In modern times, thinking retail without technology is unimaginable. Entrepreneurs keep adding new dimensions to their strategy to raise customer expectations to a new level. However, one should be aware of some facts to decide what suits them best.
Unsurprisingly, retailers add various techniques to enhance holiday sales customer experience strategies as they have gone through unforeseen experiences. Coping with significant disruptions amidst Covid-19 helps in dealing with merchants through a digital medium for contactless transactions.
So, if you’re looking for retail software development companies, it gives significant advantages. So what are you looking for? Join hands with leading names in the business.
1.Contactless Mobile Payments
Countries like India, where transactions in cash were prevalent, have been relatively slow to adopt mobile payments than regions leapfrogged into cashless transactions.
The pandemic has helped people and motivated consumers to boost their contactless payment methods by maintaining physical contact with payment terminals and touch.
More than 51 percent of US consumers are now are progressively using contactless payment while tapping credit cards and mobile wallets Apple The pandemic has Apply Pay, Mastercard in the survey. More than 51 percent of consumers use cashless often or not since the pandemic onset of a pandemic.
As the pandemic has resurfaced, people concerned about personal safety in stores, Walmart added contactless payments within its mobile app this year. Simultaneously, CVS Pharmacy upgraded its checkout experience to include touch-free service from PayPal and Venmo.
2.Virtual Experience To Supplement In-Store Activities
The pandemic has almost throttled on in-store experimental marketing efforts allowing retailers to experience a digital experience by including augmented reality(AR) content, video games, and live-streamed programming. The current climate announced almost 160 years flagship store in New York City since offering kids and giving a chance to meet Santa-Claus in person.
Since 200,000 kids go to the store for a chance to meet Santa in a month-long period before Christmas. So isn’t it amazing?
The experience will guide kids to get parental permission for creating a virtual journey in the North Pole. And include a look at Santa’s Village and Workshop and interactive games along the way. The trip ends with a chance to share holiday wish lists with Santa in an interactive video and snap a selfie with him.
Bloomingdale is also planning to host an online event to showcase gifts and raise money for charity. Besides BOPIS and BOPAC services, similar delivery from DoorDash will be available during the holiday season on orders placed before a cutoff time.
Various brands state a virtual experience while being engaged in home-bound consumers on mobile devices. That’s why e-Commerce development solutions with other brands also create virtual experiences to engage home-bound consumers on their mobile devices.
3. Fixing Online appointments For Cloud
For an extended period, retailers have long been wanting foot traffic in brick-and-mortar stores since the outbreak has forced many to harness technology advantages to manage crowds.
Retailers for long have traditionally wanted foot traffic in brick- and--mortar stores. Since the outbreak began, custom e-Commerce software development company force them to think about using technology to manage crowds since overcrowding caused them to harness the advantages of technology.
As retailers traditionally have wanted foot traffic in their brick-and-mortar stores, the pandemic has forced them to think about ways to use technology to help manage crowds.
As per research, it tells guests since they want to celebrate all seasons/holidays while acknowledging things that will be different in the new set of the environment as per Brian Cornell, CEO & Chairman of Target, in a quarterly call.
They last month unveiled the latest line of iPhones later than usual because of pandemic-related delays in production and urged people to make appointments before visiting its stores. In anticipation of the demand for new products, the company began opening “Express” stores to alleviate congestion. The pop-up stores are built in front of stores and have plexiglass partitions to protect customers visiting these sales counters stocked with accessories like phone cases and AirPods.
4. Chatbots Gaining Greater Acceptance
Retailers are beneficial when it comes to improving customer service while saving on labor costs. For years, chatbots have been drawing flak for limited answers for raisin to raise questions, e-Commerce, and advancements in artificial intelligence(AI) and natural language processing (NLP) technologies.
Fast-fashion retailer H&M, which first introduced a chatbot in 2016, this year expanded its efforts by integrating a virtual assistant and live chat service with Google Search and Google Maps. As a result, customers can find e-Commerce software solutions to help to store hours, locations, and item availability questions.
The integration helps H&M provide an extensive range of customer support to online shoppers who are likely to visit stores. By all, consumers these it’ll be more likely to shop online during pandemic times. Chatbots execute and perform various tasks by easing pressure on customer service representatives(CSRs) and gathering essential information from consumers.
According to a survey by LivePerson, 70 % of consumers trust chatbots and takedown name and address information, while 76 percent said they trust products, a developer of conversational AI technology.
In developing a chatbot, retailers manage consumer expectations about the technology and current limitations to avoid disappointing customers.
The bots can g ahead upfront and tell users what it is to do rather than say something. How does the company help? Chatbots should be considered for minor purposes. They need to state upfront and tell users what is to do rather than say. How could one help? The open-ending questions put great demands on the bot.
5. Seamless Integration of click and mortar
Retailers have steadily been giving customers multiple ways to shop for years, be it through brick-and-mortar stores, websites, or mobile apps--- but the pandemic is acting as a significant catalyst for seamless integration of sales channels.
By taking a no. of steps, you can take various measures to mitigate customer friction and financial impact,” According to the chairman and CEO of department store chain Macy’s in the quarterly conference call. When you optimize inventory placement to wherever and however they shop.”
Suppose you're looking to hire eCommerce developers in India, in that case, they include in-store shopping and endless aisle services, but buy online, pickup in-store (BOPIS) (BOSS) pickup at curbside (BOPAC), and “I can wait” delivery, he said. Macy’s also has “vendor direct” sales from its website by expanding merchandise assortment for home delivery or store pickup.
Retailers buy online, pick up in-store fulfillment options, and strive for benefits from this offering during the 2020 holiday shopping seasons.
From April to May this year's, the pandemic first hit, BOPIS grew 120 percent YoY.
During the last holiday season, BOPIS orders growth reached 22 percent by online methods. As per Adobe, expect to say this holiday season that BOPIS and get 40 percent YOY growth.
Let’s talk about the benefits of Technology in Retail in Covid-19 times :
Indeed, the Covid-19 phase has challenged the Retail industry, but the retail sector has open avenues of opportunities in the retail sector. Still, technology has been phenomenal in progress and improvement over time between 2020 and 2021. It has tools like Machine Learning, Data Science, Computer vision, augmented reality, and more technologies that have proven that it’ll generate equal opportunities than before.
Improves Production Facilities:
Technology has been phenomenal in real-time tracking and getting information for work facilities. Since manufacturers can invest in constant improvement in labor standards. It is something consumers care about that motivates you to do the right thing.Social Media Makes Marketing Easy
Using the social media platform looks fascinating but not easy in execution though. One can share high-quality content helpful for setting the business apart and using social media platforms to help share promo codes, information about special events, and pics that’ll help generate business.
Paperless Transactions Help
Many consumers prefer a digital receipt instead of using the digital one. You can always care bout the environment that helps support- eco-friendly not only save money but helps organize files much more effectively.
Technology Makes Store Energy Efficient
Smart thermostats, sensors, and LED lights will play a key role in making significant investments. As per the reports by Mckinsey & Company, one could show that utilities consume 10 percent of total operating costs for retail stores. Hence, it gives you a significant and reduces dependence on technology.
- Virtual Reality Is The Future
The majority of retail stores could afford retail stores, but VR will hold the key when making progress in the industry. Maybe this is not something that most retail stores can afford, but VR is less in the industry. Shoppers are always looking for an e-commerce development solution. They give unique ways to shop. You can keep trying on items, saves them time, and makes the experience more fun.
- Technology Makes Forecasting Possible
The nature of retail is such that it can’t work without forecasting. It’ll help figure out what shoppers want and your future trends. This way, you could effectively plan the supply chain. Both ways' technology in eCommerce development solution will facilitate forecasting and supplying processes.
Summary:
Using technologies will go a long way ahead when augmenting retail using 5 technologies and exploring facts to make substantial gains.
So not only about technology but how technology is implemented. The best thing about this is to explore key advantages and harness them to maximum effect; retail software development companies play a vital role that’ll help ramp up the sales channel. Hence, this is quite helpful in exploring facts.