When it comes to shopping, more Americans are skipping the stores using their computer and now pulling out their smartphones and tablets. Still, there's more on the horizon for shopping than just point-and-clicking.
No one thinks physical stores are going away permanently. But because of the frenetic pace of advances in technology and online shopping, stores that survive and prosper will likely offer amenities and services that are more about experiences and less about selling a product. Think: Apple Inc.'s stores complete with Genius Bars.
Among the things technology watchers are predicting are holograms in dressing rooms that will allow shoppers to try on clothes without getting undressed. Their homes will be equipped with smart technology that will order light bulbs before they go dark and orange juice before they run out. Perhaps they'll be able to print out a full version of dinner ware and other physical products using 3-D technology in stores or even at home.
Shoppers just touch their smartphones to a coded tag on the item and then select a color and size on their phone. Technology in the store keeps track of the items, and by the time a shopper is ready to try them on, they're already at the dressing room or checkout, customer’s choice.
Convince and choice are the biggest factors that will be driving this new breed of accommodating technology.
Unlike other retailers that use tablets as displays or payment systems, there is a beauty sample delivery service aimed for a more customer-centric approach. Like browsing online, the iPads in the stores gently nudge shoppers to popular items in a matching or related category. The screen near the skincare products, for example, displays six hand-picked skin-related items and the accompanying reviews from the beauty retailer's website.
Even a store layout can suggests a website. Unlike in Sephora or a department store, products are organized by type, not company. Instead of having an Essie kiosk, all the pink nail polishes from all the different brands are in a bin together, for example. That makes the shopping experience feel a lot more like searching a website, where people tend to browse terms like "blush" rather than the entire offerings of a given beauty brand.
Are you ready for these changes and those in the customer service areas?
SMART Service Desk IT Service Management Software is a great start to creating your very own customer service legends. We know that your satisfied customers will return again and again. Let us help you increase productivity, reduce operations cost and improve customer experience with our ITIL compliant solutions. No matter the size of your business we have your customer retention solutions.
SMART Service Desk
600 West Ray Road
Suite D-3
Chandler Arizona 85225
602-235-0975
info@smartservicedesk.com
http://smartservicedesk.com
No comments:
Post a Comment