Three Areas for Improvement in Retail

The retail apocalypse was the talk of 2017 and 2018. However, the industry rebounded in a big way in the second half of last year and has continued to rise in 2019. According to a study by IHL Group, the number of physical retail locations being opened is outpacing those being closed.

The latest sign of retail’s revival arrived today in the form of an announcement that Toys R Us is back in business. Tru Kids Brands now owns Toys R Us, Babies R Us, and the company’s giraffe mascot, Geoffrey. Tru Kids Brands was formed earlier this year by a former executive at Toys R Us.

Despite all the good news for the retail industry, there is still plenty of work to do, especially when it comes to digital and omnichannel initiatives. Many retailers are still struggling with even the basics.

At Applause, we’ve identified three areas retailers need to focus on to deliver the best experiences to customers today and in the future.

Ecommerce: You may be an online company, but your business is impacted by the devices your customers use, the environments they operate in, and the payment methods they prefer. Applause gives you the test coverage you need and tests your apps and websites in the real world with highly-vetted digital experts. Our offerings span digital, usability, and payment testing to deliver seamless customer experiences and stop shopping cart abandonment in its tracks.

Omnichannel: How do you know if your store associates are properly trained? Do franchises differ from Manhattan to Madison? Are your initiatives missing the bar, or worse, costing customers? Applause tests your omnichannel experiences across digital and in-store locations, providing full visibility into operational readiness and your customer’s end-to-end journey.

Accessibility: Building accessible experiences for all users not only increases customer loyalty, it helps you avoid costly lawsuits. Applause brings your digital experiences into the real world by testing with native users of assistive technology and accessibility experts. Our team provides recommendations for how to improve your site, making it usable for all customers and helping you comply with government regulations.

Find out how Applause can help you build retail experiences that will keep your customers coming back again and again, building revenue and loyalty along the way. Visit our new retail-specific site to learn more.