In-Store Technology

With 2024 in full swing, the results are in from the 2023 retail peak season, and one thing is clear: digital is embedding itself as the channel of choice for shoppers. According to analysis by Mastercard, in-store sales during Black Friday increased just over 1 percent compared to 2022 figures, whereas digital sales shot up…

Amazon.com is removing “Just Walk Out” technology from its Amazon Fresh stores as part of an effort to revamp the grocery chain. The company’s well-known technology lets customers pay for items without standing in line and sends them receipts afterwards. Amazon says Just Walk Out will now be replaced by smart carts that allow customers…

The modern retail business owner knows these facts: their customers expect an experience that's efficient, effortless, and caters to their preferred way of buying. As consumer shopping habits continue to evolve — expedited in part due to the global pandemic that forever changed how we buy — retail operators must remain at the forefront of…

For many vendors, the holiday sales period can spell the difference between success and failure, providing a boost that can turn around the fortunes of a struggling retailer. Conversely, an inability to capitalize on last quarter sales could be a business’s final death knell. That’s why retailers need to make sure their management processes can…

Retail is changing significantly as new technologies pave the way for future shopping experiences free of friction. With the industry projected to witness exponential growth in artificial intelligence (AI), reaching more than $50 billion by 2030 from just over $6 billion in 2022, this year promises to be a pivotal moment in retail’s digitization. Here…

During the pandemic, it seemed as if shopping had changed forever. With stay-at-home orders and lockdowns across the U.S., consumers had no choice but to shop online. Today, however, the COVID-19 pandemic is largely behind us, and in-store shopping is very much back. According to one survey, 85 percent of retail sales in 2023 are…

Consumers like to shop whenever the need or mood strikes them. Oftentimes, this can be in the middle of doing something completely unrelated. According to a study from IBM and the National Retail Federation, seven in 10 consumers shop in “micro-moments” — i.e., shop simultaneously while conducting their daily tasks. Google defines micro-moments as occurring, “when…

How often have you gone into your favorite retailer's store and opened its app, only to face the dreaded spinning wheel? Customers hate slow-loading loyalty apps — and retailers should, too. Customers use a retailer’s app in-store for several reasons: making a purchase, checking which aisle a product is located, processing a return, or redeeming…

A lot has changed since the pandemic, yet one debate continues to divide retail experts and it involves the uncertain future of brick-and-mortar stores. Pessimists argue that the return on investment is too low, and that the migration to e-commerce is only just beginning. Others believe that in-store shopping serves an experiential purpose, which cannot…

After the pandemic, customers returned to shop in-store. While this is undoubtedly great news for the industry, it does put further pressure on retailers. As a result, retailers must find innovative solutions to mitigate these effects by implementing sufficient brand identification solutions that assist in relieving in-store pressures and maximizing sales. The retail industry is…