Retail solutions get digital edge

Visitors at the Smart Stores Expo 2018 at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Center.

Getting an edge over your competition can be a challenge for retailers today, however, experts at the Smart Stores Expo 2018 exhibition noted that there are a wealth of solutions, ranging from robotics to design and smart payment, that retailers can utilise to help them.
Held under the theme 'Explore the Future of Smart Retail', this year's event is dedicated to helping players in the industry reinvent their businesses in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.
"The retail market has become increasingly fast-paced, thanks to breakthrough innovations and advancements in digital technology," said Jayaraman Nair, chairman of VIS Exhibition, organisers of the show. "This puts all the more pressure on retailers to adopt new strategies that would allow them to efficiently respond to the evolving business landscape."
Ashish Panjabi, COO at Jacky's, noted that retailers in the region are slowly starting to see the benefits of going digital and have started to invest in technology such as humanoid robots and portable electronic card readers to ensure that shoppers make the most out of their experiences. "Imagine going into a store and being greeted by a friendly robot that can direct you to the aisle with the stuff that you want to buy. Also, imagine a bank employee coming to your house with a card reader and saving you a trip to the bank. It is certainly not a requirement, but many vendors in the region are keen on adopting such technologies to become more efficient and memorable."
"Technology is definitely one of the most important elements in the business right now, but it is important to remember the human element," cautions Bernhard Heiden, CSO at Schweitzer. "The focus has to be on story telling and experiences, which are then linked and enhanced by technology. Design is one of the most important elements in the retail business; it is how you bring a certain feel to your stores, which will make people want to return. Technology is the add on with which you make the whole customer experience seamless and as convenient as possible."
"Customers today are better informed about what they want, and that makes them more critical of mistakes that they see in stores," he added. "The food retail business here still lags behind that which you would see in Europe; retailers need to enlarge the customer experience and journey to keep people engaged."
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com