Supply chain problems, high energy prices, consumer reluctance, online competition: brick-and-mortar retailers are currently facing many challenges. But change also offers many opportunities. Digitalization is revolutionizing the shopping experience. Not only are analog processes being transferred to the digital realm, but new digital advantages are also being created for customers. Innovative retailers are doing pioneering work and benefiting from the many opportunities. They are focusing on digitalization, unconventional ideas, and completely new service promises. In this article, you will learn which measures you should implement now.
Visitor frequency measurement
Retailers can use innovative technologies to track visitor flows in their sales areas. This includes quantities for different periods and times, as well as demographic data such as age and gender. Visitor frequency can be measured for the entire store or for individual floors, departments, or special sales areas. With knowledge of visitor numbers, detailed historical analyses can be carried out, which can be used to optimize store operations.
Self-Checkout
More and more customers want to scan goods and pay for them themselves in order to avoid unnecessary waiting times. Nowadays, manual monitoring still requires a relatively large number of staff. But cameras and sensors, in combination with AI, are capable of detecting shoplifting at self-checkouts. This is because if irregularities or problems occur when scanning goods, staff are automatically notified if necessary.
Analysis of route paths
Retailers use walkway analysis to identify which routes are heavily frequented and which are less popular. They can also identify spatial and temporal hotspots in the sales area. This enables effective management of staff deployment. Identifying low-traffic areas can also be used for further enhancement and optimization. Retailers can place cross-selling items or particularly high-margin goods along high-traffic routes.
Smart changing rooms
Fashion retailers in particular can use innovative ideas to convince customers to buy their clothes offline. For example, digital fitting rooms allow customers to try on clothes virtually. Customers can view alternative or combinable items of clothing virtually without having to try them on themselves. In addition, customers can obtain further product information and personalized recommendations in a smart fitting room.
Queue Management
With digital queue management, retailers can reduce waiting times for customers. If a self-defined queue length is exceeded, additional staff are automatically alerted in real time. In addition, queue management can ensure that staff deployment in the checkout area is optimized in advance by analyzing visitor numbers and dwell times, so that queues do not arise in the first place. This prevents abandoned purchases and dissatisfied customers.
Contactless payment
Customers increasingly want flexible payment options. Accepting cash and various cards alone is no longer sufficient. This is because customers want to complete the payment process as quickly as possible. Retailers must create the technical conditions for contactless payment with smartphones. Customers then spend less time in queues, can view payment transactions online, and are more satisfied overall.
Digital price tags
Manual pricing on goods or shelves will soon be a thing of the past. Digital pricing systems enable centralized control of price labeling. This greatly reduces the amount of work required for price labeling and price adjustments by staff. Flexible and short-term price adjustments to changing market conditions are also easier with digital price tags.
Smart shopping carts
Smart shopping carts go one step further than self-checkout. Although they are still a bit of a pipe dream, smart shopping carts could become a reality sooner than many retailers think. With the help of cameras and built-in scales, smart shopping carts recognize the products placed in them and their corresponding prices. When leaving the store, no separate payment process is necessary. Instead, the total price is debited from the customer's account contactlessly.
Gradually implement measures for digitalization
The challenges facing the retail sector offer great potential for implementing innovative ideas and digital technologies. Improved customer engagement, faster purchasing processes, more accurate customer analysis, and stronger customer loyalty are important advantages. By gradually implementing digitalization measures, retailers can strengthen their competitiveness. There are significant differences between retail segments, target groups, and shopping situations. Depending on the store, very different technology solutions may be necessary. We would be happy to advise you on which customized technology solutions are right for you.
Are you ready for the adventure of digital transformation and retail analytics?
Let us turn your vision into reality. Contact us today to get your brand started on the path to data-driven management of your visitor areas.
Crosscan Data Insights Blog
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