How Will the Coronavirus Change the Retail Industry?
Many retail locations are no longer open due to the coronavirus pandemic. Many people have been furloughed from their workplaces due to the pandemic. There are also worries that some retailers may struggle to recover following the situation.
There will be a few things that might be noticed within the retail industry after the coronavirus situation passes. These points could influence what businesses can do in the future and how they can stay afloat.
Contactless Payments
Contactless payments will work at retail locations in the future. Many retailers have already been using NFC payments through mobile devices. But these payments may end up being more commonplace, not to mention stores that don't use them might utilize them in the future.
People may develop psychological worries about handling money or credit cards. Using solutions like Apple Pay and other contactless payment solutions may be a thing of the future. The same could also work for credit cards where people can tap them on scanners instead of inserting them into devices or hand them off to other people.
Checkout-Free Work
Checkout-free shopping may also be a point to watch. The process entails a few steps for getting a product ready. First, a customer places an order online. Second, a retail location will collect the item and then place it in a locker or other storage space. After that, the customer arrives at the location and scans the locker to access the item one wants. The customer will pay for the purchase through the app or other online place the person purchased the item.
Could Pick-Up Services Change?
People have utilized services in some retail stores where they buy a product online, pay for it online, and then pick up the item in a store. But in most cases, a business will require a customer to enter a store.
There is a potential for this new retail trend to change. A drive-up pick-up service might be necessary for some businesses. The idea of physically walking into a store might not be something certain people will want to do anymore, so retail stores have to adapt.
Robotics Grow
The possibility of robotics to make an impact on the industry cannot be ignored. Robotics could evolve beyond drones. The field may include devices that automatically collect items from stock rooms and other storage sites.
But the work should be planned to where the robotics can operate well without errors. An operational plan might entail working on how artificial intelligence can identify objects and accurately fulfill orders. New programming and maintenance would be necessary to ensure any robotics-based plans would work in the future. The point could be hard to figure out, thus making it to where there might still be a human touch in the process. But the possibility of robotics to become more prominent is an aspect that cannot be ignored.
The retail industry will be entering uncharted waters as the coronavirus pandemic continues. These changes may stick around well after the initial worry passes.