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In the realm of retail and in-store commerce, the future seems bright. Consumers who missed out on real-world shopping during the outbreak are returning to the stores. And the future looks even brighter for those firms and retailers who are forward-thinking enough to invest in a fully omnichannel POS platform.
Covid limitations have been abolished in all but four US states, and the remaining handful should be fully operational next month. Retail sales have been mainly positive, with H&M, the world’s second largest fashion retailer, posting a 62 percent year-over-year increase in the second quarter.
Retail sales in May increased by more than 28% over the same month last year, according to the US Census Bureau. Retail sales are expected to rise as much as 13.5 percent this year, according to the National Retail Federation, and research firm Zenreach projects a full return to normalcy in terms of in-store foot traffic for the US retail industry by September.
Of fact, many retailers haven’t yet surpassed comparable sales from 2019, and part of this year’s spending could be attributed to “revenge spending” and government stimulus cheques, but just walking into any local mall will give you a sense of the excitement.
To cut a long tale short, retail is making a comeback.

Retail is making a comeback.
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The Key To Cashing In On The Comeback Is Omnichannel
With the reopening of establishments, many customers lined up to enjoy the pleasures of physical shopping once more. They had missed the human connection, the chance to touch and try on clothes, and the immediacy of the transaction.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR YOU
During the pandemic, customers appreciated the convenience of omnichannel shopping, which allowed them to order online and pick up in-store within an hour, rather than waiting 2-3 days for home delivery. With the rising cost of shipping from warehouses and the resulting delays, BOPIS (Buy Online Pickup In-Store), which offers curbside pickup and ship from store, was not only popular during the epidemic, but it is also popular now. According to a recent McKinsey & Co. poll, 59 percent of U.S. consumers who used BOPIS in 2020 intend to use it “in the long term.”
A Modern POS platform is a key investment that brands and retailers must make in order to offer an upgraded, pleasurable, and connected purchasing experience. One that allows businesses to interact with customers regardless of where, when, or how they shop. One that consistently delivers a pleasant, smooth, and on-brand experience. And one that is adaptable to changes in customer behavior.
Lululemon (Nasdaq: LULU), Deciem, SMCP, HD Buttercup, and Target (NYSE: TGT) are just a few examples of merchants that have emphasized and invested in strong omnichannel strategy. Omnichannel is critical for brands like Nike, which have committed to a direct-to-consumer (D2C) strategy to drive growth and communicate with their customers. Last month, Nike President and CEO John Donahoe told investors, “We are driving change to build a new, more connected, and seamless experience for consumers throughout the world, which is precisely what consumers want.” Investing in omnichannel strategies allowed these businesses to weather the Covid storm significantly better than many of their competitors. ”
Store Modernization – The Door Is Still Open
It’s not too late for brands that are still using legacy systems or haven’t fully committed to modernizing their stores; with four months until the official start of the 2021 holiday shopping season, there’s still time to capture demand and elevate the customer experience. Sophisticated, modular, and cloud-based platforms can be brought to market in a matter of weeks.
A good omnichannel platform should be able to link brands with customers and smoothly combine all in-store and online experiences to be most effective. Some of the functions of a good omnichannel platform include:
mPOS stands for “mobile-first point of sale.”
Clienteling
Aisle Without End
RFID Inventory Management & Real-Time Visibility
With Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store, you may have an OmniChannel experience.

Consumer spending with retailers is high, and brands must strike while the iron is hot. Investing now in a true omnichannel strategy will allow brands to capitalize not only on the post-pandemic demand and robust return to stores, but also on the upcoming holiday season. And if last year taught us anything, it’s that retailers must be ready for whatever comes their way./nRead More

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