Have we simply become overwhelmed by technology and connections?
Nothing seems simple anymore. It's amazing how complex our lives have become with the technology that was supposed to simplify our lives! As I was trying to confirm flights for my departure for China, I was talking on Skype, another person was texting me, my cell phone and land line were both ringing off the hook (yes I'm that old that I still have a land line). It made me wonder if brands and retailers understand what life is like for consumers in this connected world where everyone is shouting. Maybe less can truly be more. And, maybe it's time to simplify … both in business and life.
Retail is adapting to the digital preferences and habits of consumers
If you look at age demographics, there is an amazing stat: 50% of the world's population is under 30 years old! No one under 30 remembers typewriters and carbon paper, but they know what a carbon footprint is. More importantly, younger people tend to be "Digital Natives". The "Natives" have adopted a digital lifestyle and changed their shopping habits that are entirely different from those of us who grew up on typewriters. What does this mean for retail stores who were built with cash registers?
Converging technology may create opportunities for retail convergence
As I departed on my around the world journey to teach IMS Retail University, I had ample time to watch people using technology during my lengthy airport layovers. From preschoolers to adults, tablets abound in airports! While I was playing with my camera gear in preparation for the trip, a number of people noticed my big camera and lenses. None of them asked me about my photography! They all wanted to know how to do something with their photos, and specifically how to move photos from their phones to their tablets, or vice versa. While our digital world is converging, most of us are mere mortals who need some assistance.
Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if not moving ahead
Bricks and mortar retailers have to be shaking their heads. Just when they think that they've stemmed the tide on one challenge, the standard moves higher. It's not that the older retail metrics no longer apply. They still do, especially in execution. It's just that the levels of service and consumer expectations are changing so fast it feels like someone keeps moving the goal line. There are a number of salient cases that illustrate how both technology and consumers are redefining what good is today … and what it will take to be great tomorrow.
How and why tablets are so compelling with kids … from all species
The twins absolutely love their iPad. They can’t get enough time on it. In this Miami family, the teenagers also exhibit a high preference for consumer tablets. The parents and elders really don’t show much love for the technology. The main difference between your family and this Miami family is that you are a different species. The Miami family is a group of orangutans living on Miami’s Jungle Island. Yet, these orangutans are no different than your kids when it comes to the power of the 3 Cs of consumer experience. Maybe retailers need to go to lunch with the zookeepers to learn how to engage their consumers as effectively.
A quick update on smartphones & mobile price checking
Normally we strive to post something weekly about an emerging trend or retail topic. Since our post yesterday, we have seen a bunch of posts and tweets on the emerging trend and retail store threat of consumers doing price shopping in aisle with their smartphones. We ran across this infographic with some amazing stats that was just too good to pass up.
The war over smartphone price checks is heating up
It happened rather innocently the last couple of years as consumers started surfing the web while shopping in retail stores. But, the battle for price conscious consumers reached a fever pitch last holiday season. Amazon poured salt in the wounds of retailers by offering an additional $5 off if consumers used their Price Check app to scan bar codes in a retail store. Will it be an Amazon world, or can big box retailers fight back?
In reading my “Morning News Beat”, I ran across a great post by Mark Sansolo entitled: “Snapshot of the Future”. While his case examples are about the technology of photography, Sansolo does a great job of capturing the essence of change and why companies must continue to evolve, at an even more rapid pace to remain competitive. Kodak is a snapshot of the past … and Lytro could well be the picture of the future.
Your shopping cart is about to become a data center
No one thinks much about the lowly shopping cart in the store. It first appeared at a Piggly Wiggly in 1937. For the last 70 plus years the cart has remained baskets on wheels to help customers gather goods for checkout. All that will change when your smart cart gets its “new brain”. The computers being added to new shopping carts will be able to customize offers … and track your every move in store!
Today kids’ first experience will be on a tablet not a PC
Yes, PCs are still be being sold by the millions. But, if you want to see the future, just watch a toddler using an iPad. The interface is instinctive, intuitive, and addictive. Kids below the age of 2 are flicking and flipping through their parents’ iPads before they can even talk. And increasingly, parents are buying both tablets and apps just for their kids. Is the tablet just a new “digital pacifier”, or will it be the future screen of choice for today’s youth literally cutting their teeth on a tablet?
