|
The web and mobile communications are fundamentally changing the way people shop, and challenging traditional bricks and mortar retailers, according to Manhattan Associates, which has released its predictions for retail shopping in 2012.
The projections forecast an increase in impulse purchases, physical stores becoming experience centres and increased consumer control through the use of smart devices and social media.
“Increasing costs of raw materials, fuel and transport coupled with wage stagnation, the threat of rising inflation and continued insecurity due to the global financial turbulence, will make 2012 a challenging year for the retail industry,” said Craig Sears-Black, Manhattan’s UK managing director.
“At the same time, the opportunities for retailers to serve consumers better will be greater than ever before – thanks to the use of new technologies, smart devices and social media.”
Manhattan has identified nine key trends:
1. All Kinds of Commerce
The future lies in enabling customers to purchase when and where they want to, while getting the same overall experience. This includes traditional (in-store) commerce, e-commerce, m-commerce (mobile), f-commerce (Facebook), s-commerce (social) and v-commerce (video-enabled).
2. Optimisation becomes critical
The starting point for multi-channel retailers is avoiding profit-erosion. Those that are able to optimise inventory deployment will not only be able to maintain margins but improve them. Having pan-supply chain inventory visibility and the ability to fulfil customer orders from anywhere, no matter which channel the consumer makes the final ‘purchase’ through, allows retailers to minimise product markdowns by connecting available products with customers willing to pay full price for an item.
3. Stores as Experience Centres
To compete with e-tailers selling via ‘pop-up’ and ‘product-less’ shops, traditional bricks and mortar retailers will need to offer self-checkouts and move to a more mobile sales-force armed with hand-held devices to check stock availability and price-match when necessary. Retailers will invest more in creating experience centres, which are high-touch, high-tech and designed to get talked about.
|
