We wanted to close out a great week at Shop.org with another topic we found threaded throughout the conference and among brands and retailers: How technology is transforming – not replacing – the physical retail experience. I think we’ve firmly settled into the fact that omni-channel business is just business as usual. But is it possible to make that experience even more seamless? Customers seem to think so and we think that small-tech is inching towards a new retail singularity.
NRF found that consumers are most satisfied with technologies that streamline the store experience.
68% Buy online, pick up in store
66% In-app store navigation
65% Mobile payment
We had a lot of fun building and sharing one of our in-store augmented reality concepts this week. In this Everyday Carry concept, shoppers select new items in a store and virtually unite them with the EDC they own, whenever and wherever they want. Concepts like this are clever disruptions but also fun idea starters, and our Shop.org turned into an idea lab for a couple of days as we shared this with the retail community.
AR is getting a lot of buzz, and for good reason. But the consumer data is telling us that this is still a new frontier and somewhat on the periphery. If the glass is half-empty, then it’s risky territory. If the glass is half-full, it’s ripe for growth and differentiation.
NRF asked consumers “Which technologies have you heard of?”
68% Mobile Payment
65% Buy online, pick up in store
52% 3D printing
45% Tablet/Mobile-powered associates
35% In-app store navigation
31% Messaging apps/chat
30% In-store digital displays
27% Visual search
21% Voice search
20% Augmented reality
18% Virtual reality
13% Smart dressing rooms
Our glass is half full! Look for a lot more from us on these technologies and more as we gear up for 2018.
