Now that retailers have become familiar with the scope of capabilities modern retail analytics technology offers, they can more comfortably advance their retail digital transformation journey.Īfter the upheaval of the past two years, the idea of continued changes may seem daunting, but the industry sits on the precipice of a significant period of innovation.

The technologies that allowed retailers to react to the demands of COVID-19 will guide the way to better shopping experiences and more effective store operations on the next step of this journey. However, shoppers’ pursuits of better, more sustainable and more convenient retail options will not stop there. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for retailers to rethink how they do business-from staffing to floor planning, customer service, omnichannel fulfillment and more. Before COVID, customers were craving more convenient, sustainable and seamless omnichannel experiences. While the idea of returning to business as usual may be appealing, the fact is that the old ways of doing business weren't always meeting customers' needs. With the period of operational innovation fueled by COVID mitigation coming to an end, retail decision-makers are reframing their relationships with data analytics to develop solutions for an even more streamlined, sustainable future. Although it would be incorrect to say the COVID-19 pandemic has ended, current virus mitigation procedures seem to be sufficient to protect public health while allowing consumers to access the things they need. The AI-driven data collection and analytics platforms that helped retailers to rise to meet the moment were not developed to overcome the challenges of a pandemic-their capabilities were simply put to work in pursuit of those solutions. Although the health and safety concerns that came with COVID served as the impetus for rapid adoption of new models, their execution is the result of years of steady technological investments and improvements by retailers. While shoppers seeing these changes may consider them a byproduct of COVID-19, that perception is not entirely accurate.

As retailers shift their attention to innovation that isn't fueled by public health concerns, they need experienced partners to guide the way.Ĭonsumers’ views of in-store shopping have shifted profoundly over the past few years.

The technologies that helped retailers adapt to meet guidelines when COVID-19 hit can help stores innovate for the next step in retail.COVID-19 protocols in retail environments have stabilized, but the importance of o pen, scalable, secure data analytics solutions hasn’t diminished.

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