As we wave goodbye to 2023, let’s reflect on the year’s most-read and insightful articles that have shaped our understanding of the ever-evolving business landscape. Whether 2023 met your expectations or surprised you with unforeseen challenges, it undeniably unfolded as a narrative worth exploring. Throughout the year, our focus has been on sharing articles designed to guide retailers through the twists and turns of 2023, preparing them to navigate the complexities ahead. Let’s delve into the top five articles that offer indispensable insights and the key takeaways of 2023 for a successful future ahead.

Unleashing Innovation and Key Takeaways from Seamless Middle-East 2023

“In the ever-changing retail landscape, we wave goodbye to the era of stores as mere transactional spots. Now, they’re vibrant contributors to a bustling omnichannel ecosystem, having transformed profoundly. The lines are blurred across digital and physical realms, and now is the opportune moment to embrace this transformative shift.”

This seismic change took center stage at Seamless Middle-East 2023, where discussions revolved around the implementation of services like buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) and click-and-collect. These services empower customers to place orders online and conveniently pick them up at designated locations. The spotlight also shone on the importance of personalized recommendations, leveraging customer data and advanced analytics, as a crucial element in crafting innovative omnichannel strategies.

Furthermore, the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and interactive displays was emphasized. These technological marvels are not just tools; they are the bridge between the online and offline realms, engaging customers and providing unique experiences that transcend the limitations of online interactions.

We’re starting off this countdown with our first post on Seamless Middle-East 2023 takeaways. Read it to get some perspective on how much has changed and the things that have stayed the same!

Top 5 Warehouse Management Systems in India for Optimizing Your Supply Chain Efficiency

The wave of the eCommerce revolution continues, as Forrester predicts a staggering $2.3 trillion in sales by 2024. The digital arena is no longer a playground; it’s a battleground where businesses are arming themselves with innovative strategies and tools to stay ahead in the relentless race.

In this blog, we have delved into the realm of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), exploring the top solutions poised to redefine logistics and supply chain efficiency. Discover how embracing cutting-edge WMS technology can be the game-changer your business needs to navigate the complexities of the modern market landscape. Don’t just keep up—surge ahead with the top WMS insights for 2024.

How to Transform your Fashion Merchandising Strategy for Maximum Customer Satisfaction?

In the ever-shifting realm of fashion, a robust merchandising strategy is not a luxury but a necessity. Understanding the pulse of your customers is the need of the hour; without it, satisfaction remains elusive. Challenges abound in deciphering rapidly changing trends, staying ahead of competition, and meeting diverse customer expectations.

Thoughtful planning ensures product relevance, strategic buying navigates the market dynamics, and efficient allocation prevents stockouts or excess inventory.

This article emphasizes the critical facets of planning, buying, and allocation within a merchandising strategy. The trio synchronizes to optimize resources, prevent overstock or stockouts, and elevate the customer experience.

Technology at The Heart of Fashion Retail – Embracing Sustainability

“Balancing the alignment of supply with current and future demand is a longstanding industry challenge. Overproduction frequently arises when traditional processes, operations, and mindsets hinder retailers from effectively utilizing technology and data.”

In 2023, US retailers faced a concerning scenario with approximately $1.43 in inventory for every $1 in sales, highlighting a potential issue of overstock or excess inventory.

The concept of “sustainability” has been a buzzword in the industry for years, but its significance reached unprecedented levels in 2023 as retailers found themselves overwhelmed by mountains of unsold stock. Addressing the challenges of overproduction and excess inventory, this article explores the pressing need for sustainability in the fashion retail industry.

Anshuman Agarwal, COO and Co-Founder of Increff emphasizes that leveraging digital technologies enables retailers to not only become more agile but also embed sustainable practices at the core of their operations.

How to Increase Retail Sales During Peak Season: 3 Ways a Retail Tech Partner Can Help

According to Forbes, in the year 2023, eCommerce sales brought in 6.31 billion dollars, with 20.8% of that during peak season. By investing in the right technology solutions, retailers can equip themselves to handle the surge in demand during peak season and avoid costly mistakes. Furthermore, technology partners can provide valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences, enabling retailers to tailor their offerings for maximum impact and increase retail sales.

In this article, we will explore how the right peak-season technology partner helps you optimize your operations during peak-season sales, from inventory management to order fulfillment and more.

A few mentions of other top reads:

• Top 5 KPIs that a CEO must be tracking in the warehouse

• Top 5 Merchandising Solutions: Global leaders in enabling accurate & seamless inventory optimization

• 5 B2B Order Management essential capabilities you can’t ignore

• ​​BOPIS, ROPIS, and BORIS: Solving the pieces of the Omni Puzzle

• Why does the Increff digital pigeonhole system beat Put-To-Light Systems for e-commerce operations

Best wishes for 2024!

In light of the numerous takeaways from 2023, a key resolution for many retailers in the new year is to embrace a fully data-driven approach. If you’re ready to take this leap, contact us to discover how Increff can assist you in becoming an agile, data-driven retailer and embed sustainability at the core of your operations. Here’s to a prosperous and insightful 2024.

Consumer science is the scientific method of forming hypotheses about customer behavior and then testing them. It is the best way to build a culture of customer obsession and to discover what delights customers in hard-to-copy, margin-enhancing ways.

In the current business environment, consumer science is essential for businesses to stay competitive and meet the ever-changing needs of their customers. By understanding what their customers want and need, businesses can develop products and services that are more likely to be successful.

How does consumer science empower the customer obsession mindset?

Customer obsession means a healthy preoccupation with customers’ unanticipated future needs. It is about using a mix of research techniques to put the customer in the center of everything you do so that you begin to see the product through their eyes.

Consumer science empowers the customer obsession mindset by providing businesses with a systematic way to learn about their customers. By using a variety of data collection and analysis methods, businesses can identify patterns in customer behavior and develop hypotheses about what customers want and need.

How does Netflix use consumer science?

Netflix is a company that is known for its customer obsession. The company uses consumer science extensively to improve its products and services.

For example, Netflix used consumer science to develop its recommendation algorithm. The company collected data on how customers watched movies and TV shows and used this data to develop an algorithm that could predict what customers would like to watch next. This algorithm has been one of the key factors in Netflix’s success.

Netflix also uses consumer science to improve its user interface. The company regularly conducts user tests to see how customers interact with its products and services. This feedback is used to make changes to the user interface that make it easier for customers to use.

How to start the revolution in your company?

If you are a product leader or engineering leader, you can start the revolution in your company by starting a discussion on the following questions:

1. Does your company have well-defined matrices that help you in forming new hypotheses—and also educate your team about delights and margins?
2. Do you have the ability to gather “sample data” from customers to build a trend line and identify mistakes quickly?
3. Does your team meet and talk with customers to develop the “voice of the customer” within your organization?
4. Do you have the ability to do A/B testing—and develop your product intuition?

There is just one more crucial requirement: Patience. Most companies struggle with this in the beginning, and becoming a great company takes about twenty years. Jeff Bezos says that Amazon followed three ideas for 18 years, and that’s what made them successful: Put the customer first. Invent. And be patient.

What are your thoughts on consumer science? How do you use consumer science in your company? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

You can read the original article written by Gibson Biddle.

Event: Seamless Middle-East 2023
Location: Dubai
Date: May 23 – 24,2023

Our team was excited to be part of this year’s Seamless event, engaging with partners, prospects, and clients to discuss upcoming trends and initiatives. This blog summarizes the top four learnings from sessions, meetings, and conversations held during the event.

Four Key Takeaways and Learnings from Seamless Middle-East 2023

1. Transforming buying process with innovative omnichannel strategies

Reiner Lemmens, Group CEO of Geidea, emphasized the significant impact of adopting innovative omnichannel strategies to enhance the customer experience during the Seamless Middle-East 2023 event. His key takeaway resonated with retailers, highlighting the importance of seamlessly integrating online and offline channels to create tailored experiences for customers.

One of the key strategies discussed by Lemmens was the implementation of buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) services. This approach allows customers to conveniently browse and purchase products online and then pick them up at a physical store location of their choice. By offering this option, retailers can cater to customers’ preferences for speed and convenience, leveraging the advantages of both online and offline shopping.

Another strategy mentioned was click-and-collect, which enables customers to place orders online and collect them at a designated location. This method eliminates the need for traditional shipping and allows customers to retrieve their purchases at their convenience. Click-and-collect services provide customers with flexibility and control over their shopping experience, making it a valuable omnichannel strategy.

Personalized recommendations were also emphasized as a crucial aspect of innovative omnichannel strategies. By leveraging customer data and advanced analytics, retailers can offer personalized product suggestions based on individual preferences, previous purchases, and browsing behavior. This level of personalization enhances customer engagement and satisfaction, as customers feel understood and catered to by the retailer.

2. Advancing the purpose of physical retail

Kartik Bhatt, COO of Sharaf Retail, and Andrea Janjua, CEO of Metacom, highlighted the significance of transforming physical stores with creative concepts and smart technology. Their insights emphasized the need to create captivating in-store experiences that can effectively compete with the rising popularity of online shopping.

The discussion emphasized the use of technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and interactive displays to engage customers and provide unique experiences that cannot be replicated online. By incorporating these technologies, retailers can bring a sense of innovation and interactivity to the physical retail environment.

Augmented reality (AR) can be utilized to overlay digital information on real-world objects, enabling customers to visualize products in a more immersive and interactive way. This technology can enhance the shopping experience by providing additional product information, offering virtual try-on features, or creating interactive product demonstrations.

Virtual reality (VR) offers the opportunity to transport customers into virtual showrooms or simulated environments where they can explore products in a dynamic and immersive manner. By immersing customers in virtual experiences, retailers can create a sense of excitement and novelty that traditional shopping experiences may lack.

Interactive displays provide an avenue for customer engagement within the store. These displays can feature touchscreens, interactive product demonstrations, or personalized recommendations based on customer preferences. By encouraging customers to actively participate in the shopping process, retailers can enhance customer involvement and create memorable experiences.

3. Alleviating supply chain pain points

The Seamless Middle-East 2023 event recognized the significance of addressing supply chain challenges to streamline processes and enhance customer satisfaction.

Efficient logistics and delivery play a vital role in the success of retail and e-commerce businesses. The event shed light on innovative solutions for optimizing inventory management, order fulfillment, and last-mile delivery. Attendees gained valuable insights into strategies and technologies that can alleviate supply chain pain points.

One of the key focus areas was inventory management. By leveraging advanced inventory management systems and technologies, retailers can gain real-time visibility into their inventory levels, ensuring optimal stock availability while minimizing excess inventory or stockouts. These solutions enable accurate demand forecasting, automated replenishment, and effective inventory allocation across multiple channels.

Order fulfillment was another pain point addressed at the event. Attendees learned about innovative solutions that streamline the order fulfillment process, including warehouse automation, robotics, and efficient picking and packing techniques. By optimizing these processes, businesses can reduce errors, improve order accuracy, and expedite order processing times, leading to faster delivery and enhanced customer satisfaction.

The last-mile delivery, the final leg of the supply chain, was a crucial area of discussion. Increff showcased innovative strategies for optimizing last-mile logistics, such as route optimization, delivery tracking, and efficient delivery scheduling. By implementing these solutions, retailers can enhance delivery speed, provide accurate delivery updates to customers, and ensure a seamless end-to-end delivery experience.

Addressing supply chain pain points not only improves operational efficiency but also enhances customer satisfaction. By streamlining inventory management, order fulfillment, and last-mile delivery, retailers can reduce lead times, improve order accuracy, and provide timely and reliable delivery, ultimately leading to increased customer loyalty and positive brand experiences.

4. The impact of omnichannel on e-commerce sales

The impact of omnichannel strategies on e-commerce sales was a key topic of discussion at the Seamless Middle-East 2023 event. Arsh Kabir Singh, Senior Sales Director – MENA, APAC & ANZ at Increff, shed light on how adopting an omnichannel approach can significantly boost e-commerce sales.

The key takeaway was the importance of providing a seamless customer journey across multiple channels, such as mobile apps, websites, and physical stores. By delivering a consistent and cohesive experience, businesses can capture customer loyalty and drive sales growth. A seamless omnichannel approach allows customers to start their shopping journey on one channel and seamlessly transition to another without any disruption or loss of information.

The integration of data analytics and automation tools plays a vital role in optimizing the impact of omnichannel on e-commerce sales. By leveraging customer data and utilizing analytics tools, retailers can gain insights into customer behavior, preferences, and shopping patterns. This enables businesses to personalize marketing efforts and offers, targeting customers with relevant promotions and recommendations that align with their preferences.

Automation tools further enhance the efficiency of omnichannel strategies. By automating processes such as inventory management, order processing, and customer support, retailers can ensure a smooth and seamless experience for customers. Automation minimizes errors, reduces operational costs, and allows businesses to focus on delivering exceptional customer service.

The impact of omnichannel strategies on e-commerce sales extends beyond customer experience and personalization. Retailers can capture a broader customer base and reach new markets by integrating multiple channels. This expansion of reach and accessibility increases the potential customer pool and can lead to higher sales conversions.

Final Thoughts

Seamless Middle-East 2023 in Dubai provided an enriching experience for attendees interested in the future of retail and e-commerce. The event emphasized the need for businesses to adapt to evolving customer expectations and leverage technology to create engaging experiences both online and in-store. By embracing these insights and implementing relevant strategies, retailers and e-commerce businesses can stay ahead in a competitive market and meet the ever-growing demands of modern consumers.

The peak sales season is a make-or-break time for every retailer, offering a significant opportunity to boost revenue and increase profits. In fact, over the past decade, the average annual retail sales growth was 3.6%, but since 2019, there has been an incredible 30% growth in retail sales. However, managing the surge in demand and traffic during this period can pose significant challenges. To optimize operations during this critical period, relying on gut feeling alone can be risky for businesses, as it is subjective. This is where technology comes in.

Without the right technology in place during peak season sales, businesses risk encountering significant obstacles such as stock shortages, slow checkout lines, and suboptimal customer experiences. These challenges can lead to lost sales and revenue, as customers may choose competitors who can handle the increased demand better. Additionally, retailers may be forced to offer heavy discounts to move excess inventory post-season, reducing their profits.

By investing in the right technology solutions, retailers can equip themselves to handle the surge in demand during peak season and avoid costly mistakes. Furthermore, technology partners can provide valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences, enabling retailers to tailor their offerings for maximum impact. 

In this article, we will explore how the right peak-season technology partner helps you optimize your operations during peak sales season, from inventory management to order fulfillment and more.

Here are a few reasons why the time to shop for a peak season partner is now.

Get Ahead of the Game

NRF forecasts that retail sales during 2023 will grow between 4% and 6% over 2022. The sales holiday shopping season is always busy, and this year is expected to be no different. In fact, with more people used to the concept of online shopping due to the pandemic, it’s likely to be even busier than usual. By starting your search for a solution partner now, you can get ahead of the game and avoid the rush. This will give you time to evaluate different options and find the partner that best meets your needs. Retailers are expecting inflation which will have an immense effect on both retailers and consumers. People will not buy as they usually do, and retailers will see a dip in profits. A solution partner will help you navigate through the tough time by reducing manpower, optimizing storage, inventory transparency, and more. 

Meeting Needs is Made Easy

The global e-commerce market is expected to total $6.3 trillion in 2023. Ensuring that the right products are in stock at the right time is crucial to meeting customer demand and maximizing sales revenue. Allocate your products wisely. Plan which products should go to which store based on consumer data like affinity, men-to-women shopper ratio, etc. The life of merchandisers will get easier if they know which stores require what items. By choosing a partner now, you can analyze historical sales data, forecast future demand, and establish appropriate inventory policies and procedures – which are important to meet the needs of the shoppers.

Ensure Smooth Operations

You do not want to deliver late orders and lose customers. Inventory management, processing orders, ensuring on-time delivery – a good partner can help ensure that everything runs smoothly. Optimize warehouse operations to handle huge order surges during the peak season and avoid hiring an extra workforce to handle such surges by means of a peak season partner. Order routing and splitting can ease the burden on your warehouses, leading to faster order fulfillment. You can also get stores into the picture for faster fulfillment of orders via the store fulfillment model. By choosing a partner now, you’ll have time to integrate their services into your operations and ensure everything works properly before the busy season starts.

In conclusion, maximizing peak season sales is critical for retailers to achieve sustainable growth and profits. With the rapid increase in retail sales, it’s more important than ever to leverage technology to optimize operations during this critical period. Based on the mistakes made in the last season, dilute the inventory by sales like End of Season Sale. Use the Dynamic Markdown technology to find the right percentage of discount to be given on each product.  By partnering with the right technology solution provider, retailers can equip themselves with the necessary tools and insights to meet customer demand, manage inventory effectively, and provide a seamless customer experience. As the sales holiday shopping season approaches, it’s essential to act fast and secure a reliable technology partner to avoid costly mistakes and lost sales. 

The time to act is now, so don’t hesitate to start your search and get ahead of the game. 

Remember, the right technology partner can help you achieve your peak season goals and pave the way for long-term success.

Incepted in the early 2000s, omnichannel retailing is no longer a fantasy. Several brands have created an environment where offline, online, and m-commerce work together to create the most seamless shopping experience for their customers.

An omnichannel approach to retailing is a win-win situation for both brands and consumers. About 89% of consumers expressed that brands should work harder to create a more cohesive customer experience.
Brands who have implemented it successfully are reporting a hike of 9.5% in annual revenue with omnichannel benefits like fulfillment from store etc.

Despite the effectiveness of this method, many retailers and brands are hesitant to adopt omnichannel retailing because of the misconceptions surrounding it.

Let’s take a look at the biggest myths clouding people’s perceptions: 

#Myth 1: Omnichannel and multichannel are the same thing

Although they might sound the same, the difference between these two approaches is night and day.

While a multichannel approach necessitates a team and a system working in silos, customer experience is not included. The omnichannel approach, on the other hand, integrates all communication contact points to create a seamless experience.

The bottom line is, consumers expect the best customer support even when juggling between sales channels. In omnichannel retailing the communication between them works in silos, equipping the customer support to provide them with the best service. 

#Myth 2: Managing Omnichannel is tedious

The benefit of implementing omnichannel retailing is that it is not necessary to execute all features of omnichannel retailing all at once.

You can begin by analyzing what is working for you and gradually adding new channels. It’s not required to change the infrastructure of your physical store or invest in some hefty technology to start with omnichannel retailing. Since it is completely based on retail technology, you can integrate procedures as you need. As a result, there is no need to restructure your entire process to go to omnichannel retailing. 

#Myth 3: Omnichannel platforms don’t work

As already established, companies that do not utilize omnichannel platforms are losing out on its benefits. With an omnichannel approach, customers get to curate their own experience – whether offline or offline. 

Customers can browse online and walk into physical stores, or they can order the same product online after trying it on in the store – the possibilities are endless. This unified experience ensures that sales are not lost while navigating various platforms.

Furthermore, many omnichannel adopters find that making the switch has helped them improve store inventory accuracy to the point where they have been able to launch additional initiatives that rely on it, such as reserve online and collect in-store.

Myth 4: Omnichannel retailing is an expensive affair

Any business must invest in the appropriate tools and technology to grow. While retail technology may appear to be an investment at first, the return on investment is justified.

Omnichannel retailing has been shown to increase order frequency, store traffic, customer retention, and brand identification. In fact, it is reported that the opportunity cost of not being omnichannel is 10% in terms of lost revenue.

As a result, even though the transition to omnichannel retailing requires an initial investment, it increases sales multifold, making it a sound business investment.

Concluding: What Does the Future Look Like With Omnichannel Retailing 

The day when omnichannel retailing becomes a standard retail practice is not very far. Businesses that transition to omnichannel practices early will greatly benefit from the new opportunities created by it. Only 11% of businesses have claimed to successfully implement omnichannel retailing, and others who join the rank will surely reap the benefits.

The core idea of omnichannel expansion is simple; it enables the brand and retailers to become visible across all sales channels their customers are using. Being omnipresent everywhere the shopper goes gives them a competitive advantage.  

In a digital-first world, going the extra mile to keep up with customer demands and trends will help you in keeping ahead of the competition. With the truths behind the myths revealed brands and retailers should use omnichannel retailing to make their business future-ready. 

If you want to enquire more about what retail tech solutions can help you adopt omnichannel retailing, contact us today!