More than 70 percent of consumers prefer to shop for consumer goods either in-store or online from retailers with a physical presence, as opposed to 29 percent who shop primarily online, according to survey results announced by DXC Technology.
Contrary to increasingly common belief, the survey revealed that showrooming strengthens brick-and-mortar stores, with 36 percent of consumers buying in-store after exploring products online. Ninety-four percent of shoppers say a store associate’s help is important in feeling confident they are buying the right product.
The results are from a web-based survey of 1,000 consumers in North America conducted by IDC to understand the changing landscape of the customer shopping experience and journey.
Surprising key findings:
- Same-day or next-day delivery or in-store-pickup options are not key differentiators unless enterprises are trying to reach specific groups or segments of customers:
- Same-day or next-day delivery represents about 9 percent of total shopping, while Generation X and millennials use it more (33 and 28 percent respectively); and
- Buying online and picking up in-store also represents 9 percent of total shopping, while millennials and Generation Z again use it more (24 and 13 percent respectively).
- While some claim that traditional loyalty programs don’t matter, 57 percent of shoppers say online promotions are important. Fifty-four percent of shoppers admit that their experience with promotions has improved over the last year.
Consumers surveyed are more likely to feel satisfied with their purchases when shopping in-store than with pure-play e-commerce retailers. In fact, more than 60 percent of respondents are confident with their purchases when they make them in-store and strongly appreciate the ability to return products conveniently and hassle-free to retail locations.
More than half of respondents (54 percent) rate their overall in-store shopping experiences as emotionally satisfying, while 48 percent say they obtain good deals in stores (highest score in the category).
E-commerce retailers scored high on convenience. More than 50 percent of consumers surveyed described their overall online shopping experiences as convenient, quick and simple. They also noted that e-commerce players help them discover their likes and find what suits them.
When making purchase decisions, most consumers rely on customer ratings and reviews (66 percent) and technical product data (55 percent). Naturally, there is a strong need to deploy in-store, multipurpose interactive devices with relevant, current and curated content.
Useful and relevant search and navigation results were important for 59 percent of respondents, which challenges retailers to bring interactive navigation into the store through consumers’ own devices and augmented reality signage.
“If you are an omnichannel retailer, you need to tenaciously focus on in-store services that deepen and strengthen your engagement with customers,” said Vijay Iyer, vice president and general manager, Americas Consumer Industries and Retail, DXC Technology. “If you are an e-commerce retailer, you need to lead with the convenience factor and use artificial intelligence to predict consumer behavior.”
Source: DXC Technology
