Rethinking Retail: Strategies to Meet Evolving Customer Expectations

With the changes in retail, businesses need to rebuild or strengthen loyalty with their customers with the experiences they are looking for. New data gives insights into what shopper expectations look like in 2022.

Toshiba, together with Retail Dive, surveyed 148 retail executives to find out how they are utilizing technology to change the in-store experience for shoppers and create unique, operational benefits.

To keep pace with changing consumer expectations while also controlling costs in today’s dynamic environment, brands need a set of infrastructure solutions designed for retail.

Many brick-and-mortar retailers in the United States and abroad were forced to adapt to the uncertainty of nationwide closures. Ever since, retailers have navigated a new landscape of commerce and sought out effective ways to meet the still-evolving needs of retail consumers — a journey that highlights the ongoing relevance of retail technology that reduces friction.

Self-checkout (SCO) technology initially emerged as a means for retailers to streamline the checkout process and reduce labor costs. Early iterations of these systems were very basic, often plagued by technical glitches, and faced resistance from both retailers and shoppers.

Consumer research from Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions indicates shoppers, of all generations, view the store as an integral part of engagement, transaction and retention. In this report, we reveal critical insights to create meaningful connections with consumers across points of decision, from home to store and in between."

New research indicates shoppers view the store as an integral part of engagement, transaction, and retention. Learn how to connect with your consumers so you can attract and retain them with better experiences

Edison Group conducted research and a series of tests comparing Dual Station Point-of-Sale (POS) printers, namely, Toshiba TCx® Dual Station Printer (6145-2TN) vs. Epson (TM-H6000V) focusing on four categories, namely performance, economy, architecture and serviceability as they are the main considerations when purchasing a POS printer for retail.

Edison Group conducted research and a series of tests comparing Single Station Point-of-Sale (POS) printers, namely, Toshiba TCx® Printer 1 Station (6145-1TN) vs. Epson (TM-T88VI) focusing on four categories, namely performance, economy, architecture and serviceability as they are the main considerations when purchasing a POS printer for retail.

Test results clearly indicate that Toshiba has the premium integrated POS platform, earning high ratings in almost every evaluation criterion. Starting with several retail hardening features, Toshiba’s POS all-in-one platform includes advanced air cooling, flexible screen tilting, formalized cable management, ease of service and future-proof architecture."

New research shows how convenience and fuel retailers are tackling self-checkout and all of the challenges and opportunities that come along with it.

Supermarket retailers must find new ways to bring customers into their stores, maximize their high-margin categories, and boost basket size. Read this whitepaper to learn how expanded food service, supported by the innovative Toshiba and CBS NorthStar joint solution, has been a highly successful strategy for grocers.

New research finds that many pharmacy and grocery shoppers are actually loyal to the digital features that produce positive customer experiences — not the retail brand itself. Read the new report to learn more about customer loyalty to merchants.

Retailers are increasingly relying on Digital Signage as an engaging way to communicate about brands, interact with shoppers, and increase their profits.

Toshiba’s ELERA® Associate Mobile is a mobile Point-of-Sale (POS) application that provides retailers with a complete POS system on a mobile device. As the mobile touchpoint of the ELERA® Commerce Platform, ELERA® Associate Mobile boosts productivity and customer experience by enabling associates to drive frictionless checkouts at shopper convenience.

Expanding Beyond Grocery

Customer expectations continue to evolve, so retailers must start elevating their retail experiences from simple points of sale to endless points of experience. The time is now to enable new customer journeys and personalized interactions that transform frustrations into shopper enjoyment.

This whitepaper explores how modular, adaptable point-of-sale (POS) technologies are reshaping retail and restaurant operations. Sponsored by Toshiba in partnership with Retail Customer Experience, it highlights how businesses can confidently adopt emerging technologies without the risks of long-term lock-in, helping them stay competitive and future-ready.

"The fun of shopping is never as pronounced as during the holidays. Shopping centers become places to ice skate with family, take pictures with Santa, sip hot cocoa and browse for the perfect gift for a loved one. While purchasing online can eliminate the anxiety of dealing with crowds and long lines, it also takes away the sensory joys of the season."

By now, it’s clear that digital is not the death-knell of traditional retail. In fact, about 4,000 more stores opened than closed in the United States last year, according to a study by IHL Group. Large retailers that expanded in 2017 include Dollar General, Aldi, GNC, Tractor Supply and Ulta. Even digital retail king Amazon is expanding its brick-and-mortar footprint.

Are retailers' unified commerce strategies aligned with their growth imperatives? What are their key priorities? This infographic provides insight into how grocers are trying to shift their priorities around their physical and digital strategies.

With customers consistently seeking fast, convenient and simple self-checkout experiences, retailers are understandably reluctant to do anything that will add friction at checkout in order to protect their bottom line while maximizing trust and loyalty. Customers want to feel confident that their transactions are accurate, and retailers need to trust in the systems’ capability to protect the store from shrink.

Toshiba was named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Point-of-Sale Software in Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Retail 2018 Vendor Assessment

IDC announces that new Super Platform Frameworks like Toshiba's ELERA (R) are critical to meeting urgent retail industry needs.

The store of the future is here. Retailers must take steps toward a frictionless future by transforming in-store experiences to create sustainable business growth while also realizing value each step along the journey through customer tracking, inventory and planogram compliance and more, all ultimately evolving to a frictionless shopping experience.

InnovationFriction is everywhere. As retailers and retail enthusiasts we’re trained to identify it, removed it and measure the benefit. Then, repeat. That makes the frictionless wave sweeping across the retail industry even more exciting. Are you ready?

Last year, retailers made great strides in technology exploration and innovation. And 2019 is already shaping up to be a year of real, scalable change in adopting retail tech tools and moving along the path to frictionless shopping. Is your business prepared to keep up? Toshiba's Global Vice President of Innovation Yevgeni Tsirulnik sat down to talk about what retailers can learn from last year, what trends and types of technology they should be incorporating into their business strategies this year and where Toshiba fits into the retail tech landscape

Discover how innovation impacts the customer experience and how retailers can close the gap between intention and implementation, improve profitability, and keep up with customer expectations.

As technology continues to evolve, retailers must embrace new innovations and continuously experiment to find new ways to better serve customers and remain competitive. This infographic provides insights into retailers’ key innovation priorities, strategies, and future investment plans based on key findings and analysis from a study of 225+ retail executives.

Retail is entering a new era, as edge-enabled intelligence replaces costly, centralized systems. This whitepaper shows how retailers can cut shrink, reduce infrastructure costs, and build sustainable, future-ready operations by moving camera analytics and AI to the edge.

Expanding Beyond Grocery

Toshiba’s System 7 self-service solution was designed with shoppers in mind. This next-generation, customer-focused solution – a product of advancements in Toshiba’s self-checkout technology, processes and training – gives shoppers choice, control, privacy, and convenience at checkout.

Retailers know that a reliably functioning point-of-sale (POS) system is critical to customer satisfaction. According to the 2019 POS/Customer Engagement Survey from BRP, 82% of consumers say the ease of checkout and payment is an important factor in choosing where they shop.

Extend your front-end to the rest of your store. Designed for any retail environment, our new self-service solution offers a modern, flexible and attractive self-service touchpoint that can be installed virtually anywhere enabling retailers to reimagine their store design and increase store capacities.

Retail is currently experiencing a renaissance where the role of the store is changing rapidly. Convenience, customer-focused service, and basic omnichannel services are standard expectations and no longer serve as differentiators for stores. Retailers must now fundamentally change their store formats in order to deliver shopping experiences that engage customers. That means retailers must create unified shopping experiences by orchestrating new investments in technology alongside mission-critical store systems to exceed expectations in this new digital age.

The food industry must adapt their models to remove friction from the buying journey that most often starts in the digital realm. This Market Snapshot provides insights into how point-of-sale systems must provide restaurant chains the ability to quickly adapt to a dynamic environment.

Reliability is one of the most important performance factors for any point of sale and self-service hardware. If the system goes down, even for a few minutes, the store can’t complete the transaction, which can lead to frustrated shoppers and hurt customer loyalty and result in potential lost sales and revenue.

Retailers don’t have time to deal with disruptions caused by common hazards. Reliability and durability are important considerations when you’re investing in point-of-sale hardware. That’s why it’s vital that your retail technology is retail hardened.

As you reopen your store, there are also several practical items to think about for the safety and well-being of your employees and visitors while providing an opportunity to be transformational for the future.

Many brick-and-mortar retailers in the United States and abroad were forced to adapt to the uncertainty of nationwide closures. Ever since, retailers have navigated a new landscape of commerce and sought out effective ways to meet the still-evolving needs of retail consumers — a journey that highlights the ongoing relevance of retail technology that reduces friction.

The holidays are upon us, and retailers have to be ready with seamless, cross-channel shopping experiences that live up to consumers' expectations. So what can the industry expect after Thanksgiving dinner is done, and how can retailers prepare themselves to make the most of the busiest season of the year?

Retail is entering a new chapter where every interaction has the potential to shape lasting connections with customers. This infographic explores how personalization, ease, and engagement are redefining the shopping journey and creating opportunities for retailers to deliver meaningful experiences.

This industry report presents key findings and analysis from a study of 125 convenience retail executives in the United States and Canada to gain insights into the impact of increased competition and eCommerce adoption in Convenience, Convenience retailers' outlook towards the future of the c-store, and current adoption and future plans to acquire key commerce experiences and capabilities.

This industry report presents key findings and analysis from a study of 128 convenience retail executives to gain insights into the current and future plans of Convenience retailers.

This industry report presents key findings and analysis from a study of over 141 U.S. restaurant executives to gain insights into the impact of shifts in food ordering, improving the in-restaurant experience, and addressing key challenges facing the industry.

This State of the Industry: Innovation in Retail report presents key findings and analysis from a study of US, Canadian, and LATAM retailers covering innovation perspectives, impact of AI and other tech advancements, and leaderships role in innovation.

Physical stores are evolving into multi-purpose platforms for commerce, fulfillment, and customer engagement. Based on a comprehensive study of 440 retail technology and business leaders across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, this report examines how leading retailers are building the foundation for tomorrow's stores, today.

This industry report presents key findings and analysis from a study of over 225 retail executives to gain insights into the current and future readiness, capabilities, and maturity of innovation strategies.

Unlocking the Potential of Your Restaurant

This industry report presents key findings and analysis from a study of 142 grocery executives in North America and 100 grocery executives in Latin America to gain insight into the executive perspective and approach towards the fast-evolving trends redefining the grocery landscape.

This industry report presents key findings and analysis from a study of over 135 food and grocery retail executives to gain insights into the current and future readiness for unified commerce.

As a fully functional point-of-sale system, kiosk, or self-service unit, the TCx® 800 All-in-One POS platform is designed for retail by combining robust performance and exceptional reliability.

In a series of technical tests, Toshiba’s TCx 810 point-of-sale (POS) device was shown to be superior to competing brands’ POS models.

This white paper explores the challenges retailers face and how Toshiba’s retail-hardened POS systems solve hardware challenges to ensure they meet their goals.

Unlocking the Potential of Your Restaurant

The Toshiba TCx® M1 is a point-of-sale handheld device that enables sales associates to take payments on the spot, making checkout lines, curbside pickup, and remote areas of the store even more convenient. The TCx® M1 offers retailers a complete mobile POS system capable of scanning and processing all forms of payment on a sleek, secure, & low-profile device.

Toshiba TCx® Printers were designed for retail to bring easy systems management, efficiency and reliability to a variety of retail environments.

TCx® Touch displays are designed to inspire and perform across a variety of environments, going beyond the standard POS setup. Engineered with style, innovation, and reliability in mind, our advanced displays seamlessly align multiple touchpoints, empowering businesses to adapt to the ever-evolving retail landscape and beyond.

We are in a retail renaissance. Both digital upstarts and incumbent retailers are re-imagining stores as hubs of experience, convenience and service. Apparel and specialty retailers are experimenting with, and scaling, five unique store formats that deliver a combination of experience, convenience and service. These store formats are reshaping the future of brick and mortar retail.

Apparel & Specialty retailers faced an unprecedented 2020. This has lead to massive changes across the enterprise. This Market Snapshot provides insights into how to enable new safety requirements and new consumer expectations for apparel/specialty shopping, retailers need to rethink their systems approach.

Restaurants have to adopt a business model that enables more flexibility in uncertain environments. This Market Snapshot provides insights into how to enable new safety requirements and rethink their systems approach to deliver in-location dining experiences to meet guests' expectations.

New research shows shoppers want modern, user-friendly, self-service experiences that allow them to shop when, where and how they want and skip the traditional checkout. Read the report to learn more.

Retailers are constantly looking for better ways to make every dollar count, especially when upgrading, configuring, migrating, or deploying new retail solutions that would typically take significant time and money to implement. Selecting the right service provider is key to enabling your business to succeed.