It’s strange how technology use changes over time. Take the QR code: It has been around for more than a quarter of a century but is only now starting to become more visible in our lives. What began as a simple tool to help Japanese car makers track their inventory around their factories is now everywhere from ticketing to advertising. Soon it will be in our wallets too.
Over the past decade, self-service solutions of all kinds—from indoor and outdoor kiosks to digital signage, automated smart lockers, and more—have become increasingly common across industries. Think about it. When is the last time you visited a major retailer that didn’t have a self-checkout option, a major city that didn’t incorporate some form of outdoor digital signage, or a quick serve restaurant that didn’t boast some sort of self-service installation? Odds are, it has probably been a while.
Technology is always evolving – new and innovative solutions are increasingly being sought out by businesses who are looking to elevate the commerce experience for their customers. But when faced with different types of available tech, as a merchant, how do you decide what solution to implement in your business? Will it help enhance the customer experience? Will it make the checkout faster? Will it help in improving other efficiencies in my business?
We live in an experience economy and every business is trying hard to emotionally engage with their customers to make their shopping journey a positive one. Today, the market is filled with similar products and services and this pushes customers to pay close attention to the overall experience. How they grade these experiences can determine if they will spend money with that business again.
Think of the last time you went to see your favorite sports team at a stadium -- how much preparation did you need before you went? Did you need to buy a ticket online, print it and remember to bring it? Did you have to keep track of a parking stub to get your car out of the lot? Did you tailgate beforehand to avoid spending the whole game in line at the concession stand rather than in your seat?
