Technology is not only changing how customers shop online, but also how they interact with physical stores. In this article, you will learn about some of the most effective ways to use technology in-store to enhance customer experience, increase sales, and gain insights.
One way to use technology in-store is to create interactive displays that allow customers to explore products, features, and benefits in a fun and engaging way. For example, you can use touchscreens, QR codes, augmented reality, or voice assistants to provide information, recommendations, or demonstrations. Interactive displays can also capture customer data, such as preferences, feedback, or behavior, that you can use to personalize your marketing campaigns.
No nos olvidemos de los "beacons", que son dispositivos peque?os y de bajo consumo que utilizan la tecnología Bluetooth para transmitir se?ales a dispositivos móviles, como teléfonos inteligentes o tabletas, dentro de un rango cercano. Estos dispositivos se colocan estratégicamente en tiendas minoristas y otros lugares comerciales para interactuar con los clientes y proporcionarles información relevante o promociones personalizadas (ofertas y promociones personalizadas, información de productos, navegación en la tienda, programas de fidelización, etc.).
Another way to use technology in-store is to offer mobile payments that simplify and speed up the checkout process. Mobile payments can reduce queues, increase convenience, and improve security for customers. You can use NFC, QR codes, or mobile apps to enable customers to pay with their smartphones, smartwatches, or other devices. Mobile payments can also help you collect customer data, such as purchase history, loyalty points, or coupons, that you can use to enhance your customer relationship management.
As the world becomes digitised, so do customers’ preferred shopping methods. In fact, as one of our previous blogs explored how many shoppers, 70% of those studied, carried out their online retailing research first, before going in-store to find and buy their desired item. But when they eventually show up, its best to ease their purchase. Using QR codes and scanner is a sure way to do that
A third way to use technology in-store is to leverage in-store analytics that help you measure and optimize your store performance. In-store analytics can provide you with data on customer traffic, dwell time, conversion rate, or satisfaction. You can use sensors, cameras, or Wi-Fi to track customer movements, behavior, or emotions. In-store analytics can also help you test and improve your store layout, merchandising, or promotions.
Tracking incoming and outgoing stock can be a tedious job in retail and manual methods of stock taking are very prone to mistakes and miscounts, leaving retail owners needlessly stressed and worried. Inventory management has come on a long way thanks to the digital revolution. Investing in a decent inventory management system allows retail managers to easily view and assess stock levels, it can even track and control customer returns and exchanges.
A fourth way to use technology in-store is to integrate your online and offline channels to create a seamless and consistent customer journey. Omnichannel integration can help you connect your website, mobile app, social media, or email with your physical store to provide a unified and personalized customer experience. You can use technology to enable customers to browse, buy, or return products across channels, or to offer them relevant and timely messages or offers based on their online or offline behavior.
A fifth way to use technology in-store is to empower your employees with tools and training that help them serve customers better. Employee empowerment can help you improve customer satisfaction, loyalty, and retention. You can use technology to equip your employees with devices, such as tablets, headsets, or scanners, that allow them to access information, communicate, or process transactions. You can also use technology to provide your employees with training, feedback, or incentives that enhance their skills, motivation, or performance.
A sixth way to use technology in-store is to collect and act on customer feedback that help you improve your products, services, or processes. Customer feedback can help you identify customer needs, expectations, or pain points. You can use technology to solicit customer feedback, such as surveys, ratings, or reviews, through various channels, such as email, SMS, or social media. You can also use technology to analyze customer feedback, such as sentiment analysis, text mining, or natural language processing, to derive insights and actions.
Digital marketing: Many of us now turn straight to our phones when we need to look for relevant products or services in our area. Indeed, Google My Business is one of the most popular directories in the world, and helps millions of people find local businesses every day and according to Google, 76% of people who conducted a local search on their phone visited the business within 24 hours, and 28% of those searches result in a purchase. In this way, cultivating a sleek Google My Business page with plenty of details about your business can do wonders for your retail shop, and make you easily searchable.