How Can RFID Technology Drive Engaging, Personalized In-Store Customer Experiences
As retailers adjust to the dynamic shifts in the retail sector, investments in technology, especially RFID, have become crucial for enhancing customer experience. With a sharpened focus on creating immersive shopping experiences, retailers at the forefront of technology adoption are redefining customer engagement and satisfaction standards.
In response to changing consumer preferences, retailers have increasingly focused on enhancing shopping convenience. Retailers have leveraged services such as buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) or buy-online-return-in-store (BORIS), allowing customers to shop in the manner that best suits their needs. Convenience has become paramount, but demand for a personalized and engaging in-store experience that makes the customer feel valued and appreciated is still crucial.
How Does RFID Increase Customer Service?
For retail enterprises, RFID is the most effective tool available to manage inventory accuracy. The technology significantly reduces the amount of time spent taking stock counts and managing stock. On average, time spent on these tasks is reduced by 20 times compared to that of manual stock counts. Furthermore, RFID technology increases item-level inventory accuracy by up to 98% and allows retailers to maintain that level of accuracy consistently. The technology enables staff to manage inventory not only quicker but much more accurately.
A precise, RFID-enabled item-level inventory management system creates efficiency throughout the store, transforming the role of in-store associates, who are freed from inventory related tasks and can spend more time servicing customers.
Streamlined Checkout by leveraging RFID POS
While RFID enables store associates to provide better customer service on the store floor, retailers can also utilize the technology to create a frictionless checkout process. Traditionally, checking out consists of barcode scanning items one at a time, followed by a card swipe. While contactless payments have begun to streamline transactions, there is still room for improvement and expectations around checkout continue to increase as retailers understand the impact of this customer experience point.
By leveraging RFID at point of sale (POS), retailers can create an automated checkout experience. This relieves the slow pain points of traditional transactions and provides increased accuracy as barcode scans are eliminated from the process. Consumers increasingly value convenience. Some may also prefer minimal in-person contact during their shopping experience. An RFID-enabled self-checkout process offers a streamlined, efficient solution that reduces labor costs and meets customers’ expectations for a safe and comfortable shopping environment.
Today, consumers shop in-store for the experience and excitement of connecting with a brand and exploratory shopping. Through RFID technology, stock management becomes highly accurate, but it also frees the time of associates from counting stock and operating checkouts. In turn, retailers can better align resources to service customers on the shop floor and provide them with the experiences they are looking for.
Transform your retail operations and enrich your customers’ shopping journey with RFID technology. Download SML’s Clarity® Experience brochure today to learn how.