When was the last time you updated your in-store digital media, let alone conducted a full-scale upgrade? It can feel like an impossible task to keep up with the speed of change in digital and tech and easy to get lost in the array of options. Or worse, implement an expensive, gimmicky solution that doesn’t really integrate with your business and help it grow.
With 91% of businesses currently engaged in some form of digital upgrade initiative (Gartner) and experts predicting that some retailers will be putting even more investment into their physical locations during 2024 (Drapers), doing nothing probably isn’t the right approach to ensure your competitiveness.
If you feel like your business might be falling behind the times and don’t know where to start, here are the top three things we think are worth considering before embarking on a transformation to your digital media.
Identify your goals
This may sound obvious, but it’s important to know what you want to achieve. Without clearly identified goals, the entire process may not get you where you want to be. We also think that missing this step is often the root cause of poor implementation or leads to the use of the gimmicky or over-hyped tech we mentioned earlier. Understand where you currently stand, where you aim to be in the future, and how further digitisation could benefit you and your customers and or operations.
Is the aim improving customer service, increasing staff engagement, optimising operations - or perhaps all three? Once you’ve figured out your needs, it’s easier to create a roadmap to reach those goals using digital touch points, platforms and integrations. Flexibility will remain key and things can change fast. Adaptable platforms and integrations that can align as your strategy evolves over the years will be crucial to long-term success.
Understanding new data
Adopting new technology can also open up new opportunities to learn about your customers’ shopping behaviours. A treasure trove of information, including buying trends, peak shopping hours, popular products and individual customer journeys, is there to be analysed, thanks to tools like audience analytics sensors, lift and learn, smart buttons and interactive kiosks.
Holding this data can help you make informed decisions to run a better business and create more personalised and helpful experiences for your customers. But don’t forget security and privacy. Invest in the tools, processes and services to keep content secure, compliant and, ideally, integrated with legacy infrastructure and systems.
Get everyone involved
Digital media transformation may require changes in the day-to-day running of things and it can feel like a challenge for some employees more used to sticking to the status quo, especially those on the shop-floor. It’s essential to communicate the benefits of your plans early and include time for the necessary training. This is especially important when you’re implementing solutions that are designed to assist the staff/customer interactions, such as guided selling tools. Getting the staff on-board will be central to high levels of uptake.
Bonus tip: Find a great digital solutions partner
If you’re considering a digital media transformation, finding the right partner early is an essential piece of the puzzle.
At Pixel, we have 20 years of experience in transforming retail, hospitality and events spaces, ensuring customers and staff have the most engaging, illuminating and enjoyable experience.
Alongside the best hardware and software solutions, we provide other services like 24/7 support, on-site maintenance, content production and scheduling together with fully managed hosting and security for all of our digital media systems.
If you’re looking for a digital partner that does it all, why not get in touch with us?