As a digital experience designed to help retailers and customers alike, technology like the Ombori Grid is a game-changer in the retail space. Brick-and-mortar stores are finding that they aren’t always getting the influx of customers (and customer loyalty) that they had in the past. Much of the reason behind that is the changing nature of what customers want and need from their shopping experience, according to the customer behavior experts at Ombori Grid. In the past, customers shopped in person and waited for sales associates to help them. Now, customers often shop online, and they don’t have to wait. They can buy and check out nearly instantly, adding to the convenience.
That’s great for customers who want and need to buy online, but for the ones who want to shop in person, or need to buy something they can’t find online, there can be a big disconnect. Customers are used to the convenience of the digital experience, and they aren’t getting that in retail stores. They may have to wait in line, for example, and long lines can become frustrating. It could even lead to customers deciding not to shop at that store anymore, because it takes too long, and they can’t get anyone to help them.
Using digital options like the Ombori Grid gives customers a way to get information and make their purchases, without the need to wait for a sales associate to help them. That offers a seamless flow of traffic through the store and keeps both customers and employees happy. Additionally, the sales associates are free to handle other tasks, so more gets accomplished in a shorter period of time. Customers can get back to their lives, and they’re happy with the speed at which they can make their purchases in person.
When customers do need assistance from another human being, they can find a sales associate who has the time to help them, since that associate is no longer stressed, frazzled, and trying to complete too many tasks at one time. With the Ombori Grid in place, customers who want to make purchases and don’t need assistance to do so can flow in and out of the store, keeping everything moving along. Customers who want guidance with their shopping experience can work with associates to find what they need.
Not all customers like to shop online, but more are moving toward that every day because of the convenience it offers. For retailers who want to keep customers coming into their brick-and-mortar locations, according to Ombori Grid, the goal is to make sure customers have a good, easy, and convenient experience there, as well. With the right digital help, that can be the case. Stores can track how they’re doing, whether customers are getting what they need, and how well employees are handling the move to a more digital format, as well as other metrics that will provide knowledge and insight. This revolution in how customers get what they need will change the future of retail.