Increased competition from online and brick and mortar stores, combined with higher customer expectations driven by the convenience of online shopping, is making it more challenging for retailers to maintain customer loyalty and stay on budget.
In a recent KPMG Retail Industry Outlook Survey, retailers cited losing share to low-cost producers (30 percent) and customer/employee mobility (21 percent) as two of the top three biggest threats to their business models.
However, a fully connected and informed retail team can ultimately help deliver an enhanced experience for shoppers, driving loyalty while giving store owners a return on their technology investment.
During the 103rd National Retail Federation (NRF) Annual Convention & EXPO this week at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) is showcasing its latest Staff Communications and Management solution which keeps store staff mobile and connected via voice and applications to the information needed to assist shoppers and improve storefront operations.
Tasks, work orders and group and private calls can be initiated, routed and escalated across or within work groups to keep associates accessible and enhance collaboration. Inventory and detailed product information can be accessed anywhere in the store at a moment’s notice to answer shoppers’ questions and perform consultative selling.
More than half of shoppers (58 percent) surveyed as part of Motorola’s Holiday Shopping Study agreed that they have a better experience when sales associates are using the latest technology to assist them. Handheld devices such as Motorola’s MC40, SB1 Smart Badge and ET1 tablet allow retail associates to connect and respond to customer needs without leaving the shopper’s side.
Productivity-enhancing software such as Mobile Workforce Management provides associates with up-to-the-minute prioritized task lists and equips store managers with the visibility required to further optimize storefront operations.
