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One in three U.S. consumers more likely to be repeat shoppers if provided a technology experience in-storeNEW YORK, Jan. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- It’s no secret that for the last decade, the retail industry has experienced significant technological disruption, more so than any other sector. In order to accommodate this changing consumer behavior, retailers deployed strategies and built new business models to bridge the gap between online and offline shopping experiences. In fact, a new industry report on the state of consumer shopping finds that retailers who offer a better technology experience are more likely to gain repeat shoppers. The new State of Mobility in Retail Report, “From ‘Bricks to Clicks’: Navigating the Retail Revolution,” commissioned by SOTI Inc., in partnership with Arlington Research, looked at global consumer shopping habits in the U.S., UK, Germany and Sweden. The research revealed that American shoppers are more excited and open to technology that improves the overall shopping and retail experience. Stores that Offer a Better Tech Experience Get Repeat Shoppers and Longer Shopping Visits
Creating a Personalized Shopping Experience
“As we enter 2020, retailers need to strike a delicate balance between innovation and privacy,” says Ryan Webber, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Mobility, SOTI. “Through this research, American consumers are more bullish than their European peers when it comes to personalization, but at the same time, all crave security. As retailers begin to stretch the limits of what’s possible, and test facial recognition technology and other IoT shopping solutions, privacy must remain in the forefront.” When it comes to creating a more personalized shopping experience and using technology to tailor the experience, nearly half of Americans (48.1%) are excited about innovations such as facial recognition and beacon technology.
Voice-activated shopping is another area where U.S. consumers are notably more comfortable than their international counterparts. Half of U.S. shoppers are “very comfortable” shopping via voice-activated assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
Bye-Bye Cash Register Checkout is a pain point that consumers believe technology has improved. Nearly half (45%) of U.S. consumers indicated that they prefer sales associates to use mobile devices that allow for checkout on the sales floor over the traditional cash register. When looking at this from a global perspective, Sweden shares a similar sentiment. When it comes to purchasing products, while mobile payments have been around for years, U.S. consumers still prefer traditional payment methods like credit and debit cards (52.7%), cash (22.6 %) to mobile/alternative payment apps such as Apple Pay (10.6%) and wearable payment methods like smartwatches (4.7%), which are still emerging technologies. Delivery Forms Part of Shopping Experience: U.S. is More Receptive to New Forms
“Innovation in delivery is business-critical for retailers who want to effectively compete in the retail landscape that merges online and offline buying,” says Webber. “Whether it’s the ability to transparently track packages, reduce delivery times or improve last-mile delivery, we continue to remain excited about how mobility can support transportation and logistics to ultimately convert into increased customer loyalty and sales.” To download the “From ‘Bricks to Clicks’: Navigating the Retail Revolution,” report, click here. About SOTI Inc. For media enquries, please contact: |