From Brick-and-Mortar To Click And Order: The Tech Retail Evolution

The first retail markets emerged in Middle Eastern towns in the 7th millennium BCE when civilizations created money to facilitate commerce.

Many ancient civilizations in the Middle East and Europe established open-air markets where consumers could purchase different products from merchants.

Ever since then, the world has experienced unbelievable changes and innovations that have touched the lives of millions. The retail industry, of course, is no exception. The spread of widely accessible technology has wildly transformed the world of retail. In this article, we’ll discuss the journey from old brick-and-mortar stores to the newly available “click and order” solutions.

Mobile Commerce

Back in the day, the only way to buy something was to leave home and travel to the physical store that sold the goods you wanted to purchase. However, the proliferation of mobile phones and devices like tablets has been a critical driver of mobile commerce growth. As a result, retailers now have to optimize their websites for mobile and develop apps to provide their customers with a seamless shopping experience on mobile devices.

Features like one-click ordering, mobile wallets, and location-based offers have further enhanced the mobile commerce experience, making it convenient and personalized. Alternative payment methods now make retail more accessible to a broader range of consumers. 

Nowadays, with payment solutions like CareBuzz, you can welcome customers who may still need to purchase from you. How? With cashless donations to your store, your untapped customer base can now crowdfund your store without spending any money.

Omnichannel Retailing

Omnichannel retail is a sales strategy in which retailers engage customers through multiple digital and physical touchpoints, including physical stores, online websites, mobile apps, and social media. 

Such a strategy enables retail customers to interact with a brand most conveniently, regardless of whether they prefer to shop online, visit a store, or use a mobile app. Each channel is integrated seamlessly.

Omnichannel retailing wouldn’t be possible without the rise of technology, as retailers can now use modern data analytics tools to understand customer behavior patterns through distinct channels, facilitating targeted marketing, personalized recommendations, and improved customer loyalty.

Moreover, the critical elements of successful omnichannel retailing, which include consistent branding, synchronized inventory systems, and the ability to serve customers in a personalized way across all touchpoints, wouldn’t be possible without the Internet.

Personalization and AI

With new connected technologies and omnichannel retail blurring the line between online and in-person shopping, retailers can now personalize their offerings to their customers more than ever before. A study by Infosys showed that a staggering 59% of shoppers who have a personalized retail experience believe that it has influenced their purchasing decisions.

Retailers had previously personalized customer experiences through physical or digital mailing lists and loyalty programs in the form of loyalty cards. But now, AI, computer vision, and omnichannel customer journeys have allowed retailers to adopt a more detailed approach to determining what customers truly want. This way, they can now prepare what products to offer, where, and when to provide them.

Thanks to technological advancements, customers can receive personalized promotions and recommendations based on past purchases. In the future, this technology could also provide customers with customized discounts while shopping in-store.

This could be done using screens or push notifications to share discounts more likely to encourage customers to spend money. This can help brands influence purchasing decisions and differentiate themselves from competitors who still depend on a traditional approach to conduct customer outreach. 

Virtual and Augmented Reality

As both virtual and augmented realities become more advanced and widely accessible, these technologies can now create immersive shopping experiences that attract customers’ attention far beyond traditional methods.

Nowadays, retailers are using virtual and augmented realities to offer interactive and engaging experiences, such as virtual store tours or interactive product presentations, which can increase customer interest and conversion rates.

As technology advances, everyone can anticipate seeing even more realistic and interactive virtual and augmented reality experiences, with improved personalization based on AI integration. 

In the future, we may see multisensory experiences integrating the human senses and the integrations of virtual and augmented realities with other technologies like blockchain and IoT, improving the retail experience even more.

The Tech Retail Revolution Continues

The intersection of technology and retail has undeniably transformed the retail industry, which is now more dynamic, personalized, and efficient than ever before. 

From the rise of mobile commerce and omnichannel retailing to the advent of the application of both virtual and augmented realities, each emerging innovation has played a pivotal role in reshaping consumer expectations and experiences.

The future of retail is undeniably digital, and as technology improves, so will how we shop and interact with our favorite brands.