During the peak of COVID-19 epidemic, brands and merchants introduced short-term solutions like curbside pickup and virtual styling, which transformed what customers expected from their shopping experience. According to the Connected Shoppers Report, as the barrier between physical and digital touchpoints blurs, customers expect brands and stores to follow their rules, and they have limited patience for poor experiences.

“With RIAA, we are creating a robust retail ecosystem that not only empowers frontline staff but back-office staff like marketers, UI designers, etc., as well. This feature-packed solution suite will give brands a view of critical, employee-facing functions across the retail value chain. And in doing so, RIAA will help brands empower employees, and maximize their productivity,” said Abhay Pandey.

With retailers and consumers moving online in response to the pandemic, Q1 data indicates that the habits formed over the course of the year and the 2020 holiday season are here to stay. As countries like the United States begin to reopen, retailers and businesses will need to rethink the role of the store.

Researchers say the acquisition of a new customer is five times costlier than retaining an existing customer. Moreover, an existing customer is almost 70% more probable to buy rather than a new one.

Mobility is key to ensuring customers and associates devices and applications work. Customers must be able to seamlessly connect to the store network and associates must be able to use their devices to find goods and assist customers quickly. IoT-enabled store solutions like check-out point-of-sale devices, product scanners, scan-and-go apps and digital signage depend on reliable connectivity.