In the age of Voice, Search and Mobile, 94 percent of all retail sales take place in physical stores. As Phyigital experience rise in demand retailers are ready to serve customers ensuring best of both the worlds.
Digital capabilities and emerging Hi-Tech has allowed retailers to transform shopping into an experience. And just when Brick and Mortar was thought to be a matter of the past, retailers redefined it in a brand new Avatar. Powered by Next-Gen network today’s experience stores are ready to enthral the digitally empowered customers.
Delivering Experience in-store through Network
56 percent of shoppers say they first visit stores to assess products before buying them online.
Apple’ IBeacon to Amazon Books, IKEA’ place augmented-reality app to Nike’ hi-tech trial spaces shows how well retailers have augmented in-store shopping experience. Fuelled by Digital and Hitech, stores are able to offer highly personalized and relevant customer experiences.
Unlike Digital/Web stores, physical stores have a unique advantage. That is customers can physically engage with the products. Consult with a sales or service staff in-store when required. In turn which allows stores to capture real-time data and insights. The collected intent later helps to deliver a value-added experience. And, engage better with their customers.
Technology and digital capabilities have simplified customer’s journey along with all touchpoints. Digital payments, free WiFi, Scanners, Apps, RFID tags, AR, VR, Free coupons are common in stores today. While other technologies in the technology stack have made the whole retail mechanism seamless. Namely, Cloud, IoT, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learn, Analytics, and Automation. Simplification of Supply Chain, warehouse and logistics have vastly reduced operational headaches. In turn, allowing retailers to improve turn around time to customers. All these add up in delivering unique experiences to customers.
Infographic- Digital Transformation in Retail with SD-WAN
Network – The Key to Deliver big on Customer Experience Promises
New Technologies, cloud and the Internet requires a flexible, agile and safe Network. Stores being a critical touchpoint for customers have made the transformation of Network incumbent for retailers. Retailers have well realized that to adopt a Customer First approach, Network first requires an upgrade.
Next-Gen Networking solutions have set a strong foothold in retail and industries elsewhere. Solutions like SD-WAN has already divested legacy network infrastructures. Traditional Network architecture (MPLS) were no match to today’s technology requirements. Moreover, with internet and cloud being a quotidian need today, Bandwidth, Flexibility, and security became primary concerns. Added the rigmarole of traditional Network infrastructures. All these made Retail Networking complicated and complex.
Thanks to Software Defined Networking (SDN)! Next-Gen solutions like SD-WAN is allowing retailers to operate in both worlds- well known as unified commerce. It is the best way to serve modern customers. Most retailers have recognized the need for unified commerce. Now its time for stores to rethink their customer-first approach.
Blog: Retail Industry: Achieving Unified Commerce with SD-WAN
SD-WAN leading the way to better Retail operations
A true unified commerce approach will need SD-WAN. It will allow retailers to harness the convergence of digital and physical shopping. And help create holistic customer shopping experiences in-store. SD-WAN is transforming shops into experience stores.
76% of leaders eye on SD-WAN to meet the requirement of the network. That’s no surprise when customer’s buying process is increasingly becoming Mobile.
Lavelle’s retail SD-WAN solution is able to address the unique requirements of the retail industry. A Network platform built to meet the requirements of Retail Industry now and as it evolves. Simple and Fast Deployments, Zero-Touch Provisioning, Distributed, Scalable Architecture; Centralized Policy-Based Management, Robust Security and visibility to intelligence makes Lavelle’ SD-WAN a key consideration for retailers. From Branch to Store to Warehouse, Lavelle Networks SD-WAN keeps your retail network always ON.
The time now is to innovate customer experience further. It will allow stores to intervene cloud, use the Internet along with connections of all sorts. Know more on how Lavelle Networks SD-WAN is transforming Network in the retail landscape.
Reference:
https://www.retaildive.com/news/why-many-shoppers-go-to-stores-before-buying-online/441112/
https://info.retailspacesevent.com/blog/13-retailers-using-tech-to-elevate-the-in-store-experience
https://www.mytotalretail.com/article/retails-drive-to-store-why-brick-and-mortar-still-matters/
