Why set the way-back machine to 1996 and the lowly CueCat? Up until the pandemic, you wouldn’t have bought the idea of QR codes, given their cross-device issues, multiple apps needed and everyone asking, “What is it?” While necessity might have forced adoption, QR codes deliver convergence simply, without cute plastic devices.
Even as consumers return to physical stores and discover newfound enthusiasm for in-person shopping, ecommerce will continue to grow. But several major aspects of doing business have changed for ecommerce brands – customer, competition and operations. To stay competitive, become attuned to what these mean.
Supply chain standards body GS1 has released a readiness test kit to help retailers, brands and manufacturers and solution providers prepare for a 2027 transition to data-rich 2D barcodes. While some retailers have balked at the transition cost of upgrading POS hardware and software, GSI said most are onboard with the program.
Retailers are constantly being told to innovate and offer the latest and greatest tech in their stores whenever possible. While retail technology can move the needle on critical KPIs, change can also intimidate customers who are hesitant to try new technology. So how do you satisfy tech progressives and traditional shoppers?
Consumers are bringing their spending back to offline retailers in 2021, and a now a retail revival, and a likely boost to in-person retail, has already begun. Here are four key technology trends that your brick-and-mortar store can use to accelerate customer engagement in the coming consumer wave.
A little over 50 years ago, retail leaders came together and transformed the global economy forever by developing the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), a numerical code uniquely identifying every single product and the core of the barcode. Here’s a bit of the history of the barcode, and where the technology is going.
Whether we see a reduction of the pandemic in 2021 (hold breath here), the retail landscape has been forever changed and omnichannel is locked in. How will retailers continue to adapt in a very challenging environment? We talked to Dave Cesaro, executive director of client strategy at Valassis, to get his thoughts on what to expect.
After parting ways with Amazon last year, FedEx is now jumping deeper into ecommerce returns, much as Amazon did with Kohl’s, by adding Happy Returns bars to 2,000+ FedEx locations, including 300 inside Walmart stores. Unboxed returns will be accepted from 150 different retailers when the program launches at the end of October.
The pandemic dramatically accelerated the retail industry’s digital transformation. Large retailers had the technology and processes necessary to respond quickly, but others found their entire business models upended overnight. While some changes may go, what will stay is a renewed focus on building community in retail.
Retailers that have invested in inventory management tools that supply real-time visibility across channels are faring much better than those that didn’t as tactics like ship from store and curbside or counter pickup are proving to be survival factors, industry experts agreed.