Checkout systems are an area where many of the most noticeable changes in today's retail are being observed. Cashierless stores are being introduced worldwide, and Self-Checkout (SCO) is another rapidly growing technology area that has received a strong boost due to the pandemic.
Changing the Customer Experience
It must be emphasized that technologies like SCO are not an end in themselves. Fashion and specialty stores, especially those with high transaction volumes, are ideal candidates for implementing Self-Checkout. Compared to traditional cashiers, Self-Checkout can increase the number of transactions in a smaller space as individual devices require less space, and customers are more willing to complete a purchase when they don't have to interact with a cashier or stand in a line.
Much of these changes are being driven by a new focus on Customer Experience (CX). Surveys show that more than 70% of retailers are investing in digital technologies to improve the customer experience, while 60% state that they are doing so to provide an excellent customer experience. This reflects the understanding that a satisfied customer is likely to return.
Customer retention and experiences are crucial for standing out from the competition and achieving long-term success. The report "Digital Transformation Trends for Retail 2021" by market research company Data Driven shows that retailers' priorities have dramatically changed in just 12 months. Until recently, revenue and goal achievement were at the top of the list. In the period 2021-22, this is replaced by customer satisfaction, and the importance of stronger customer retention comes directly under the top ten.
The concept of SCO shortens queues but also offers benefits to operators of a local business. In times of labor shortages, SCO can reduce the pressure to constantly hire new personnel, as fewer staff are needed to support SCO. With the potential for lower staff turnover, this concept enables higher operational efficiency.
Simple and Seamless Shopping
Shopping must be simple and straightforward, both in-store and online. The more flexible the offering, the more it is appreciated by customers. Whether they do everything online, everything in-store, or a mix of both, it's about enabling customers and the staff serving them to convert their engagement into sales.
Integrated devices and channels that provide a unified view of all functions and data are key to success. This allows retailers to collect data at every stage to track orders and deliver on time, regardless of changing market conditions and supply shortages. Business logic rules can be applied to ensure consistency and implementation of prices, inventory, and promotions. Efficiency gains in the back office are achieved in areas such as cash management, store operations (financial and transactional data), inventory management, user rights (who can do what and when), connectivity monitoring, management of advertising and business data, and reporting. This also includes centralized management of taxes, expenses, employees, and corporate hierarchies (both for branches and employees).
You can also manage business rules to ensure that the right people are authorized for specific tasks, and even ensure that underage employees, for example, are not deployed for the sale of alcohol.
Solutions for smooth and efficient age verifications in Smartstore for local retail can be found here!
Empower Your Employees for Peak Performance
Thanks to seamless management of ordering and transaction processes, reducing friction losses and ensuring fast order processing, retailers can empower their employees to provide an excellent shopping experience to their customers where it matters most.
The key lies in connectivity. As data is stored in various repositories, you need to ensure that all your devices in all stores and functions benefit from this data and that all authorized employees have secure access to fully integrated ERP, merchandising, ordering, personnel management, CRM, and customer loyalty solutions.
Understanding the Consumer Better
To provide the customer with an optimal shopping experience, SCO must be integrated into the business's IT environment. All habits that the customer knows from the online shop must be transferred to brick-and-mortar retail, with the aim of generating loyalty and repeat purchases by making the retailer part of the customer's "personal ecosystem" which includes home, work, entertainment, leisure, and of course, shopping. Our understanding of digitalization connects all of this.
Even before the pandemic, retailers were continuously investing in digital technologies to provide better service to their customers, increase efficiency, control costs, and enhance employee productivity. And it worked. But the repeated lockdowns have shown how important digital channels are for all aspects of our lives and how demanding customers are. It has become even more important to be part of their personal ecosystem. According to Euromonitor, the pandemic has prompted retailers to redefine their omnichannel approach and digital strategies. Accordingly, investments have increased, and the industry now demonstrates that the top six DX investments are consumer-focused.
The fact that your customers are leading the way and that well over half of all transactions in stores are processed through cashless payment systems is certainly a sign that the time for change has come.
For more information on SCO and Point of Sale, please visit here!:
- https://smartstore.com/de/-smart-pos-optimieren-sie-ihr-geschaeft-mit-einem-smarten-checkout-prozess/
- https://smartstore.com/de/smartphone-scanning-mit-unsere-smart-pwa-loesung-fuer-bessere-geschaeftsergebnisse-im-retail-2/
- https://smartstore.com/de/smart-mpos-mobile-verkaufsstellen-mit-kasse/
- https://smartstore.com/de/smart-checkout-wie-die-rfid-technologie-die-selbstbedienungskassen-revolutioniert/
If you have further questions on this topic or would like to schedule a live demo, we are at your disposal. You can reach us via the contact form, by email at info@smartstore.com, or by phone from Monday to Friday between 10 am and 4 pm at +4923153350.
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Email: info@smartstore.com
Phone: +4923153350
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