Partner Article

How technology will change retail come 2021

New research from Zebra Technologies shows how technology will simplify, enliven and customize shopper experiences by 2021.

Key findings include:

75% of firms are looking into technology that will analyse a customer’s in-store movements. For example, offering a customer an offer if they are lingering in a certain area, or dispatching a store assistant to serve them. This tech can also help retailers improve their merchandising decisions
By 2021, 77% of firms will know when specific customers are in-store and will be able to customise their visit on arrival
By 2021, 25% of firms plan to give staff mobile point-of-sale devices to allow payment from anywhere in the store, reducing queues.
77% of firms plan to use ‘real-time visibility’ in their supply chain, to greatly reduce the risk of items being out of stock
92% of firms will offer customers ‘buy online, collect in-store’ services. 79% are exploring offering collection from train stations and in-store lockers
78% of firms believe that integrating e-commerce and in-store experience is “important” or “business critical”

Mark Thomson, Retail and Hospitality Director, EMEA, Zebra says “every inch of the retail industry is changing, from the aisles of the warehouse to the shelves of the store, and retailers are driving this change in a race to better serve customers. The 2017 Retail Vision Study demonstrates that retailers are poised to meet and exceed customer expectations with new levels of personalization, speed and convenience. Zebra is committed to help retailers survive – and thrive – in this changing landscape by providing products and solutions that enable a successful omnichannel strategy with greater insights and visibility into store operations, associates, inventory and shipments.”

The research was carried out by Zebra Technologies, a global technology company specializing in retail. The research is part of its 2017 Retail Vision study.

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