Recent studies have shown that the $15T global retail industry is suffering significant turmoil, but the most recent disruption from the global health crisis has caused the biggest shock of all. The global pandemic has highlighted the differences between retail businesses while seriously concentrating on digital transformation and e-commerce.

Additionally, the consumer revolution has sparked a search for convenience, better pricing, and improved customer experience, shifting consumers towards online-only shopping.

Retailers are now striving to unify online and offline shopping environments – which will require investment in new technology and an emphasis on trust.

As retailers reshape their landscape, hundreds of operational decisions will need to be made even more rapidly across the value chain. Retailers are turning to advanced technologies to protect their businesses, and inevitably these technologies will include both artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Retailing is shifting from a product-centric approach to customer-centric, experiential retail blending products, physical and digital services, personalisation, and unprecedented levels of convenience.

Advanced technologies will be central to retail transformation – from warehouse automation to robotic store associates and driverless car delivery. Consumers will soon expect automated and real-time service and fulfilment as standard.

Physical stores will continue to form an essential part of the retail shopping experience. They will, however, need to be transformed to offer more personalised experiences, from tailored services to showrooms, fitting rooms, and entertainment. The transition is already underway, but retailers must build consumer trust by treating data safely, delivering the right product quality, and providing a seamless experience from shopping to consumption and returns.

Choosing the right platform for today’s innovative store

Retailers are already taking advantage of the actionable insights that predictive AI platforms deliver.

For example, in a move to help global retailers achieve their smart store ambitions, SAP has partnered with G2K, a leading artificial intelligence platform provider and one of the top innovative companies in Germany. SAP and G2k’s collaboration is already rolling out a Smart Store for intelligent global retail operations.

In January, the “Intelligent SAP Mart” incorporating the G2K Parsifal AI platform was launched at the National Retail Federation awards in New York. The Parsifal platform underpins the foundation of SAP’s Smart Store solution, from intelligent shelf management to improved customer experience and sustainable energy management.

G2K’s Parsifal Platform has been designed to help retailers quickly understand complicated situations that usually demand a great deal of analysis and human resources to overcome. Powered by AI and Machine Learning, Parsifal can predict in-store patterns and instances before they happen – and helps managers overcome both security and customer experience issues.

Security Management

The Parsifal AI system employs intelligent camera systems to imperceptibly detect and predict activity that could be of a security concern to the retailer.

If an accident happens anywhere on the premises or somebody requires assistance, Parsifal will instantly recognise it and alert the systems to trigger rapid action.

When combined with advanced virtual perimeters, the system has precise knowledge of specific places and their people. If someone enters a no-go area, an alarm is triggered to alert staff and systems.

Advanced Access Control

The Parsifal platform offers advanced features that respect customer privacy without storing any facial information beyond matching it with your database of flagged customers.

So, if someone enters the premises you have banned, Parsifal will detect their faces and alert security. Conversely, if a VIP enters the building, Parsifal will point them out.

Much more than a customer management solution

Parsifal can recognise the gender and age of store visitors, providing important demographic insights while conforming to the highest data security. By providing retailers with heat maps of visitor flows, retailers can optimise their experience in terms of facilities, services, or shopping.

Additionally, Parsifal’s queue solution can minimise frustration with intelligent throughput management.

Parsifal can even parse the registration plates of vehicles in parking and loading areas, giving retailers precise control over traffic and parking management – and predicting traffic volumes. And by recognising the car brands, Parsifal can even estimate customer spending power.

Parsifal is a software platform that employs thousands of algorithms to process and parse data appropriately. Pattern recognition and interpretation happen in real-time, providing instant knowledge of any situation.

The knowledge produced by Parsifal materialises in different ways, depending on retailer preferences. Parsifal can provide instantaneous alerts in a security context when a dangerous situation looms. This knowledge can reveal insights into customer flow and behaviour in a retail context.

In conclusion, retailers worldwide are reshaping their strategies with AI to help consumers and deliver even more compelling and personalised experiences.

Advanced AI platforms such as the Parsifal solution from G2K can underpin retailer technology creatively, leveraging their data to help them deliver on new, unique journeys for their brands. Retailers can now benefit from these advanced AI technologies as they are integrated with more traditional retail systems such as SAP to build smarter, predictive retail environments.

Additionally, solutions from companies such as SAP and G2K mean retailers don’t need to have advanced data science and machine learning skillsets in house. SAP and G2K’s Parsifal solution delivers the robust AI platform that allows retailers to build their own Smart Store solutions and meet the unique needs of their customers.

Learn more about the G2K Parsifal solution

G2K Parsifal is an advanced AI Platform with use cases in Retail, Transportation, Events, Corporate & Industry, Hospitality and Smart City. In the UK, G2K is working in partnership with Tech Data and Channel Partnerships to help organisations evaluate the technology.

Channel Partnerships can set up a meaningful and tailored demonstration that will show the G2K Parsifal solution working for a real-world evaluation.

Contact Channel Partnerships directly by calling: 01923 618099

Or email: info@channel-tools.biz

https://channel-partnerships.com

Customers have become used to accessing a vast amount of product information at their fingertips simply by browsing online and on their smartphones. They are adept at accessing and comparing product features, reviews, and availability in their quest to make better purchasing decisions.

However, the personal touch has become lacking in physical purchasing environments such as retail stores and outlets. There is often no one to guide the consumer in making better purchasing decisions based on experience, understanding and awareness.

Physical spaces vs digital solutions

Although consumers increasingly use digital channels to browse products and services, they remain committed to physical shopping across all generations. They value the ability to see, touch and understand products before making a purchase decision – and they appreciate the advice of an assistant armed with in-depth product knowledge. Personalised interactions are precious for higher-value purchases – or where there is a greater emphasis on purchasing the right product.

Additionally, digital channels are becoming more integrated into consumer purchasing habits, and consumers are increasingly expecting more from their physical shopping experiences. The demand for better advice, alternative solutions, and more personalised services are rapidly growing. Therefore, retail and service orientated businesses need more innovative tools to help them help their customers. The key is to give consumers access to data in their hands at the right time and place, giving them a more personalised store experience that exceeds their expectations.

Applying digital to physical

The application of mobile apps and physical retail guiding technologies can help consumers navigate their options and decide which solution suits their needs. Technologies such as Ombori Grid are already helping service providers and retail stores easily leverage omnichannel retail, visitor management and customer experience data to personalise product recommendations and in-store services.

The Ombori Grid solution delivers streamlined deployment and management of integrated apps and experience management tools via the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, an online repository providing access to a wide range of applications and services for use on the popular Azure Cloud platform.

The Azure marketplace delivers instant access to Ombori’s powerful ready-to-use range of no-code apps such as Appointment Booking, Queue Management, Occupancy Control, and the Digital Signage Playlist. These can be deployed quickly and easily without the need for costly and time-consuming custom development.

The powerful Ombori Grid range of solutions gives retailers and service providers the ability to deploy quickly, test and manage a range of in-store experience technologies that will empower customers and staff alike.

Users can interact with Ombori’s Grid apps via Web, mobile, voice, touchscreen, or gesture, among other options. All the apps can include an interactive digital kiosk solution, enabling consumers to easily access product information such as in-store location (wayfinding) and requesting a product solutions expert for a demo. Additionally, the apps easily connect to many IoT devices, such as cameras, sensors, smart speakers, mobile phones and even customer smartwatches.

Ombori Grid apps can also share data with retailers and existing data sources such as websites, inventory management, or customer databases – making the apps a gold mine for behavioural data capture and analysis. Combining apps and devices in innovative ways allows business owners to create unique experiences and identify bottlenecks in customer journeys.

A high-quality experience outcome

The benefits of experience apps and physical technologies are clear for those committed to high-quality customer engagement. Ombori Grid offers a speedy, flexible, and affordable way for business owners to gain the advantages of these technologies. It rapidly delivers increased customer engagement, loyalty, footfall, revenue, and productivity. Ombori Grid also includes developer tools to allow you to create your Grid apps.

Ombori Grid is a Microsoft Preferred solution currently deployed worldwide, offering reliability at any scale. It can handle tens of thousands of devices across thousands of locations and supports multiple languages.

To take advantage of Ombori’s Grid solutions, contact us and we can help you set up a free account and select the apps you need via the Microsoft Azure Marketplace. In addition, we will add a free consumption voucher worth 100 Euros* to your account.

You can add or remove apps on-demand, only being billed for what you use. You can configure and customise your apps from the Grid console to meet your specific needs and branding – and you can also deploy your apps directly to wherever they’re needed, across multiple locations. If the hardware is already in place, you can be up and running within minutes.

Request a demonstration

Working in partnership with Tech Data we are helping organisations take advantage of the technology.

Channel Partnerships can set up a meaningful and tailored demonstration that will show the Ombori solution working for a real-world evaluation.

Contact Channel Partnerships directly by calling: 01923 618099

Or email: info@channel-tools.biz

https://channel-partnerships.com

*subject to a qualifying conversation.