COVID-19 and the online boom: How can technical solutions help?

novomind AG

19 March 2021
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Anna Holz, Partner Manager at novomind, explains the challenges involved in linking online and offline retail and how the customer journey can be optimised through customised technical solutions.

Due to the ongoing corona pandemic, fewer and fewer consumers are taking a leisurely stroll through the city. When they do visit the stationary retail trade, it is usually only in a targeted manner. How do you perceive this development in your daily work?

Online retail has undoubtedly experienced another growth spurt during the corona pandemic. We see that due to the increasing competition, the technical requirements for online shops are also constantly rising. The invitingly decorated shop window, the fast, personal service - everything that leads customers to a particular shop when they go shopping, they also expect when they visit an online shop. In addition, they want to be able to shop on the go at any time. In order to prevail against the competition, retailers must offer their customers an all-round, personal shopping experience online as well.

More and more retailers are recognising this and are asking for powerful software solutions that make their online shop distinctive and optimise the customer journey. First of all, strong performance plays an important role. This ensures fast page loading times even with large, appealing image worlds and mobile shopping via smartphone. Online shops can also score points with personal customer service. This can include, for example, an order option via the certified WhatsApp business interface or an availability alert for ordered goods. The use of digital advisors such as chatbots for 24/7 answers can also ensure that customers like to visit a particular online shop and recommend it to others.

"All the things that lead customers to a particular shop when they go shopping, they also expect when they visit an online shop." Anna Holz, Partner Manager novomind AG.

The demand for cross-channel services is increasing. Customers want to order items online and pick them up at a brick-and-mortar store - or vice versa. What technical hurdles must be overcome here?

With the networking of online and offline trade through services such as Click&Collect, the main technical challenge is to always display the current stock of goods on all sales channels in real time. If you offer a product in a shop, in an online shop and on online marketplaces at the same time, its availability must be displayed in all systems at all times. This also applies to short-term price or stock changes, for example when the last available item is sold in a shop. Especially in the fashion sector, retailers often stock an item like a pair of trousers only once in a certain colour/size combination in the shop. The prerequisite for displaying the stock in real time is the data connection of the merchandise management and cash register systems of the branches of the stationary trade to the online shop. Product data such as item descriptions, images, prices and availability must always be up-to-date online in all channels. This is made possible by a well-coordinated interaction between the software components involved, such as the shop system, product data information system and marketplace software. Logistically, however, the networking of online and offline trade remains challenging.
novomind AG



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