In today’s Tech News Tuesday episode we’re talking about online shopping, and how the pandemic has quickly accelerated the digital transformation of retail.
Links in this episode: How “Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store” Gives Retailers an Edge
Transcript
Welcome to the Get Digital Marketing Results podcast where we give you information and actionable tips to grow your organization.
Bob: Hi, I’m Bob Clark.
Donna: And I’m Donna Botti. We’re with Delos Inc and we make the web work for you. In today’s Tech News Tuesday episode we’re talking about online shopping and how the pandemic has quickly accelerated the digital transformation of retail.
Bob: That’s right Donna, things have certainly changed over the past year. Prior to the pandemic, many retailers continued to rely heavily on physical stores. In 2019, less than a third of retailers had implemented a digital strategy, and just 4% of the 500 largest retailers offered online ordering with curbside pickup.
Donna: When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, this changed overnight. Lockdowns forced businesses to change and experiment with services like curbside pickup, same-day home delivery, and buy online, pick up in-store. We saw this with our own customers who we helped implement new ways of continuing business when in-person wasn’t an option.
Bob: Big and small brands set up new online shopping and delivery methods. Over the past year, 40% of Americans tried a new shopping method, and nearly three-quarters of people who have tried curbside pickup, buy online, pickup in store, or delivery want to continue using these services after the pandemic ends. I know I want the convenience of choosing this option at least some of the time.
Donna: Having online shopping and in-store pick up allows customers to research products online and then buy them in store at their convenience. It also gives customers visibility into what’s in stock so you avoid wasted trips. This improves the overall shopping experience for your customers.
Bob: This isn’t just good for customers. Eighty-five percent of consumers who have used a website to shop say that they have made additional unplanned in-store purchase when they picked up an order they placed online.
Donna: One thing that is for sure is that we’re not going back to how things were in the “before times”, as I like to say.
So if you’re offering online ordering and curbside pickup, people really like the convenience of those. We’ve talked a lot about the importance of the customer experience in growing your business. This looks like one change that should be here to stay.
Bob: That’s it for today’s episode. You can find a link to the Harvard Business Review article and a transcript of today’s podcast, at DelosInc.com/190.
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