Retail FM

Searching for unity and harmony? Consumers only need to look as far as the best omnichannel brands. That’s because retailers with a digital and physical footprint are more focused than ever on building a cohesive experience at every touchpoint. That’s good news for shoppers. But it’s challenging for retailers.

Illuminated signage represents your brand as far as the eye can see…so long as it’s lit. But we’ve all come across the opposite. Signs with flickering lights, one or two dark letters, or those experiencing a complete outage. It immediately detracts from your brand. And, in some cases, dark letters may even send the wrong message. Routine night audits can be expensive, however. They also tie up resources and take a considerable amount of time — especially if you have a widespread portfolio. Fortunately, there is a better approach.

These days it’s common to hear people discuss ‘the new normal.’ For brick-and-mortar retail, the new normal means adjusting to ever-evolving circumstances. From extra cleaning and social distancing measures to curbside and other low- or no-contact fulfillment options, retailers are being challenged to deliver on changing consumer preferences that place a higher value on safety, speed, and convenience.

Believe it or not, many retailers are still spending thousands of dollars and hours on site visits. This is inefficient and unnecessary. Crowdsourcing services, like Quri (manufacturing), Field Agent (Merchandising) and iVueit (Facilities Management) deploy independent locals armed with a smartphone and a task list, to deliver real-time photographic verification and insights into products, in-store displays and external property status, with the click of a button. These services enable retailers to quickly ‘see’ hundreds of locations without leaving their office