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A POS system lets you set separate prices for items you sell online, helping you recoup delivery and service fees. You might not be able to do everything a huge corporate store is able to do, but having even some online shopping options can help your brand stay competitive. This improves checkout accuracy and lets you track the number of variable weight items you\u2019ve sold. An integrated scale allows you to look up items in your system, weigh them, and then print a label with an embedded barcode.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
On the flip side, if the store\u2019s fully staffed during a slow stretch, it might be time to adjust schedules, reducing labor costs without sacrificing service. If people hover near a display but rarely make a purchase, it could mean that the price is hard to see, the messaging is unclear or they simply need a nudge from a staff member. When applied effectively, these tools can also actively improve the shopping experience by helping customers find products faster, explore options more easily or get relevant recommendations on the spot. This includes digital window displays, interactive touchscreens, beacon technology for sending personalized offers to customers\u2019 smartphones and QR codes for easy access to product information or online store platforms.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Some technologies enable consumers to be co-producers of their experience. Schamp, Heitmann, and Katzenstein (2019) showed that consumer receptivity to ethical attributes varied based on customer journey stage; perhaps receptivity to convenience and social benefits are influenced by the stage of the customer journey also. A related line of research might examine moderating factors which would impact whether certain products sell better with click-and-flick or touchscreen displays. As technology is evolving it is possible to move consumers physically away from the touch-based display screens (e.g., via the \u201cclick-and-flick\u201d smart window technology) or embed them in a virtual world where an avatar is \u2018touching\u2019 the product for them. Both our 2 \u00d7 2 typology and the propositions evoke questions for continued research to address.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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These measures correspond with the Waitrose values and expectations of conscious consumers, who demand that the retailer make less of an environmental impact. Thus, this technology also enhances customer service; the incidence of out-of-stock situations is reduced, and consumers can more easily find the required items. These tools can be implemented to boost operational efficiency and customer experience in physical stores. This is because technology not only enhances both the shopping and customer experience but also changes customer requirements. Store intelligence technologies\u2014solutions to optimize inventory management, out-of-stocks, pricing and promotion execution, and planogram compliance\u2014offer transformative potential for retailers to optimize brick-and-mortar retail operations.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n