Report found three key strategic areas of attention: seamless
shopping experience, personalization and store transformation
DULUTH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 14, 2017--
Retailers who spend more on technology are more likely to enjoy high
sales growth, according to a recent survey that IHL Group and NCR
Corporation (NYSE: NCR), a global leader in omni-channel solutions,
today revealed.
The Unified Commerce Landscape Report from NCR, in partnership with
research and analyst firm IHL Group, found that retailers who invest in
technologies designed to create seamless shopping experiences,
personalization and store transformation enjoy sales boosts of up to 100
percent and more.
The report split retailers into two categories according to their sales
growth, and correlated these groups with adoption of 30 different
unified commerce functionalities. The research found that retailers
using these technologies enjoyed a huge sales boost over rival retailers
that did not use the commerce functionalities. These include:
-
Store transformation: retailers that provide mobile sales tools for
staff saw 77 percent higher sales growth, those that deployed
mobile POS saw 92 percent higher sales, while stores that offer in-store
Wi-Fi saw a mammoth 663 percent increase in sales compared to
those that do not
-
Personalization: 110 percent higher sales growth for retailers
that actively market their cross-channel services; 107 percent higher
average increase for those using customer preference across channels,
and 84 percent more sales growth for retailers who employ
loyalty programs in real time
-
Seamless experience: 102 percent higher sales growth for those
using cross-channel demand planning, and 18 percent more for
retailers that use order management systems – the foundation of
Unified Commerce
90 large retail chains in the USA and UK were surveyed across two main
categories: general merchandisers, such as department stores,
specialty hard and soft goods, and food, drug, convenience, and mass
merchants. The most successful general merchandisers also focused on
an additional area, providing actionable analytics for store associates.
More than half (56 percent) in this category are using analytics to
empower in-store staff to make the best decision at the point of
customer interaction.
“The last few years has seen brick & mortar retailers fighting back
against the online giants, as retailers realize that bricks-and-mortar
shops can provide a unique experience that you can’t get on the web,”
said Mark Benjamin, president and COO, NCR Corporation. “Our research
shows the enormous value that can be gained from striking the right
balance of investment in technologies that create a seamless shopping
experience – whether online or in store – and thus, increased customer
loyalty.”
Retail leaders spend on average 69 percent more on IT than other
respondents in the survey, but the secret is not just in the total
spent: “Successful retailers understand that they need to focus on every
area simultaneously, and align these systems in a balanced and strategic
way, if they are to unlock all the transformational benefits that
technology can bring,” said Benjamin.
“Retailers can no longer view IT as only a cost center but a strategic
resource to grow the business. The IT spending commitment from retail
leaders is having a dramatic impact on their ability to balance the top
strategic priorities: creating a seamless shopping experience, creating
a ‘WOW’ in-store experience, and improving customer loyalty,” said Greg
Buzek, President of IHL Group. “Without the relevant budget available,
others simply cannot keep up and are most at risk.”
More information on the report can be found at: www.ncr.com/howgreenisyourgrass.
NCR is leading transformational change across the entire retail
ecosystem through its omni-channel software platform, channel
integration & transformation and digital enablement. See its portfolios
at the National Retail Federation Show (NRF) January 15-17, 2017, Jacob
K. Javits Convention Center, New York City Booth #3405.
About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leader in omni-channel solutions,
turning everyday interactions with businesses into exceptional
experiences. With its software, hardware and portfolio of services, NCR
enables more than 550 million transactions daily across retail,
financial, travel, hospitality, telecom and technology, and small
business. NCR solutions run the everyday transactions that make your
life easier. NCR is headquartered in Duluth, Ga., USA, with over 30,000
employees and does business in 180 countries.
Global website: www.ncr.com
Twitter:
@NCRCorporation
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ncrcorp
LinkedIn:
http://linkd.in/ncrgroup
YouTube:
www.youtube.com/user/ncrcorporation
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170114005014/en/
Source: NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation
Ortrud Wenzel, +49 821 4058191
ortrud.wenzel@ncr.com
or
Tim
Henschel, 770-299-5100
tim.henschel@ncr.com