As non-essential retailers plan to reopen from April 12, as part of the government’s four-part plan to help grow the economy, how will they manage the unprecedented challenges ahead?
While many stores have been offering online shopping, some – like Primark – have not had this luxury and will be looking forward to welcoming back customers. It’s great to see that consumers are also looking forward and feeling more confident about stores re-opening this time around. According to the Walnut Unlimited research, consumers feel more comfortable now about returning to stores than they did last May.
But with non-essential retailers re-opening amid ever-changing public health and guidance they need to adapt in-store communications to the latest safety precautions, health guidelines and protocols that become absolutely vital for customer care and employee support.
Traditionally, digital signage, interactive wayfinding systems and kiosks have been critical in informing and engaging people as they browse retail stores. Digital technology can take on new importance as customer service as re-opening retailers across the country work to implement public safety measures during this health crisis.
From small shops to large department stores one of the easiest ways to provide customers with up-to-date policies, special store hours, health guidelines, occupancy protocols and seasonal promotions is through strategically placed digital signage solutions that can be easily updated or automatically scheduled in advance. Therefore, retailers can avoid the unwanted costs that come from re-printing paper for every store.
Here are our 4 digital signage re-opening communication ideas to keep shoppers and employees extra-safe in non-essential retail stores…
1 Communicating Health Guidelines
Consistently communicating health guidelines daily will not only help to keep individuals safe but it will put shoppers and employees at ease knowing exactly what is expected from them. Communicating wearing face masks, using sanitization stations, social distance protocols and limited occupancy shows the business cares about the health and safety of their community.
Mobile signage solutions, some include integrated hand sanitiser stations, allow retailers to position their messages in high-traffic locations and then move them around the store as necessary. Using embedded display screens or a cost-effective compact media player that plugs directly into the back of any commercial screen, with minimal wiring will enable staff to create easily, manage and deploy digital content to any stores screen.
2 Occupancy Protocols & Store Policies
With uncertainty lingering over how many customers businesses should allow inside, how many they should expect, and how those customers will behave, it’s crucial to have clear, accurate information at every entrance to avoid confusion over store policies and manage the expected behaviour of customers. For example, maximum capacity policies or government guidelines may change for each store but using a digital signage platform like SignStix you can schedule different messages to different locations with a click of a button.
3 Using Contactless Scanning Technology
Contactless displays avoid touch but still manage to achieve interactivity through the use of QR codes. For example, a shopper wants to find the click and collect department but doesn’t want to touch an interactive display.
By scanning a QR code with their smartphone, an interactive map is replicated on their device and they can safely navigate routes and other information on their smartphone screen. By deploying these existing technologies, retailers can assure peace-of-mind for their customers, while automating the information process. Watch the QR code in action.
4 Lowering Perceived Wait Times
While some establishments already use digital signage for social distancing guidelines or mask requirements, even they may benefit from additional displays at entrances to lower customer perceived wait time. For example, screens can include queue times alongside new or instore stocked items and QR code technology could help customers make purchases on their smartphone without even having to enter the store.
While there is still much to learn about how Covid-19 will affect the reopening of stores in spring 2021, one thing is certain: Every extra step retailers take now will truly show customers and employees that they care about everyone’s health and safety and that we are all working together to ensure a safe re-opening.
Source: www.retail-week.com/stores/data-shoppers-most-excited-to-return-to-primark-after-lockdown/
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