Consumer expectations have changed and will continue to change every day. Matching these expectations requires a data-driven approach to be incorporated into retail business management, resulting in a dynamic form of consumer engagement. Today’s shopper needs can only then be anticipated and acted upon.

This dynamic form of retail will pave the way for innovative and personalised techniques to be adopted, allowing you to design engagement strategies that are uniquely yours.

The smartphone revolution has been prolific globally. This is especially true in Southeast Asia where mobile phone ownership has reached an astounding 112% penetration rate. This means, every single shopper in this region owns at least one smartphone with mobile apps installed.

This heavy reliance on smartphones must be leveraged upon via mobile strategies built on out-of-box concepts. Mobile apps can be redesigned to offer functional tools or even gamified experiences that infuse both convenience and excitement throughout the shopper journey. This way, shoppers are equipped with a mobile app that actually adds value, instead of mimicking a mobile web browser.

We are at the forefront of yet another technological revolution. Emerging technologies have given rise to disruptive ways to alter business and social landscapes. We must now equate these advancements to functions within the retail scene. It’s already happening. Information Technology has resulted in the formulation of information strategies, optimising every facet of retail business.

Many have just begun to explore new opportunities to engage with customers within their physical stores. From smart mirrors, augmented and virtual reality to service robots, retailers now have plenty to choose from to add another layer of delight to the shopping journey. Clearly, it is time to capitalise on these advanced technologies to radically reshape the in-store experience.

Manually capturing, retrieving and analysing data across multiple systems can be inaccurate, incomprehensive and definitely time-consuming. As a result, many have resorted to following their gut feelings instead when making business decisions.

With a good information strategy aided by automated intelligence, data from different platforms can be synchronised, stored and managed efficiently under one seamlessly integrated system. Business decisions will no longer be based on intuition but backed by verified and analysed data, facilitating a faster and less fatiguing decision-making process. This allows businesses to focus on strategic planning to grow their most valuable asset: Their Customers.