Consumers want a seamless buying experience but the reality is a different story which at best gives an experience of pseudo-omnichannel and at worst just leads to disappointment. That is the harsh sentence when Boston Retail Partners delve deeply into the numbers in a report from their “2016 POS/Customer Engagement Benchmarking Survey”.
Do you want to know more about what omnichannel is and entail? Read here and get in-depth answers to questions like What is omnichannel? And how do I create a successful omnichannel strategy?
One of the big challenges is that the sky-high ambitions – 85% of the participants in the survey mention “unified commerce” as a top priority – are not backed up by supporting initiatives. On the contrary, Boston Retail Partners tell, there seems to be a just-get-something-done attitude which can seem tempting at first but can turn out to create challenges in the long run.
A technological platform that supports seamless buying experiences is a prerequisite for success. But technology alone doesn’t do it. Retail chains are facing a transformation that demands both changes in the organization and adjustment of existing processes. Technology can support and strengthen but as with all bigger changes everybody must take part in it.
Boston Retail Partners are arguing that a cohesive commerce platform is the way away from a destructive silo mentality and towards making better use of data and having the customer as the focal point. There is still a long way towards the ultimate customer experience which they mention as the nirvana of retail but the tone is set and the consumers’ behavior and expectations are helping the industry. You can read more in the article “Unified Commerce is the Goal, “Faux” Omnichannel is the reality”.
Start today by taking the temperature of your current foundation and consider your further direction. We have made a checklist where we’re going through five areas you can’t compromise if you want to ensure efficient operation and great customer experiences across all sales channels.
The checklist gives you a quick overview of what you particularly must be aware of when you’re assessing the technological foundation beneath your retail chain. If you’re taking these five parameters into account, you’ll stand stronger, create cohesion and be able to meet the development in a changing market.