In 2022, retail and hospitality businesses can expect health concerns, personalized experiences, and sustainability to top the year’s trend list. Here’s a look at how technology can help your business stay on top of these trends in a quickly changing industry:
Health
While using tech to implement health and safety measures is a trend that skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is also one that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Retailers that want to bring customers into their stores will have to implement a robust health and safety plan.
Technology is one of the simplest ways to facilitate increased health measures in your business. Implementing keyless tech in hospitality means not having to check in with anyone at the front desk. No interaction at all, which means no opportunity to swap germs. Guests can go straight to their room and get settled in after a long day of traveling, work, or fun.
This is very similar to self-checkout in retail facilities. By eliminating the physical interaction, you can protect your customers even more than by using barriers at checkout stations. And when self-checkout isn’t feasible, contactless payments offer another way to increase health measures using touch-free technology.
Personalized Experiences
The phrase “the customer is always right” now demands that you know your customer before you interact. By using tech to personalize the guest experience, you can create an experience for your customers that is tailored to suit their needs. Even though guests may have fewer physical interactions with your staff, they can still feel connected to your brand and your company is able to give them that tailored “human” experience by utilizing tech and artificial intelligence.
One way businesses are personalizing experiences for their customers is through omnichannel marketing strategies. This means they are interacting seamlessly with their clients across a number of different channels.
In 2022, every retail and hospitality business should consider auditing its channels and implementing an omnichannel strategy, including:
- Having customers download an app to compare prices or access coupons
- Sending customized emails
- Connecting with customers by using social media that applies to them
- Using in-store tools such as price checkers, tablets, and other interactive services
- Promoting the ability to buy online and pick up in the store
Overall, the goal is to create an experience for your customers. In online spaces, you can use augmented reality and artificial intelligence to create dynamic, personalized experiences–even when customers aren’t physically coming into a store or location.
Sustainability
Millennials and Gen Zers are especially interested in sustainability, and they increasingly tend to favor brands that offer a sustainable angle on their products and offerings. Businesses can use tech to create automated workflows, schedule your staff, and manage supplies or product inventory. Using technology can increase efficiency, allowing you to do more with less staff. This aspect is especially critical during a workforce shortage.
You can also create efficiencies with check-in automation, keyless technology, and the ability for remote climate control. This allows easy control of the climate between guests, can allow access for maintenance, and allows guests to personalize the lights and thermostat to their preferences when they are here, increasing sustainability while also continuing to offer a more personalized experience for your customers and clients. This integration relies on a stable, fast and secure network. Audit existing network infrastructure to make sure to preserve the efficiency of a new connected system.
Implement Trend-worthy Tech
Early adopters of these retail trends are expected to see the most benefits. Staley Technologies has an array of services, products, and tools to help you stay ahead of the pack when it comes to emerging technology trends. Our team is constantly creating customized, effective solutions for our clients across the United States. For more information, contact Staley Technologies at (800) 280-9675 to speak with an expert.
