The world of retail is notoriously “deskless,” meaning retail workers are constantly up on their feet, managing the floor and POS systems, restocking products, fulfilling orders, and selling to and supporting customers. Fortunately, technology has stepped in to streamline this work, creating better working conditions for employees and an improved customer experience. Here’s a look at what’s happening in the present and future world of shopping in a store—and how mobile workstations can help.
Why In-Store Technology Has Become a Necessity
Your retail business won’t survive for long. It’s a fact that e-commerce has driven many retail establishments out of business, but there is still a segment of the population that prefers to shop in physical stores. There are also some items, like groceries and home improvement products, that simply sell better in brick-and-mortar stores.
Whether you run a small local gift shop or manage a major retail chain, it’s going to be challenging to find success in today’s market without leveraging technology. Here are several reasons why in-store technology has become essential in retail:
1. Consumers have become more impatient.
Now that people can get same-day and next-day delivery of items via websites like Amazon, there is little patience left for standing in lines or waiting around for assistance in a retail store. Shoppers want to be able to find and pay for their products as quickly and efficiently as possible.
2. Consumers are more informed.
It seems like just about everyone is using online devices like smartphones today to research products before they ever leave their homes. Many consumers also check prices and reviews of products while in stores before making purchasing decisions.
3. Consumers are more engaged.
Many consumers choose to go to retail stores so they can have a more interactive and engaging experience than what they would get online. At the same time, technology can elevate this by delivering a more personalized and enjoyable shopping experience.
4. Employees have more options.
While you can automate many functions with technology, you still need human workers in your retail stores. After all, it is meant to be an experience where people can connect with another human being if they want or need to. However, workers still have plenty of options and won’t choose to work at retail establishments stuck in the dark ages of archaic checkout processes or manual inventory procedures.
5. Supply chain visibility is a must.
If sellers of products have learned anything over the past four years, it’s that having visibility throughout the supply chain is a must. Without it, stores can’t guarantee proper inventory levels to provide a great customer experience.
8 Ways Technology is Changing How We Shop In-Store
Technology has become a vital ally for retailers, transforming the way they operate their businesses and engage with customers. Here are many ways technology solutions are changing the way we shop in brick-and-mortar stores:
1. Optimized Store Layouts
Technology like analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) has enabled retailers to analyze customer movement in stores, allowing them to create optimized layouts for better engagement. By leveraging foot traffic data and heat maps, businesses can also strategically position different store displays and products to enhance the customer experience.
2. Better Inventory Management
Retail tech is transforming inventory management with the help of technology solutions like RFID tags and mobile powered carts. Instead of having employees count items by hand, which can lead to errors, RFID tags can be read instantly as products move through the store. Employees can keep track of items in real time using mobile powered carts, which can prevent stockouts and overstocking.
3. Personalized Customer Experiences
Recent advancements in technology have made the retail shopping experience more engaging for consumers because it is more personalized. Using artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, retailers can gather data about consumer preferences and past activities to deliver a more tailored experience in the store.
4. Augmented Reality (AR) in Retail
Augmented reality (AR) is a type of technology that has the potential to revolutionize how customers shop for products in physical stores and virtual spaces. This is because it combines the two. While in a store, a person using AR can virtually try on clothing or accessories or explore other colors in a “smart fitting room.”
5. Virtual Reality (VR) Showrooms
Along with AR technology, virtual reality (VR) is also being used in retail stores to deliver a more exciting and engaging customer experience. Using VR goggles, customers can enter a digital showroom to view and “test” products in a digital space. This is being used for everything from electronics to cars to real estate.
6. Price Aggregators and Price Monitoring
Another way AI is being used in the retail industry is to monitor industry pricing so stores can become more competitive. Since consumers are increasingly checking prices via their smartphones while in stores, having the most updated prices for products is the best way to remain competitive.
7. Streamlined Checkout Processes
Because consumers are no longer content to wait in long queues to pay for retail purchases, retailers have addressed these concerns using a few different technology solutions. Many stores now have self-checkout lanes, which are meant to speed up the process. Others have mobile retail carts throughout the store, where employees can help customers checkout in various places. Finally, some retailers allow customers to simply walk out with products, and RFID tags will register the sale on the customer’s account.
8. Buy-Online Pickup In-Store (BOPIS)
Many consumers have discovered the joy of combining their online and in-store shopping. One of the most popular innovations is Buy-Online Pickup In-Store, where customers can shop from the comfort of their homes, view what items are available for local pickup, and then drive to a local retailer to have the items ready in the store or loaded into their vehicles.
If your business involves retail sales, it’s worth exploring the various technology solutions available that can make your business more productive and efficient. Artificial intelligence is affecting personalization and inventory management, stores are making noteworthy advancements in self-checkout systems, customers are relying heavily on buy-online-pick-up-in-store (BOPIS) models, and some retailers are even implementing tech-based in-store navigation systems. And don’t forget mobile workstations that can streamline many of your business’s operations.
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