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For example , it can help identify and reduce contamination and , in the case of product recalls , identify impacted shipments . This level of detail and monitoring will become increasingly relevant for building customer loyalty and trust .
Overcoming retail barriers with digital
For retailers and grocers , COVID-19 demonstrated the need for a digital-first approach when it comes to customer engagement . This requires a deep understanding of customers , which can only come from enhanced data collection and analytics capabilities , which is becoming easier thanks to the rise of online shopping . As such , it ’ s important that retailers make the most of this opportunity .
Many consumers prefer to grocery shop from home , so retailers must find ways to blend elements of in-store shopping with their digital offerings . In-store associates , for example , can be replaced by virtual store associates or artificial intelligenceenabled chatbots . Making these changes means rethinking the entire customer journey and identifying opportunities made via promotional online offers . Being data-driven also enables retailers to build trust with customers for example , by providing information about food ’ s origins and ingredients at the click of a button . For restaurants , emerging techenabled business models such as cloud kitchens can open new streams of revenue by offering an alternative to in-person dining . Apart from cost savings , these business models also provide an opportunity for restaurants to understand consumers ’ food preferences and habits , which can inform future business decisions .
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