Black Friday squeezes into shops and shopping malls and is now the ghost of Christmas IBM Supply Chain and Blockchain Blog

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The vaccination has been launched, the blockade has been lifted, and the workers are returning to the office, but 2021 is starting to feel like 2020 again, scammers!

When consumers see fewer choices in grocery stores, local stores closing early due to labor shortages, and the imminent surge in energy prices as the winter begins, we have reason to worry. Coupled with ongoing concerns about COVID, people stay at home, choose to dine locally and do (more) online shopping. Global research Shows that holiday shopping budgets have increased by 30% year-on-year, and 43% of consumers plan to shop online.National Retail Federation predict 2021 will be the highest holiday sales on record, making the holiday look hopeful.

Now is the time to innovate

The large crowds pouring into stores on Black Friday are a thing of the past. This year, preparing for the five days of Cyber ​​Week means preparing your e-commerce for large transactions. Be prepared to make customers feel safe in the store and provide contactless purchase options. As consumers continue to remind the supply chain of struggling and worries about holiday gifts, products are being taken off the shelves at full price, and there is no sign of slowing down.

Deliver perfect orders through a complete omnichannel order fulfillment platform

Shoppers are responsible after the new pandemic, know what they want, and will spare no effort to find it on any platform. Intelligent Technology It’s smart sales-65% of shoppers want to see product inventory at a glance. After placing an order, customers want to get order updates, especially order tracking information. Omni-channel technology Continue to support purchase fulfillment and delivery, providing the seamless experience customers now expect.

Usability is the first thing people care about, but getting usability faster will directly affect purchasing decisions.

  • Buy online and pick up in store (BOPIS) is the new standard delivery option, 85% of customers plan to use BOPISWhen customers arrive at the store to pick up the goods, this service provides additional opportunities for additional sales.
  • Accurate order fulfillment is the difference from the latest inventory view.Accurate inventory visibility allows companies to deliver products faster and understand how Abercrombie and Fitch with Super beautiful It is the first company of its kind to provide same-day delivery service this holiday season.

Some suggestions from insiders

Industry insiders Jennifer Clark and Cathy Hotka recently shared the following thoughts during the conference Smart Supply Chain Leadership Summit:

Safety measures and fun experience

  • Only one-third of the people said they plan to attend a holiday party this year, so that most people crave something lively, so hire local musicians or provide holiday supplies such as tea or hot cider to make it fun.
  • Communicate the safety measures your company takes to keep everyone healthy-6 out of 10 consumers say they prefer in-store contactless shopping options. Mobile wallets and click-to-pay chip cards are low-touch payment options.

Ready to sell everything

  • Put your most attractive and interesting products in the front and make sure any gaps are behind the store
  • Avoid empty shelves!Fill them with last year’s products or remove the shelving unit to add chairs and create an inviting resting space
  • Educate seasonal sales teams on how to correctly record returned inventory to improve accuracy and increase sales
  • Take the time to accurately count all the products in the warehouse, closets and the back of the store-ready to sell them all

Enhancing customer relations

  • Is the product stuck in the supply chain?Consider offering the option of “buy now, ship later” to achieve fulfillment
  • Train new employees and/or seasonal employees to cross-sell items by understanding available products in real time and offering alternative gift options to help shoppers
  • Invite your most loyal customers to get VIP early access or special privileges

Cathy Hotka Industry influencersIt is expected that gifts this year will be more experience rather than products. The data is consistent because global consumers plan to spend 30% of their budget on local outings and 22% on dining out. If some holiday gifts are still stuck in the supply chain backlog, please enhance customer relationships by offering experiences or promoting store gift cards for consumption after the holidays.

Digital innovation is the future of retail

Customers want seamless shopping from personal devices to the in-store environment, so that integration becomes the core of their shopping experience. Integrating e-commerce strategies will enable companies to fully understand customers’ purchasing history and habits to gain better insights. The beginning of the pandemic has affected the rapid transformation of online shopping and continues to reshape the importance of technology in the retail industry.

Despite the latest COVID concerns, online shopping is growing exponentially, and now is the best time to expand e-commerce. Consider customers’ online and in-store needs to create a positive network week experience. Inventory visibility, order tracking, BOPIS, and same-day delivery are bringing joy to customers, just in time for the holidays.

In the classic story of Charles Dickens, Scrooge finally realized that it is never too late to make a change.

Learn more about the ways IBM helps companies embrace technology and create growth by visiting the following website IBM Sterling web page.

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