Tech Trends That Have Been Heating Up The Summer So Far…

As summer approaches, shoppers are refreshing their wardrobe tailored to the summer season. This puts the pressure on retailers across the UK to pull out all the stops and maximise sales. With an increase in customer demand and an appetite for new items, retailers won’t want to fall behind competitors.

The past couple of months have been eventful to say the least for retailers in the UK, they have faced their share of challenges from rising expectations to unexpected disruptions. Retail giant, M&S, has made a strong comeback, reporting a full recovery and resuming sales online after facing a major cyberattack that largely impacted revenue.

With that in mind, let’s take some time to reflect on recent highs and lows that are shaping the retail technology headlines today and explore what we can expect to see next

Celebrating Loyal Customers

It’s more important than ever for retailers to create tailored and personalised experiences for their customers. Loyalty schemes and benefits programmes are a powerful tool to strengthen customer relationships, encourage repeat purchases and build a sense of community and exclusivity.

So, what have we seen so far? Supermarket giant Tesco, discovered a creative way to celebrate its Clubcard anniversary by hosting a 90s-themed nightclub experience igniting a unique nostalgic experience for shoppers. Tesco offered its most loyal customers the chance to earn extra Clubcard points and prizes in a memorable way.

Athletic apparel may seem like a crowded market at the moment, however, the successful gym wear retailer, Gymshark, is continuing to capitaliseon the momentum. The brand has recently announced its first-ever loyalty programme, rewarding customers with experience points (XP) for interacting with the brand through making purchases or completing a training programme through it’s workout app. This has given customers the exclusive feel of being part of the Gymshark community, fostering long-term customer relationships and loyalties. 

Similarly, fashion and lifestyle giant ASOS, has enhanced its approach to customer loyalty. After experiencing negative backlash when closing a number of customer accounts due to a new returns rule, ASOS responded by launching a new tiered loyalty programme. Designed to elevate the experience, customers are offered exclusive benefits and rewards, growing in value each time they shop. This integration represents the brand’s continued investment in customer experience and satisfaction.  

AI Enhancing the Customer Experience

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming a key part of modern retail operations. More and more retailers are using AI to streamline processes, boost efficiency and create personalised, engaging customer experiences. If you haven’t started exploring its potential, now is a great time to consider how it could benefit your brand.

Toy retailer giant Mattel has announced a new strategic partnership to support AI-powered products and experiences, enhancing business operations and driving innovation. Incorporating ChatGPT into its product development, Mattel aims to better engage with its audiences,spark innovation and showcase its commitment to embracing cutting-edge AI technology to enhance product development operations and customer interactions.

Similarly, to boost in-store retail operations, coffee giant Starbucks is deploying a new generative AI solution. The initiative is designed to assist in-store associates with task efficiency, whether it’s completing orders, resolving mechanical issues or providing real-time conversational responses. The goal of the partnership is to strengthen the connection between the barista and customer, while reducing wait times for customers and overall improving service.

Blending the Omnichannel Experience

Retailers are continuing to transform the customer journey by seamlessly integrating digital convenience with immersive in-store experiences, ensuring that consumers are engaged across each touchpoint.

Recently, Skoda has become the first European automotive brand to offer an Amazon car showroom. This new venture with Amazon offers real-time vehicle availability and enables customers to explore the full Skoda range before choosing the specific retailer. Customers can select their chosen Skoda model through the Amazon site or app and will then be connected to their preferred retailer. This also saves time and creates a positive brand reputation. By implementing this streamlined solution, the car-buying journey becomes more convenient for shoppers.

Striving to create unique experiences for its customers, Superdrug has developed a Beauty Playground immersive experience, which was first unveiled at its Westfield Stratford flagship store. This concept is expected to extend to 30 of its top performing stores across the UK by August. The initiative aims to create a playful shopping environment for its customers. Customers experienced key features such as ‘Try me tables’ where they can explore and try products before they purchase, as well as stations with ring lights to create seamless beauty content and interactive zones to discover new and exclusive brands – all supported by in-store associates available to offer friendly advice.

These experiences tie together to showcase how brands are driving innovation through omnichannel strategies, making shopping more engaging, convenient and customer-focused than before.

Looking ahead

With consumer expectations rapidly evolving, it’s important to implement innovative solutions to stay ahead of the curve. At Teamwork Commerce, we believe deploying smart retail technology solutions significantly enhances operational efficiency, elevates customer experiences and drives sales. We’re looking forward to seeing how the rest of the summer unfolds and how retailers grow throughout the summer season.

To explore how Teamwork Commerce’s retail solutions can enhance operations today, get in touch here.