What’s In Store?

The internet has had a profound impact on the way we shop. From bookstores like Amazon to bidding websites like eBay, there are now thousands of retailers operating exclusively online. Businesses known primarily for their physical stores have also latched on to the trend, with supermarkets in particular making remarkable progress in the online arena.

So has the death knell been sounded for the traditional store?

Sarah Kellett, an Industry Consultant with Fujitsu, is unconvinced.

“Contrary to what many people assume, retailers remain highly committed to the physical store and we are seeing some exciting innovations in this area,” she says.

“From Point-of-Sale technology to self-checkout, queue management and digital media networks, technology has emerged as a key differentiator.”

This is backed up by a Gartner publication examining the key challenges for the next three years. More than half of respondents said that improving customer experience through store-level investment was a priority. And a third said they were committed to improving reporting – again through store-level investment.