Revealed: The 3 Hottest Topics Discussed with Retailers at NRF
| News, Retail
We have recently concluded another successful NRF event. One word that aptly describes it is “busy.”
Our booth consistently attracts a growing number of visitors each year.
It is not surprising that this level of engagement is associated with the rapid growth and significant influence of our business within the retail industry.
I engaged in numerous insightful conversations with prospects and customers. I was particularly impressed by their digital transformation initiatives to empower their associates by simplifying their processes.
While January in New York City offers a unique blend of physical and symbolic warmth, I found the city to be an ideal venue for gauging the retail industry’s current state.
These challenges can be broadly categorized into three primary areas, which I will discuss in more detail below.
App consolidation and a consistent user experience
The first challenge that has gained significant traction in recent years, surpassing even my tenure at Scandit, is ensuring a consistent user experience for associates and simplifying the number of applications they need to manage.
As a retailer, consider the number of applications your store associates utilize.
I have encountered instances where an associate has to interact with a dozen or more apps.
A store associate’s day is typically filled with complex tasks, and now they must navigate multiple applications to complete their duties.
Recognizing this challenge, the technology teams behind these applications acknowledge the benefits of reducing the number of apps. This approach not only supports fewer applications but also simplifies their navigation.
However, operations applications often exhibit varying scanning experiences due to distinct triggers, performance, and interfaces, compromising the overall user experience.
To address this issue, retailers seek solutions from Scandit to ensure a consistent user experience.
Our solutions, particularly SparkScan, feature pre-built intuitive interfaces that seamlessly integrate with existing applications.
With Scandit, the scanning process is streamlined and efficient. By integrating a single solution and implementing only a few lines of code, you can optimize your scanning performance and user interface across all your applications.
Providing associates with user-friendly and familiar devices enhances their overall experience, leading to increased productivity.
Device transformation
Device transformation is a prevalent scenario that often arises during our engagements.
Smartphones and mobile computers are increasingly replacing legacy scanners, leading retailers to consolidate the devices utilized by their associates.
Retailers aim to reduce the number of devices their associates use in-store, and smart devices serve as an excellent solution for this.
Senior leaders emphasize the importance of aligning the technology used in stores with the organization’s overall vision.
Their goal is to create engaging experiences for both customers and associates.
While devices play a crucial role, barcode scanning remains a dominant component of many retail workflows. Optimizing these workflows can significantly enhance associate productivity and customer satisfaction.
By combining our data capture performance, pre-built user interfaces, and the ability to provide real-time information through augmented reality overlays, we enhance the associate experience.
This enables better decision-making and facilitates better interactions for associates and customers alike.
A platform for innovation
Retailers also recognize the potential of smart devices as a platform for innovation.
We collaborate closely with our customers to develop their product roadmaps, enabling them to periodically introduce new capabilities that empower their associates to work more efficiently and enhance productivity.
These advanced capabilities can be integrated into your existing devices to accelerate their performance. For example:
- ID scanning and authentication – safeguards your business through secure verification of identity documents.
- Augmented reality overlays – provide associates with real-time information for improved customer assistance.
- Multi-scanning and counting – for faster and more precise inventory counting.
With Scandit, you not only gain exceptional scanning capabilities but also secure partnerships that assist you in crafting exceptional in-store experiences for associates and customers.
We recently assisted Staples Canada in transforming its devices, resulting in remarkable outcomes. CIO Lance Martel shares this transformative journey in detail here.
Read the Staples Case StudyA problem process
The third reason we observe high demand for Scandit’s capabilities is when a workflow or process is causing significant business disruptions.
Here are some illustrative examples:
- Slow, error-prone manual scanning caused VF Corporation inventory issues, which resulted in the cancellation of 15% of their online orders.
- Poor on-shelf availability costs retailers approximately $634 billion annually, according to research from the IHL group.
- Increasing levels of BOPIS fraud due to a lack of formal ID verification at the time of pickup.
- According to a FarEye consumer survey, 85% of online shoppers are unlikely to shop with a retailer again after a poor delivery experience.
As a data capture vendor, we must be capable of supporting retail applications. However, when considering Scandit’s broader objectives, it is evident that it aims to address these significant issues, which have substantial repercussions.
This focus on customer satisfaction and return on investment drives our innovation efforts. For example:
- MatrixScan Count: Error-free multiple barcode scanner for inventory counting.
- ID Validate: A feature that accurately detects fake IDs with 99.9% authentication accuracy, reducing fraud.
- ShelfView: Boost on-shelf availability to above 95%, helping to generate more revenue.
Excited about change
I am enthusiastic about Scandit’s opportunity to drive change within the retail industry. I am particularly excited about the potential impact we can have.
One of my favorite analogies is that we are a cog in the retail ecosystem, enabling innovative approaches.
Our technology empowers this platform for transformation. Regardless of whether it is scanning a barcode, a pallet, IDs, or an entire shelf, we play a pivotal role in retail digital transformation.
Recently, I had the privilege of meeting Lance Martel, CIO, Staples Canada, who eloquently expressed the following sentiment:
Without Scandit, we’d have a real challenge moving off legacy hardware scanners for associates. Which would make it very difficult for us to give them more productive tools to do their job better
Lance Martel, CIO, Staples Canada
Let me know if any of these scenarios sound familiar to you.
Speaking to retailers and helping them drive change is something that I’ll always be keen to do.
Steve Cunningham
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