control and confidence in technology decisions that support retail growth.

Cogent2’s Fractional Retail CTOs work inside the business, partnering closely with founders, CEOs, COOs and leadership teams. Alongside senior leadership, you gain access to a joined-up technical and integration team that can execute, refine and optimise what is defined at a strategic level.

When to hire a Fractional Retail CTO

This service is particularly well suited to retailers that:

• Operate across ecommerce and physical retail

• Run complex technology stacks spanning ERP, POS, ecommerce and fulfilment

• Experience fragmented ownership of retail technology decisions

• Are scaling in volume, geography or channel complexity

• Want senior technology leadership on a part time basis

Hiring a Fractional Retail CTO brings structure, accountability and direction to retail technology.

What the service delivers

Cogent2 Fractional Retail CTOs operate at a senior leadership level with a strong commercial and operational mindset.

This typically includes:

• Acting as a Fractional and Part Time Retail CTO

• Owning retail technology strategy and system architecture

• Defining how ecommerce, stores and operations connect

• Making senior decisions on platforms, integrations and vendors

• Governing change to control risk, cost and complexity

• Acting as a trusted technology advisor to the leadership team

Because Cogent2 combines leadership with execution capability, strategy turns into delivered outcomes.

Retail technology architecture and system strategy

Retail stacks often grow organically and become fragile.

The Fractional Retail CTO Service focuses on:

• Designing a connected, scalable tech ecosystem across channels

• Aligning system design to how the retail business actually operates

• Preventing over-engineering and duplicated functionality

• Improving data flow, visibility and reporting

• Ensuring technology supports future growth

The emphasis is practical architecture, not theoretical roadmaps.

ERP, ecommerce and store systems governance

Retail technology decisions have long-term impact.

Cogent2 Fractional Retail CTOs help by:

• Governing how ERP, POS and ecommerce platforms are used

• Reducing technical debt and unnecessary complexity

• Controlling costs, licences and system sprawl

• Preventing fragile integrations and point-to-point fixes

• Ensuring platforms deliver measurable business value

This keeps retail technology powerful without becoming unstable or expensive.

Integration strategy and oversight

Retail systems only work when they are properly connected.

Cogent2 Fractional Retail CTOs:

• Define integration strategy using iPaaS where appropriate

• Oversee integrations across ERP, ecommerce, POS, WMS and third-party tools

• Ensure clear ownership of data flows

• Improve reliability, performance and scalability

• Reduce operational risk caused by poor integration design

Integration decisions remain aligned to long-term retail goals.

Cross-functional executive leadership

Retail technology touches every department.

Cogent2 Fractional Retail CTOs work closely with:

• Ecommerce and trading teams

• Store operations and merchandising

• Finance and reporting

• Technology and integration specialists

This ensures technology decisions support the entire retail operation.

Programme leadership and risk reduction

Fractional Retail CTOs are often engaged during periods of change.

This can include:

• Leading retail replatforming or ERP change programmes

• Supporting omnichannel transformation

• Stabilising underperforming technology delivery

• Protecting teams during peak trading and change

• Reducing delivery and operational risk

Cogent2’s joined-up delivery capability allows issues to be addressed decisively.

Ongoing advisory and trusted CTO support

Many clients retain this role as an ongoing advisory relationship.

This can include:

• Acting as a sounding board for retail technology decisions

• Reviewing plans before investment is committed

• Supporting hiring and vendor selection

• Helping leadership teams avoid costly retail tech mistakes

This model provides executive-level technology leadership without building a full internal CTO function.

The Cogent2 Difference

Cogent2 works alongside best-in-class retail platforms so our Fractional CTOs can focus entirely on leadership, strategy and execution quality. We do not sell software. We take ownership of how retail technology supports the wider business.

By combining Fractional Retail CTO leadership with a joined-up technical team, Cogent2 removes the gap between retail strategy and real-world delivery.

Lead retail technology with confidence

Retail technology struggles when ownership is unclear.

Hire a Retail CTO from Cogent2 on a Part Time, Fractional basis to bring clarity, control and confidence to your retail technology strategy.