Smart technologies are poised to provide shoppers with new levels of personalisation, speed and convenience over the next five years to “revolutionise customer experience”, new research reveals.

The 2017 Retail Vision Study, from Zebra Technologies Corporation, analysed the technology trends shaping the future of retail around the world and enhancing the shopping experience.

The US company supplied C-Store with specific UK data which showed:

  • · 86.8% of retailers would provide smartphone and tablet technologies in their stores to help staff assist customers to improve their shopping experience within the next three years
  • · 52.7% would have hand-held mobile computers with scanners to read barcodes for pricing and availability within five years
  • · 50.9% would have kiosks or stationary information terminals for pricing and availability information within five years
  • · 48% would use two-way radios within five years and
  • · 46.2% would have mobile POS that could scan and accept credit or debit payments anywhere in the store within the next three years

The study also predicted a huge upswing in self-checkout using customers’ own mobile devices and fixed terminals over the next five years and 75% of retailers would not only know when specific customers were in the store, but will also be able to customise the store visit.

And it indicated shoppers prefer handheld bar code scanner for price checks, electronic shelf labelling, self-service kiosks and self-checkout payment lanes.

Mark Thomson, retail and hospitality director, EMEA, Zebra, said “every inch” of the retail industry was changing, from the aisles of the warehouse to the shelves of the store, and retailers were driving this change in a race to better serve customers.

“The 2017 Retail Vision Study demonstrates that retailers are poised to meet and exceed customer expectations with new levels of personalisation, speed and convenience,” he said.