The grand reopening: Are retailers prepared to emerge from lockdown?
After a year under lockdown restrictions, the retail sector will finally be able to open its doors again in April 2021, and this time hopefully it will be for good. After an extended period without revenue coming in, it is paramount that shops are able to hit the ground running. One of the best ways that business owners can prepare is to embrace smart retail technology.
At Distec we have everything you need to elevate your brand and engage with customers using industry-leading smart retail technology that fits right into your business. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways you can ready yourself for the grand reopening:
Safeguard the shopping experience
While the doors are set to fly open in April, there will still be guidelines in place to ensure it is a safe and enjoyable shopping experience. Social distancing and other safety measures will still have to be adhered to, and these could add extra pressure on the retailer and its employees.
However, technology such as smart queuing systems, people counting devices, and digital shelf-edge displays can reduce the onus on staff to manage customers safety. With these in place, manual processes are reduced, customer volumes are managed, and unnecessary physical contact is kept to a minimum. Customers are also more likely to feel safe in an environment that have these steps in place, and safe customers fast become buying customers.
As the sole UK reseller for Starbit’s smart retail solutions, we can help organisations reap the benefits of this innovative technology. You can read more about our partnership here.
Elevate your brand
Interactive technologies such as digital signage players, touchscreens and large displays help you to get and keep your customers’ attention, diversifying your commercial environment and transforming your retail space.
These technologies blur the traditional lines between the consumer and the retailer and create a more reciprocal relationship. Retailers are able to ‘talk’ to customers in real time through interactive displays, giving them an experience that is fine-tuned into what they need. By using digital signage in tandem with real-time data on shopping behaviour, both customer satisfaction and sales can be increased.
Our partner NowSignage offers a seamless experience for retailers with its cloud-based intuitive CMS system. This allows users to upload, schedule and manage content across their screens at the click of a button, giving you the chance to project your brand voice and tap into consumer needs.
Enhance customer experiences
As more pressure is exerted on the high street, customer experience is becoming an essential part of any business strategy for retailers looking to thrive. Technologies such as interactive point of sale solutions, self-service kiosks and endless aisle displays help to provide a positive and reliable experience that customers can enjoy and facilitate dynamic advertising space for the retailer. Interactive point of sale solutions from our partner ELO Touch Solutions can ensure that every touch delivers the experience that your employees need.
Technology is one of the most effective ways that companies can invest in themselves and create a stronger business. It can help them not only enhance efficiency in their processes but also foster a positive and safe customer experience. These two factors will be key as retail opens once again and businesses who invest wisely will be best placed to weather any future storms.
If you would like to know more about our smart retail technology solutions or want to speak to a representative, contact us on our website or use the live chat function in the corner of your screen.