The 7 Best Ways to Boost Retail Experience

The retail customer experience has been changing rapidly with the rise of online shopping and automation. So currently, what are the best ways to boost retail experiences? Here are seven ways!

1. Add contactless engagement.

According to Salesforce’s blog on how to improve retail experience, they suggest the increase in services where someone doesn’t have to rely on a customer service representative or interact with them personally. This includes a self checkout system, where customers can pay on their own with credit card, Apple Pay, and other methods. The blog also mentions services such as digital dressing rooms and incorporating artificial intelligence. All of these services not only increase the efficiency of the services, but they are an essential concept for many businesses to improve upon because of the current world situation.

2. Make a well functioning website.

In a blog by Pixlee, they mention that an important factor in improving the online shopping experience is to have a website that looks and functions correctly. This is another important factor to consider, since retail shopping is evolving so quickly, and much of it is becoming digital. It is crucial to improve the look, feel, and navigation of any website that provides a shopping experience, in order for a customer to stay lingering in the website and for them to have a successful transaction.

3. Increase merchandise visibility.

There can’t be an improved experience if the items people want to buy are not in stock. This is a lost opportunity for a sale and for a good experience, and is not that uncommon during a time where people may raid certain items like cleaning supplies. Salesforce’s article mentioned that restocking and communicating with customers about these efforts can be a big deal in the long-run.

4. Focus on novelty.

One part of the shopping experience that can keep getting customers to come back is novelty. In another article online, novelty in retail is explained to have a decent impact on the way that people experience retail environments. If a store has novelty, it shows that the experience is something that they can’t get somewhere else. This is shown through consistent experiences and inventiveness. For example, if each time a customer goes to a specific store where they are in a comforting atmosphere with new AI technology, the reliability and the uniqueness combines to stand out to the customer, making them want to return in the future.

5. Adjust services to the given climate.

During times of change, retail atmospheres evolve with it, or they may face going out of business. When there are new guidelines to follow, it is important that retail environments go along with them, uphold these policies, and promote the safety of the shoppers. The current environment is a good opportunity for retail stores to increase their cleaning efforts and distancing policies. Everyone wants to feel supported and cared about, but more importantly, this shows ethical responsibility of the retail chain. If policies as important as these aren’t followed, it may create distrust for the customer and ruin the experience for them.

6. Recognize workers.

If the employee is happy, the customer will be happy. This goes for in-store retail stores and online customer service. All employees whether in person, over the phone, or online reflect the company they work for, and have the ability to increase someone’s positive experience or to turn away a customer from a store forever. When employees are treated fairly through compensation and transparency, this can make a big difference in the overall retail experience of the customers.

7. Ask for feedback.

This is one step that should never be overlooked. It is impossible to have all of the answers to how each retail store can create a better experience, but it is easier to know how to build and grow when the retail chain has the honest opinions of their customers on what they can improve. With some communication between the retail store and the people who experience it, the service, atmosphere, products, and overall experience can be greatly improved.