Kiosk Solutions Jun-Jul 2017 | Page 54

digital signage "iBeacon directions offered via a mobile phone or clear digital signage that helps someone know where to go or how long a line might be" Erasing friction points Remove obstacles for your customers and make it easy for them to purchase from you. Regardless of whether it is high value goods or repeat purchases, your sales will go up and your customer will love you for it. Shoppers, especially omnichannel- savvy ‘super shoppers,’ expect the in-store experience to be a complete reflection of what they’ve experienced online and on mobile. Almost half (40%) of those who use mobile as their ‘door to store’ expect the retailer to automatically bring up information relevant to their purchase, such as special deals and exactly where to find items. And while they expect to have every option available to find, research, and source products online or on mobile, most shoppers still prefer the in-store experience. In fact, 64% of Generation 54 KIOSK solutions Z shoppers say they would rather buy in-store than online. The point is that a truly frictionless experience allows a shopper to move between mobile, online, and in-store with zero gaps in the look, feel, offerings, personalisation, and level of clarity. This might mean translating an e-commerce site design that proposes items based on the shopper’s past activities and simplifies buying to a single click into an in-store environment where staff offers observant suggestions and the check out process is nearly free of lines. Personalising each interaction Regardless of whether or not your customer is tech savvy or the extent to which they’re using all of your commerce channels, they are hoping for a warm, knowledgeable interaction with an in-store employee. They expect to be informed about products, locations, prices and deals – everything they need to make a confident buying decision. If business intelligence capabilities are integrated into the omnichannel journey, that store employee is much more likely to have the analytics and insights they need to provide the right information. They may already know that this customer has come in to collect a purchase made online. They may have information about special promotions that would be interesting to this person, based on where they are in the store. And with the analytics and information provided via a mobile resource, the staff members are able to meet customers where they are, when needed, with useful information that will compel a buying decision and build a relationship. The value of clarity Continuing along that theme – a recent PwC retail report highlights that 40% of shoppers rate an in-store experience as great if they’ve talked with a member of the staff who can share deep product knowledge. While a team member can be an incredibly valuable source of personalised information and answers, clarity can also be provided through things like iBeacon directions offered via a mobile phone or clear digital signage that helps someone know where to go or how long a line might be. Whatever the format, clear communication is an absolute necessity if you want to enable your potential customers to accomplish what they came into a store to do. Think about it for a moment. A comfortable, easy, personally fulfilling experience is what we all seek, almost regardless of the environment. Retailers that can do that across virtual and physical touchpoints will have the opportunity to deliver remarkable buying experiences time and again. n