Few industries have experienced such a rapid revolution as the retail sector. While in 2020, in-person shopping was abruptly displaced by e-commerce, in 2023, automated technologies are accelerating the industry. In just three years, retailers have had to reshape their business models and modus operandi to adapt to ever-changing consumer behavior.
This reality is setting the tone for the retail sector as Black Friday approaches. Retailers must not only offer attractive deals but many are raising the bar to set themselves apart through immersive experiences that align with the new digital demands of consumers. Here are some details:
Tech Shopping: The Power of AI and AR
According to an article from MIT Technology Review, based on data from Global Data, 65% of consumers worldwide want to scan items and view product information from their smartphones, 50% desire contactless payment options, and one-fifth are ready to use augmented reality (AR) to try on clothing remotely.
Alongside AR, artificial intelligence (AI) is another technology driving user experiences in 2023. The Jungle Scout Customer Trends Report for Q3 2023 reveals that 45% of consumers find both technologies useful for purchasing certain products, and 34% indicate that using them makes it more likely for them to make purchases.
Omnichannel: Harnessing the Best of Both Worlds
MIT Technology Review shows that we are now in an era where shoppers are seeking an omnichannel model in their shopping experience, suggesting that brands must offer the best of both virtual and in-person shopping.
"From smart shelves and virtual fitting rooms to automated payment options and personnel analytics, it is clear that the future of retail will be driven by automated technologies that deliver real-time results and meet the growing expectations for a seamless shopping experience," states the publication.
This trend is very much present in Latin America this year. In fact, according to the State of T&D Retail 2023 study, 87% of retailers in Latin America consider the omnichannel model their top priority, followed by online marketplaces and in-store experiences.
A Digital Infrastructure to Support Immersive Experiences
To meet the new digital expectations of customers, especially on a high-volume sales day like Black Friday, retailers need a robust IT systems to enable processing and storing of all user-generated data in real-time, supported by critical physical infrastructure capable of powering and cooling the critical equipment to reducet the risk of downtime.
At Vertiv, we have identified three key steps for retailers to enable the functionality of their critical physical infrastructure:
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Adopt a preventive approach to equipment maintenance that allows for early detection of faults and predicting when a component is experiencing operational issues.
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Gain visibility into the infrastructure through a single dashboard where you can monitor available IT devices, their locations, activities, power consumption, heat generation, and cabling requirements.
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Promote standardized processing solutions at the Edge to receive benefits such as faster repair time thereby keeping your business open, eliminate needless travel to any facility with IT, reduce overhead staff and consolidated view of all IT facilities to reduce administrative time.
Discover here how to enhance the performance of your Edge data center infrastructure for this Black Friday and beyond.
