Customer engagement
Retail store re-openings are accelerating the use of digital towards rethinking in-store and online customer engagement, states Deloitte.
The effects of COVID-19 on the retail industry are profound and unprecedented. Retailers now have to evaluate how the customer has evolved during and after the crisis. Customer expectations, needs, behaviours and priorities have to be evaluated in the new environment.
“Be digital-first, even in-store,” Deloitte recommends. “Beyond a website and an app, invest in customer-facing digital tools that enhance the customer experience in-store. When they can’t be in-store, livestream shopping events hosted by store associates for at-home customers, taking orders in real-time through the app. Continue to improve frictionless, contactless payment options. Use augmented reality (AR)-enabled product-detail pages online to create immersive store-like experiences.”
Deloitte also suggests retailers to rethink the purpose of the store. “Use the store as a showroom. Change the ratio of back-of-store to front-of-store to support greater online fulfilment needs. Use store space to offer support services to customers, such as setting up a call centre on the shop floor for staff to take calls and virtual shop for customers in real-time.”
Overall, rethinking in-store and online customer engagement will be crucial in the future as shopping habits and expectations have transformed.
Finally, Deloitte points towards the importance of creating emotional, not just transactional, loyalty. “Recognise returning customers in-store the same way you do online. Offer exclusive access or services, not just pricing promotions.”
For all the latest retail news from the Middle East, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page.
Watsons to open 20 new stores in the GCC
In 2020, global health & beauty retailer AS Watson Group signed its
April 29, 2024 | By Rupkatha BAsda and Deliverect Deepen Partnership to Power Rapid Delivery Across Asda Express
SQUATWOLF’s Kuwait Flagship Store Anchors Its Regional Growth Ambitions
Global beauty icon Ulta Beauty to make Riyadh debut at Panorama Mall
/ 
For decades, Haldiram’s built deep recall across the UAE through its packaged
When House of Habanero opened its first physical location at Alserkal Avenue
Union Coop has completed a significant expansion of its Hatta Souq branch,
Saudi Arabia is set to welcome U.S. food exporters this week, as
Majid Al Futtaim has officially entered the discount retail segment with the
As convenience increasingly becomes currency in the region’s grocery landscape, Union Coop
As wellness becomes a lifestyle in the UAE, the grocery aisle is
Grandiose, one of the leading grocery retailers in the UAE with a
With shifting consumer behaviour, rising cost pressures, regulatory changes, and rapid digitization,
Union Coop’s blend of retail expansion, digital innovation, and community focus is
Abu Dhabi-based MAIR Group has marked a pivotal stage in its transformation
In a move that blurs the line between shopping and investing, Apparel
/ 
Why cinemas, wellness sanctuaries and cultural districts are becoming emotional infrastructure for
From bullion to boutiques, investment to immersion, Dubai Gold District marks a
As lives accelerate and time fragments, shoppers no longer separate “eating” from
The Inspired Home Show 2025 concluded with positive momentum, reinforcing its position
NRF Vice President of Education Strategy Susan Reda forecasts 2025’s retail trends
64 global leaders in retail will share their insights on shaping the
NRF 2025: Discussing biometrics, computer vision and more with leaders from H&M,
The Dubai Duty Free (DDF) has recorded sales of $1.94 billion up
Saudi Arabia’s retail sector is rapidly transforming under Vision 2030. E-commerce, brick-and-mortar
Previous Article
