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Retail
NEW TECH
RETAIL, NEW TECHNOLOGIES IMPROVE SALES EXPERIENCE By Matteo Melani If until today we were convinced that innovating technologies and human contact would not go so far, then we should reconsider this position. In recent years many retail chains have been equipping their stores with new technologies that meet customer needs and accelerate business transactions. These upgrades involve every step of the retail process: from marketing to selling and paying.
SELF-SERVICE IN TRAVEL RETAIL
While speed of purchase is a necessity for traditional store customers, it is a top priority for travelers. During travel, especially long distance, shopping can also cause inconveniences leading to delays or missing a flight. For this reason, The Hudson Group, one of the largest store chains in travel facilities in North America, has introduced the automatic distribution of goods in 27 airports and at the Houston Space Center. By entering one of the points of sale, the customer can choose the product and pay for it at the checkout. “That doesn’t mean we lose customer contact,” said Ruth Crowley, Hudson Group’s Vice President of Merchandise Operations, “What we have tried to According to a recent Nielsen study, waiting in line is the number one cause of frustration for shoppers (37% of respondents), 23% stated that the purchase process was too long even when purchasing just a few products, and 20% complained that when looking for assistance, it was not available. Overall customers want more fluid solutions that do not eliminate human contact. One technology that fulfills this demand is selfservice check out, which allows you to pay
for products in less time than queuing in line. In terms of innovation, the United States has been at the forefront of this sales direction. Between March and September of 2020, contactless payments increased by 25%, while payment options such as buy now pay later are also on the rise. These are emerging as real buying trends in the United States and are being seen across all retail sales types, from shopping centers to pop-up stores.
Hudson Store at the Houston Space Center
