The key to running a successful retail business is by consistently engaging customers - but how do you accomplish that? With major advances in technology, many retailers are turning their attention to digitizing the checkout. While it can enhance the customer experience by making payment easier and integrating loyalty, simply digitizing the checkout isn’t enough to stand out from competitors - and getting customers coming back for more.
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?
Merchants can have a positive impact on the customer checkout experience by providing quick service, implementing a simple interface, offering a variety of payment options and more. In a unique environment like grocery, fulfilling these needs can be challenging - but the most logical way to elevate the commerce experience is to have a complete understanding of current retail trends and how they can help grocers create loyal customers.
Cloud-based POS solutions have been trending upwards over the last two years, with more ISVs offering their small and mid-sized customers an alternative to traditional on-premises, server-based POS systems. While retail ISVs are on the front lines of this evolution, other segments are following suit to meet customer demand. According to Hospitality Technology’s 2018 POS Software Trends Report, 61 percent of merchants said they want their next POS system to be cloud-based.
