It’s no secret that retail has gone through a drastic evolution in the last few years. With the wide adoption of smartphones, retailers are forced to tackle a new set of challenges. Mobile has become yet another digital channel to manage, spreading marketing departments thin as they try to provide a cohesive experience across mediums. Another trend, showrooming, is cutting into store profits, with consumers browsing in a retail store and ultimately making a purchase on their smartphone at a lower price.
Brands are facing a general paradigm shift, as shoppers can quickly access product information on their phones or tablets, rather than having to ask a store’s employees for help. This can’t help but encourage consumers to make purchases from the comfort of their own home instead of drive to a retail store and purchase the item in person.
Though many retailers have suffered during this transition, the savvy ones have prevailed. Those retailers making an effort to keep up with the times have benefited from merging online and in-store shopping experiences, ultimately providing the customer service and convenience that consumers crave.
The growth of ecommerce is not expected to slow down anytime soon and will continue to evolve. Part of this evolution is expected to include further integration with the shopping experience consumers have in retail stores, so brands who haven’t adopted a multi-channel strategy yet may want to soon.
Check out the infographic below for some ways to unite your in-store and ecommerce user experiences without hurting sales.
