· 86% of APAC retailers looking to increase
investment in intelligent automation by 2022
·
Zebra’s variety of
retail solutions is poised to help retailers during the pandemic
Zebra Technologies Corporation, (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an
innovator at the front line of business with solutions and
partners that deliver a performance edge, today revealed the results
of its 12th Annual
APAC Shopper Study, which analyzed retailers’ technology plans for solving
chronic shopping issues. Results show that retailers are looking to harness
technologies like intelligent automation, cloud computing and mobility to drive
economic growth. To strengthen retailers position in these unprecedented times,
the launch of the 12th Annual APAC Shopper Study is
aligned with the unveiling of array of products by Zebra Technologies.
As businesses
reopen and rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic, the resiliency of retailers and
supply chains are being tested more now than ever before. One monumental shift
relates to the concept of “Economy at Home,” which addresses the way consumers
have completely changed their shopping habits. The frequency and volume of
online spending on food has increased across the region, with consumers
expressing a preference for self-checkout rather than assistance from cashiers
for safe distancing.
To meet rising customer expectations, retailers need
to rethink the safety of the customer journey, whether it is in store or via
delivery. Click-and-collect, or buy online, pick-up in store (BOPIS), are
becoming preferred methods of shopping, with 55% of consumers requesting more
retailers to offer mobile ordering options. This is forcing businesses to rethink their
fulfillment strategies given that only 36% of respondents agreed that their
stores are equipped to fulfill web orders. The study expects this trend to continue, while retailers
implement additional solutions that minimize in-store contact and improve
customer convenience at the same time.
Putting a mobile device
into the hands of a retail associate simplifies tasks like inventory
management, yet an estimated 64% of retail associates are not equipped to maximize
the benefits of technology. In response, retailers are moving away from dated
green-screen technology to enterprise-class devices with intuitive,
user-friendly interfaces with smartphone-like operating systems.
The pandemic has proven
this true as click-and-collect orders
have surged, creating the need for store associates to enable contactless
transactions via curbside pickup with handheld mobile computers and tablets.
When paired with a mobile printer, the likes of the TC52 Touch Computer and TC21 Touch Computer form Mobile Point of Sale (mPOS) solutions that can drive contactless fulfilment by
alerting associates of new online orders, enabling them to pack merchandise,
label products and print receipts prior to the customer’s arrival .
The adoption of mPOS solutions is expected to hit 98%
by 2026, up from 76% today. The same trend is also observed for handheld mobile
computers with scanners as retail associate device usage is expected to reach
96% by 2026, up from the current 75%.
Zebra Technologies has also launched Self-checkout
solutions like the DS9900 Series
Corded Hybrid Imager, DS9300
Barcode Scanner and the
upgraded MP7000 Grocery
Scanner Scale that are helping
retailers to reshape the front-of-store experience. Growing up with technology
and automation, 89% of surveyed shoppers agree that self-checkout improves
their shopping experience. Additionally, self-checkout has become even more
relevant during this pandemic as both shoppers and retailers strive to minimize
in-store contact to ensure safety.
Returns are another pain point for shoppers and poses
a significant challenge for retailers. Up to 51% of retail executives report
that they have started or are planning to start upgrading their returns
management technologies in the next five years. Meanwhile, 83% of retailers
currently have or plan to implement automated inventory verification systems
within the year to advance real-time inventory accuracy.
ASIA-PACIFIC HIGHLIGHTS
· 88% of retailers agree maintaining real-time inventory
visibility is a significant challenge, and 85% say their companies need better
inventory management tools to ensure accuracy.
· Retailers also cite robot assistance (83%), smart
check-out and real-time store IoT platforms (89%) as extremely important to
their operations over the next five years.
· 81% of retailers plan to provide mobile ordering as a
fulfilment option by 2021.
·
70% of retailers
are integrating social media within their ecosystem for digital native shoppers
to provide feedback.
SURVEY
BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY
Zebra’s 12th Annual Shopper Study surveyed over 6,300 global
respondents, including over 1,200 APAC region respondents (retail executives,
store associates and shoppers) to gauge the attitudes, opinions and
expectations that are reshaping brick and mortar and online retail. The
results, summarized in a two-part series, are essential reading for industry
leaders seeking actionable insights to serve today’s tech-savvy shoppers.