Brick-and-mortar retailers are trying to rapidly embrace digital technologies amid the pandemic
4 technologies that facilitated reopening for retailers. Source: shutterstock.com
GlobalData states that increased e-commerce competition, reduced foot traffic, and low consumer confidence, create the need to build digital capabilities among the retailers.
According to research, American retailer Kroger has deployed QueVision technology that monitors customer footfall and activity inside its stores. This way, the company aims to curb the spread of COVID-19. The system counts the total number of shoppers entering and exiting the store using IoT-embedded cameras. When the shop reaches 50% of its capacity, the system alerts operators to open additional checkout windows thus speeding up the process.
Besides, Asda has launched a virtual queuing initiative that allows shoppers to register into a virtual queue on their smartphone and wait until their turn. They can check the waiting time and choose a convenient store.
At the same time, Decathlon has introduced a mobile self-checkout solution across stores in Germany. Shoppers can scan the products’ barcode with their smartphone to get full product details along with offers or promotions and checkout with an app. After the purchasing, the radio-frequency identification tag on the product is disabled, enabling the customer to exit the store.
Along with that, Lidl Ireland has rolled out a WhatsApp-based chatbot that helps shoppers search the least busy time for shopping at its stores. Customers can use WhatsApp to text about the time and day they want to visit a store. The chatbot uses real-time shoppers’ data gathered from the retailer’s local stores to provide an ideal time to shop.
We’ve reported that 38% of Brits abandon a purchase at least once a week, whereas 21% claim to do so more regularly.
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