The world of retail has changed significantly in recent years. The biggest influence has probably been digital change and the ever-growing e-commerce. But although online shopping undoubtedly plays an increasingly important role today, there is still a demand for traditional brick-and-mortar retail that should not be underestimated .
So what will be important in the future and what challenges do retailers have to expect? In this article, we will show you which theses and trends will concern retailers in the future.
What does the future of retail look like?
The future of retail lies in the merging of online and offline experiences. Retailers are focusing on creating seamless and integrated shopping experiences, netherlands email list regardless of where the transaction takes place.
The future of retail: online, offline or hybrid?
The general consensus among experts is that the way consumers shop has changed. A shift towards e-commerce is taking place. This statement is often accompanied by the assumption that brick-and-mortar retail cannot keep up with the power of online retail.
But it is not quite that simple!
The last few years, the impact of influencer marketing on your business and especially the Corona crisis, have caused problems for many retailers. During the pandemic, many traditional retailers announced closures. On the other hand, certain sectors such as organic markets or food retailers are constantly opening new branches.
So, even though there is a lot to suggest that the future of retail is not just online. Brick-and-mortar retail offers numerous advantages that are difficult to implement in the digital space. That is why many customers are still drawn to stores for good reasons. Among other things, they value the opportunity to look at, colombia business directory touch and test products before making a purchase decision. In addition, they are more pleased with a product if they can own it immediately, rather than having to wait for delivery and pay for shipping.
This statistic from Statista also shows that retail cannot be completely replaced by the Internet. Retail in Germany has been able to continuously increase its sales in recent years.
What do customers want in the future?
The desire for a stationary offer also became clear after the Corona crisis. Many people have returned to the shopping streets and shops – they long for normality and strolling through the city centers.
Nevertheless, it is clear that the world of consumption has changed. Consumer behavior and expectations have changed in recent years due to increased online shopping and food deliveries. They have become accustomed to this convenience and most will not give it up.
It is also important to mention here that the Internet is the “new” starting point for a large proportion of local purchases. This is particularly evident in data from Google Trends, which show that local searches (“nearby”) have seen a strong increase.
A consistent customer experience will therefore be of great importance for customers in the future. For many consumers, it is important that sales staff in the store can respond to their personal preferences and needs and that they can rely on advice. Companies that fail to do this run the risk of losing customers in the long term. The Internet makes it much easier for customers to switch to the competition.
Despite this obvious demand for a consistent buying experience, few B2C companies are currently able to serve their customers on every sales channel.
This unified shopping experience, known as omnichannel retailing, can also help your company achieve satisfied and loyal customers – you just need the right tool.
The solution is a unified platform.
To gain loyal customers, you need a central, comprehensive solution that unites all business areas.
Find out why Shopify is the right solution for your omnichannel strategy in this blog post.