5 Things Every Retailer -- Including You -- Should Know Going Into 2019 Next year, 2019, is right around the corner. Is your new business ready for the new technology?
By Corey Tollefson Edited by Dan Bova
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Did this year's now-past Black Friday mark the last "traditional holiday rush" as we know it? The reason: Retailers of all sizes can see the writing on the wall, as technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT) fundamentally change customers' approach to the traditional shopping experience.
Related: 4 Ways You Can Use AI to Enhance Every Step of the Customer Journey
In the age of Amazon and Alibaba, it can seem nearly impossible for small businesses to keep pace with the ecommerce giants setting the agenda in in today's digital world. From innovative payment solutions, to those entirely new shopping holidays, these titans are reimaging retail, creating a frictionless shopping experience from any device for their customers, anywhere and any time – not just during the holidays.
Even so, there's no need for smaller retailers to fear the changes spurred by digitization, AI or other emerging technologies. As business of all sizes invest in these technologies, young brands will have a chance to compete on the same playing field as multi-billion-dollar companies. However, to seize this opportunity, every retailer-- whether a company of five employees or 500 -- must keep a pulse on the retail trends emerging this year.
Here are several predictions for what to expect:
1. Local business will steal the show.
In recent years, we've seen retailers steer away from "appealing to the masses" and instead focus on hyper-specialization for niche markets. In fact, during the so-called "Retail Apocalypse," the number of independent bookstores grew by 35 percent, due largely to the unique experiences they offered their customers. Today, small businesses again have the opportunity to leapfrog their larger competitors by quickly implementing technology to enable further personalization, without having to undergo the lengthy, complicated transformation processes that are often the Achilles' heel of large retailers.
2. Mobile purchases will dominate sales.
Consumers spent more than $4 billion on mobile devices this Black Friday and Cyber Monday, according to Marketing Land; and that figure marked a historic record for mobile sales. In 2019, the shift to mobile shopping will only continue to accelerate year-round, as more retailers establish their own applications for mobile-friendly shopping experiences. In this increasingly on-the-go environment, it's more important than ever to not only create a compelling digital storefront, but also ensure that these offerings are seamlessly integrated across all platforms -- whether in-store or online.
Related: Technology in the Payments Space: Trends for 2019 and Beyond
3. Instant satisfaction will rule consumer decisions.
Besides the continuing spread of mobile sales, 2019 will see an uptick in consumers ditching screens altogether in favor of asking Amazon's Alexa to order items; that will be popular because it involves practically zero effort and time to complete a transaction. As the number of shopping channels continues to proliferate, the most forward-thinking retailers will identify and implement technology that satisfies the 24/7 shopper -- whether that occurs through customized in-app messaging, automated responses to FAQs or predictive analytics that provide recommendations via voice technology.
4. Big data will drive more sales.
From marketing to sales, big data will continue to drive greater customization. Some 62 percent of retailers, according to IBM, are using big data to give them a competitive advantage in today's business landscape. There's good reason: From anticipating customer purchases, to understanding how and when customers are most apt to spend, data is providing retailers with greater insights into customers' preferences and shopping habits.
When this data is paired with AI, retailers can understand what their customers want before they even ask for it, enabling hyper-tailored incentives in the form of loyalty rewards or promotions. And those incentives, ultimately, will rake in greater sales.
5. Traditional brick and mortar will be gone for good.
Just look at Bonobos and Warby Parker to see how brick and mortar continues to evolve. Consumers are no longer going to physical stores solely for bargains. Rather, they're going for unique treatment and experiences -- not to mention fast, efficient services. Some stores are even moving away from large inventories completely and instead opening smaller spaces for shoppers to try on select items, then get them shipped directly to their doorstep.
In this redesigned brick-and-mortar future, retailers will be challenged to master the individualized supply chain and will lean on technology to provide complete visibility into in-store transactions and inventory.
Related: By 2019, Video Marketing Will Be Everything. You've Got to Get in on the Trend -- Now.
There is no doubt that tech titans will continue disrupting retail in 2019, fueling a new year-'round shopping season. Small retailers must act fast and adapt the technologies that will allow them to take advantage of industry trends and change customer behavior. By seeing ahead of the curve, smaller retailers can identify their own investment areas, streamline operations and offer unprecedented customer service to their loyal shoppers. Next year, 2019, is right around the corner. Is your new business ready for the new technology?
