How Canada\'s New Retail Engagement Will Benefit from In-Store...

How Canada's New Retail Engagement Will Benefit from In-Store Digital Technology

Retail Tech Insights | Thursday, May 05, 2022

Retailers' continued innovation and embrace of digital technologies will be vital to engaging and attracting the interest of today's tech-savvy consumer.

FREMONT, CA: Throughout the last year and a half, publications, newsletters, and websites have provided readers with dozens of daily stories and news pieces chronicling the industry's numerous twists and pivots since the pandemic began. Much attention has been placed on the digitization of the retail sector. And with reason, given that the majority of merchants' digital initiatives have been advanced by at least three to five years. It's a trend that's accelerated due to COVID-related restrictions on in-store activities and consumers' desire to explore and find new methods to shop.

Mobile phones to bridge the online and offline worlds

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Regardless of any improvements made to the in-store experience, the epidemic has pushed a continued shift toward online platforms for sales. According to the research, 1 in 4 Canadian buyers aim to increase their online shopping in the coming year, compared to just 14 percent who believe they will decrease their online shopping in a post-pandemic scenario. While the increased online activity may appear a paradox to physical retail's success, the concurrent growth of mobile commerce offers the potential to link the online and offline retail worlds. According to another survey, one in every two Canadian buyers uses their phone in-store to compare prices, read product reviews, and get other information, and 45 percent say they would never go shopping without it, a figure that climbs to more than 60 percent among Gen Z and millennial customers.

Indeed, the survey notes that the mobile phone has evolved into a connector over the last year and a half, both as a social conduit and a means of shopping, with 37 percent of shoppers sharing screenshots of things they're interested in with their friends. Additionally, 31 percent of respondents report sharing screenshots more frequently since the outbreak began. And the proclivity for screenshot sharing is even stronger among younger consumers, with 50 percent of Gen Z shoppers reporting an increase in screenshot sharing over the last year and a half. This behavior gives retailers significant chances to engage willing shoppers. While most of this type of activity occurs in private social channels and direct messaging, the report suggests that—branded social experiences can assist consumers in creating easily shareable content beyond the simple screenshot, enabling retailers to cultivate new relationships and strengthen existing ones.

Providing a seamless shopping experience

Much has occurred in the last 18 months, things that have contributed significantly to molding an even more connected consumer than before the pandemic and encouraging a further blurring of the lines between the physical and digital worlds. These innovations have led to creating a unified retail marketplace in which consumers may fulfill their aspirations through a synthesis of channels and experiences. They've also made a requirement for retailers to gain a thorough grasp of their customers' behavior to satiate their growing thirst for digital experiences and help the enhancement of their products. And as consumers seek renewed connections with the physical world while maintaining the convenience of online shopping, the report notes that—Canadian retailers will need to test and evaluate the technological solutions—from virtual try-on to smart mirrors—that will enable this and accelerate connected shopping today.

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