Point of Sale (POS), traditionally, is a quite straightforward technology. Any system that enables transactions between the retailer and the customer can allow a business to complete its sales and operate without too many issues.

However, in a digital-first world, where retailers are turning to technology to gain an edge over their competitors, a traditional POS system is no longer a viable option. At every touchpoint – especially at the point of sale – retailers need to be delivering a flawless and efficient customer experience in order to keep up with evolving needs of today’s demanding consumer. The choice is either adapt or be left behind.

As a result, retailers now leverage some of the most innovative technologies at their point of sale in order to attract and retain customers. In fact, the best technologies even make their own lives easier. A Mobile POS system does exactly that.

No longer just the simple, transactional system that only conducts transactions, here are 3 reasons why Mobile POS will transform retailers’ operations…

1)    Frictionless User Experience

Technology is designed to make life easier for everyone; and that is exactly what Mobile POS can deliver today. Retailers need an enterprise POS system with the flexibility and appearance of a mobile device.

Teamwork Commerce’s Mobile POS technology operates exclusively on cutting-edge iOS devices. The Apple interface – something that many are familiar with – provides a simple and quick user experience. As a result, in-store associates can be trained quickly.

Retailers can install the POS app directly from the iOS app store, before activating and running the complete POS system. They can also check inventory and print shipping labels for fulfilment purposes directly from the app.

The technology is also easily integrated with new payment providers, and devices can be connected and implemented to expand payment functionality with a range of payment methods, such as credit cards, card readers and contactless payments.

With the solution deployed, in-store associates gain access to easy-to-use devices that can be activated or deactivated as needed, all designed to make the transaction process easier for both employee and customer.

2)    Streamlined In-Store Processes

Functionality is a key aspect of any modern retail device, and the ideal mobile POS solution should be able to integrate seamlessly with a retailer’s wider technology stack, including: customer relationship management (CRM) tool, inventory management systems, order fulfilment technology, and reporting and analytics solutions.

With these integrations, the Mobile Point of Sale solution provides a significant amount of information, in real-time, all in one place. Ultimately, in-store associates can be kept up-to-date on all operations, allowing them to both complete tasks and serve customers more efficiently.

Importantly, Mobile POS devices are not tied down to specific locations in-store. Deployed on tablets and other mobile devices, associates can complete transactions from anywhere in-store. This allows retailers to minimize queuing times and serve more customers, faster, enhacing the shopping experience.

3)    Happier Customers

Customer experience is everything. Without the need to queue, and with access to instant real-time information from in-store associates, Mobile POS allows customers to experience high-quality customer service. However, when deployed alongside the latest CRM and clienteling technologies, staff can also personalize their approach to individual customers based on previous interactions.

From shoe sizes, to product preferences, all the way through to the name of a customer’s dog. Teamwork Commerce’s CRM and clienteling solutions seamlessly integrate with the Mobile Point of Sale to help retailers create bespoke customer experiences. This enables retailers to take their customer service to another level.

In-store associates can check-in on a customer, tailor their approach and make meaningful recommendations based on customers’ previous purchases, and provide real-time information regarding promotions, inventory levels and product location. They can then help shoppers source their desired items and complete the transaction on the spot.

With the Teamwork Commerce technology in place, customers can receive a warm, personalized welcome, they can be served quickly and get offered the most relevant items. They can achieve all this within minutes without having to wait in long lines. They can even earn a few loyalty points along the way.

Mobile POS provides high-quality customer service, which in turn breeds trust and loyalty from customers. New customers become retained, they tell their friends about their experiences; the friends then visit the store, and a virtuous cycle of great customer service begins.

More Than Just a Checkout

It is easy to look at POS technology as nothing more than what it says on the tin: Point of Sale. However, with the right tools, it can become so much more. With Teamwork Commerce’s Mobile POS integrated with wider retail technologies, retailers can evolve their entire in-store offering to significantly streamline their own operational processes, while creating highly personalized and efficient customer experiences. This, ultimately, delivers long-term retail business success through a happy, loyal and retained customer base.

Olimpia Pasaye

LATAM Marketing Director

Continuing with our blog series – Five Minutes With… we get to know Olimpia Pasaye, LATAM Marketing Director, based in Teamwork’s Mexico office. Aside from being a sports enthusiast and having a healthy lifestyle, Olimpia is responsible for leading Teamwork’s marketing activities in Latin America. Here, she reveals all about her experience…

• What is your role at Teamwork Commerce?

I am the LATAM Marketing Director at Teamwork Commerce, and my role is to manage and lead the marketing and communication tasks in my region. My role requires me to be a social media planner, creative designer, and strategic content writer.

• Explain your career path. What inspired you to join the retail tech industry?

My career path started with my passion for marketing and creative design, which led to me working as a graphic designer and content creator. Gaining experience and a range of skills in these areas helped me to take on more responsibilities and leadership roles. This includes becoming a marketing manager and eventually the LATAM Marketing Director at the company.

My inspiration to join the retail tech industry began with the exciting intersection of technology and marketing. Retail tech companies are at the forefront of innovation, leveraging digital tools and data-driven strategies to enhance the shopping experience for customers. I love having a role to play in helping retailers achieve that.

• What is your favourite thing about working in the retail industry?

For me, it is the constant evolution and adaptation to consumer behaviour. The retail industry is always changing, and being a part of this environment challenges me to stay ahead of trends, come up with creative solutions, and deliver impactful campaigns that resonate with our target audience.

• What is the best career advice you have ever received?

Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength.

This advice has been transformative for me because it encourages me to seek guidance and collaborate with colleagues. Embracing vulnerability and recognizing that we all have areas to learn and grow in has allowed me to learn from others’ experiences, and continuously improve as a Marketing leader.

• What is your favourite thing about working at Teamwork Commerce?

The amazing culture that the company has! From the moment I joined, I felt welcomed and supported by my colleagues. The company’s emphasis on teamwork is real. Everyone is genuinely nice, approachable, and always willing to lend a helping hand. Having a supportive and friendly work environment is crucial for fostering creativity, innovation, and personal growth.

• Who are your key role models/inspirations?

My key role models and inspirations in the marketing and business world are David Ogilvy, the founder of Ogilvy and Mather, as well as Leena Nair, the current CEO of Chanel.

David Ogilvy’s innovative approach to advertising and his emphasis on creativity, strategy, and research have been foundational principles for my marketing career. His ability to connect with audiences and create memorable campaigns is something I aspire to achieve in my own work.

Leena Nair’s leadership in the luxury fashion industry is inspiring, especially as a hard-working woman myself. Her accomplishments and ability to navigate a competitive industry are a testament to her determination and skill. As a woman in a leadership role, I look up to her as a role model to make a positive impact in my company and the marketing industry as a whole.

Rapid Fire Round…

What is your favourite…

• Book: Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
• Movie: I’m all about chick flicks and drama movies. A Love to Remember; How to Lose a Guy in 10 days; Me Before You; P.S. I Love You… And the list goes on.
• Album: 21 by Adele

Most people don’t know that I…

I’ve been vegan for the past 9 years! I consider this to be one of the most important things in my life, but not a lot of people know about this. Since I’m so used to being vegan, I just don’t think about it anymore. I love having a healthy lifestyle and a plant-based diet.

In my spare time, I…

Love playing sports! I like to play tennis, padel, soccer, do yoga and dance, among many others! I usually spend a couple of hours in the afternoon playing a sport after work.

Originally posted in Forbes

By Sergey Kozhevnikov, VP of Product Development, at Teamwork Commerce.

In today’s retail panorama, where customer loyalty is a coveted treasure, it is crucial for retailers to recognize that their interactions with shoppers extend far beyond mere transactions. Craving an air of exclusivity, shoppers expect retailers to weave personalized magic into every single interaction. From scrolling through their favorite e-commerce platforms for exciting offers to visiting in-store to touch, feel and buy their desired items, customers want their shopping journeys to be completely seamless.

As Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This poignant statement holds significance in today’s customer-centric retail landscape, where creating high-quality experiences has become essential for retailers. In order to achieve this, retailers need to find ways to blend their customers’ online and physical journeys, personalize their interactions and create a completely seamless experience.

The Fusion That Retailers Need

Bringing together the strengths of online and offline shopping experiences, omnichannel fulfillment services provide flexibility, allowing customers to shop in ways that best suit them. The popularity of buy online pick up in-store (BOPIS) and buy online return in-store (BORIS) seems to only increase. In fact, the U.S. BOPIS market is expected to surpass $154 billion by 2025 from $113 million in 2023. What does this mean for retailers? Consumer demand is clearly high—and continuing to grow. Retailers must eliminate friction between channels and work to make their omnichannel offering as convenient as possible.

Retailers should be able to enable customers to seamlessly purchase an item at the click of a button and pick it up at their own convenience. The transition from app to store should not only be smooth but also satisfying. Finding a product out of stock, especially when shoppers visit a physical store to collect it, can negatively impact their shopping experience. Retailers must provide their customers with accurate inventory information and enhanced visibility of their order’s fulfillment journey regardless of whether they shop in-person, hybrid or completely online.

One way retailers can achieve this is through technology, deploying solutions that can seamlessly integrate with wider retail operations in real time. An all-in-one solution can tie together different components of a retail ecosystem into a single platform, benefiting retailers and customers alike.

Today, leveraging omnichannel technology allows retailers to streamline their entire operation from the supply chain, and order fulfillment through to customer relationship management (CRM), point-of-sale (POS) and analytics. Weaving together different retail tools, modern technologies allow retailers to automate their operations. Additionally, these technological advancements play a key role in enhancing the customer experience. Shoppers can enjoy increased visibility of retailers’ inventory and receive real-time order fulfillment updates such as accurate expected delivery dates and times.

Creating Meaningful Interactions

In addition to detailed operational information, an omnichannel solution also provides retailers with the opportunity to gain a holistic view of all customer-related information in real time, including their purchasing behavior, habits, preferences, history and feedback across all sales channels. Retailers can lean on this data to tailor their recommendations and suggest meaningful products and services, creating high-quality experiences.

If a customer often purchases items of a particular brand, has a preferred color or regularly shops from a specific collection or category, the right omnichannel solution can feed and reflect this information into wider retail solutions such as mobile POS. With this data at their fingertips, in-store associates can make relevant suggestions. This not only makes customers feel special, but it can also positively influence their purchasing decisions, ultimately boosting sales.

Instead of trying to sell items that customers may not be interested in, retailers must use a data-driven approach and suggest items of customers’ interest. This can attract shoppers’ attention, retain their loyalty and encourage them to purchase products. Omnichannel has numerous benefits, but to drive its maximum potential, retailers need to be able to implement it effectively.

Best Practices For Implementing An Omnichannel Solution

Integrating several retail technologies within a single solution provides a range of benefits, but it is also complex.

While implementing an omnichannel solution, retailers should eliminate silos and identify gaps by working closely with their technology provider. Retailers must step into the shoes of their customers to identify and embrace their customers’ needs. To better stand out in a fiercely competitive industry, retailers should also strive to deliver unique offerings that can benefit their customers, such as same-day fulfillment options or highly personalized in-person interactions.

The implementation process requires architectural expertise, and retailers must partner with technology vendors who have a proven track record of implementing similar solutions within the industry. Retailers must also identify clear goals and pain points before purchasing and implementing any solution.

Finally, retailers need to understand that technology implementation is not a one-off exercise. Instead, it is an ongoing process where both the retailer and the vendor must work together to drive successful results. It is essential that retailers review and upgrade their entire retail technology stack on an ongoing basis.

Omnichannel retail has clearly revolutionized the way retailers and customers engage. It has provided retailers with the ability to blend various channels and touchpoints and ultimately unlock the potential for deeper, more meaningful interactions with their clientele. A well-implemented omnichannel solution is no longer a choice but a necessity for retailers to thrive and deliver unparalleled customer experiences in this dynamic retail environment.

The pinnacle of summer is here, and as we near September, the retail world prepares for a hectic end to the year – counting the days to Black Friday and the resulting festive shopping period.

Over the last couple of months, ongoing retail news trends have continued to develop – with shrink issues, new technologies and continued resilience against economic downturn. We uncover all in our latest Retail in Review blog…

The Future is AI

The key technology that seems to be on the lips of everyone this year, artificial intelligence (AI) is having a significant impact everywhere – and retail is no exception.

According to research from Honeywell, nearly six in 10 retailers plan to adopt AI, alongside machine learning (ML) and computer vision technologies into their offering over the next year. This is designed to enhance the shopping experience that retailers can offer in both stores and online.

According to the findings, nearly half (48%) of global respondents expect these specific technologies to have a significant impact on the retail industry in the next three to five years.

With the customer experience having become such a high priority for retailers, and the potential that AI and ML have in creating personalized, seamless and streamlined shopping experiences, there should be no surprise at their perceived future importance.

Retailers Fight Back Against Organized Retail Crime

In our last Retail in Review blog, we explored how shrink – and more specifically, theft – is currently having a profound impact on the retail industry. It now appears that retailers are turning to technology to take action against shoplifting. And while AI may be expected to introduce great change to customer experience in the next few years, its use in loss prevention is apparently already well underway.

A number of major US retailers are believed to be layering AI on top of existing retail technology solutions – such as RFID and predictive analytics – to ‘superpower’ them and increase their efficiency against shrink.

With a busy festive shopping period soon to appear on the horizon, retailers will be keen to find effective, fast solutions to minimizing theft in their stores.

To find out more about how RFID-Powered Self-Checkout can minimize in-store theft, read our blog here

Retail Resilience Continues

The retail sector has showed strength in 2023. Despite ongoing economic challenges, retail sales continued to rise, and increased by 0.7% in July – which was higher than expected.

The Commerce Department found that online sales supported continued growth, with many consumers spending more on hobbies and clothing. This was all despite the Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate hikes to tame inflation.

In today’s market, convenience conquers all – and this is clearly highlighted by July’s impressive growth stats. If retailers want to increase sales, they have to be able to cater to the demanding consumer. One effective solution for this is the option to pay by link.

Our latest Pay by Link solution, launched in partnership with Adyen, enables retail customers to pay for items through a secure URL link, provided by the retailer and powered by Teamwork Commerce. With a number of sales channels regularly utilized by retailers, the Pay by Link solution is designed with the end-user in mind. The payment page operates across a range of devices, and can be accessed through email, separate link or by scanning a QR code.

Turning Attention to End of Year

The summer period is drawing to a close. As retailers begin to prepare for the typical chaos of the festive shopping season, consumers clearly remain keen to spend their hard-earned money. They’ve also become fastidious and aren’t easy to win over. To earn their loyalty and retain them in the long-term, retailers must deliver unparalleled experiences seamlessly. Shrink challenges may loom but with innovative technologies such as AI breaking through, the industry remains confident of overcoming its latest hurdle.

The next few months could define the entire year for retailers with Black Friday on the horizon to kick-off the winter shopping period. As long as the industry continues to find new ways to cater to an evolving customer base, success should soon follow.

Find out more about how Teamwork Commerce’s solutions can help your retail business prepare for a busy end of year. Get in touch today!

To thrive in today’s retail environment, where margins are razor-thin and the soaring cost of living is only making shoppers more fastidious, many retailers are investing in the latest technology innovations in order to better serve shoppers, deliver top-tier customer experiences and drive loyalty and retention. 

A top-tier shopping experience relies on a number of key factors, namely: convenience, speed, and personalization. It is also influenced by the level of interaction that retailers have with their customers at different touchpoints throughout their shopping journeys. One significant touchpoint within the customer journey is the checkout process. Often the last interaction that a customer has with a retailer, the checkout can be a make-or-break experience for consumers. A seamless, fast and friendly transaction leaves a much different impression for shoppers leaving a store than a long queue, grumpy checkout assistant and overall slow purchase. Retailers must be able to positively influence their shoppers’ experience by keeping checkout processes painless and efficient.

To achieve this, retailers are deploying advanced checkout solutions that deliver seamless experiences for their customers. However, with an influx of point-of-sale (POS) and checkout innovations in the market, it can be difficult for retailers to select the right solution. In this blog, we’ll discuss two increasingly popular solutions within the retail industry – Mobile POS and RFID-Powered Self-Checkout terminals – to help you better understand which one is the right solution for your store.

Mobile POS: An Enabler of Speed, Convenience and Enhanced CX

Gone are the days when keeping associates tied to traditional POS terminals was necessary. Today, to deliver high-quality customer experiences, retailers can leverage mobile POS solutions that facilitate enhanced flexibility and convenience for shoppers.

Prada, the leading fashion brand, leverages Teamwork Commerce’s Mobile POS solution to provide staff with the most innovative technology at their fingertips. In-store associates can easily move around the store armed with a tablet capable of completing transactions in seconds. They can be where their customers are, whether they’re trying on shoes or selecting a handbag.

The Mobile POS solution is also highly useful during shopping peaks, significantly helping in-store staff cut down long queues and serve customers more quickly all while delivering high-quality experiences combined with a great level of convenience. Leveraging integrated retail solutions including customer relationship management (CRM), and clienteling, Teamwork Commerce’s Mobile POS helps retailers deliver high-quality and personalized customer experiences. The solution easily integrates with the Order Management System (OMS), helping retailers facilitate Buy Online, Pickup In-store (BOPIS), and Buy Online, Return In-store (BORIS) more efficiently with real-time inventory information at their fingertips.

3 key benefits of Mobile POS:

• Provides personalization capabilities
• Promotes flexibility and faster checkout experiences
• Offers seamless integration with wider retail technology deployments

RFID-powered Self-Checkout: Driving Speed & Security

The popularity of self-checkout solutions is unquestionably on the rise. In fact, more than one-third of retailers believe that their customers would opt for other merchants if they did not offer consumers the ability to complete transactions on their own. Self-checkout solutions are expected to continue their strong growth in the near future. However, one new, ground-breaking, step forward in self-checkout technology is being introduced with the helping hand of RFID. RFID-powered self-checkout solutions not only automatically scan items for customers within seconds but can also bolster in-store security.

Teamwork Commerce’s RFID-Powered Self-Checkout solution is designed to simplify the checkout process for in-store customers. The technology utilizes RFID technology to instantly scan all items in a shopper’s basket or cart, allowing customers to complete transactions on their own within seconds. From a retailer’s perspective, fewer staff members need to be physically present at POS terminals – allowing them to allocate more time to delivering a high-quality customer experience. What’s more, with RFID tags attached to every product, the risk of theft is minimized significantly. With its alarm-triggering capabilities, the Teamwork Commerce RFID-Powered Self-Checkout solution helps retailers identify and mitigate shoplifting incidents, resulting in fewer losses and enhanced security at checkout.

3 key benefits of RFID-Powered Self-Checkout

• Completes speedy transactions without the need for assistance from in-store associates
• Boosts in-store security with alarm-triggering capabilities
• Streamlines the overall checkout process

Navigating the Right solution

Both Mobile POS and RFID-Powered Self-Checkout operate on cutting-edge technologies that enable retailers to boost efficiency. Either solution can play an incredible role in improving customer service in-store and streamlining a highly important touchpoint within retail, the checkout process.

Need a live demo to better understand which solution would be the right fit for your retail store? Book here.

A customer-first approach refers to organizations putting the customer at the centre of their decision-making, rather than products or services. According to Statista, 94% of customers who receive a positive experience are likely to purchase from the same retailer again. In such a highly competitive retail environment, and with consumers continually increasing their expectations of retailers, a customer-first approach is only becoming more important for brands that wish to not only attract new customers but to retain them too.

Tailoring products and services to match customer preferences enables retailers to deliver a high-quality shopping experience from the moment a visitor steps in-store. With access to the right technology, partnered with exceptional service given by in-store associates, retailers can deliver convenient, personalized interactions that leave customers satisfied and eager to return.

Challenges of a Demanding Environment

Exceptional Service

In a customer-driven environment, where consumers dictate the success of a retailer, there are a number of challenges that retail businesses encounter on a daily basis when it comes to customer interaction. Each in-store visitor has differing demands on how they would like to be served; some individuals like to be greeted upon arrival whereas others prefer to be left alone while they shop. Keeping track and catering to every unique demand can be difficult and time-consuming, especially during busy hours.

Retailers today must know their shoppers’ purchasing habits and preferences, so that they can tailor each interaction to individual customers, helping them to feel welcomed, valued, and to deliver a high-quality customer experience.

Accurate Stock Management

When it comes to bricks and mortar, retailers can only sell what they have, and customers can only buy what is in front of them. Effective inventory management is paramount – not only when it comes to maintaining stock levels, but in being able to locate items quickly.

Research shows that 21% of customers who can’t find the product they’re looking for are likely to leave the store and find it elsewhere. If retailers are unable to meet these needs, they will risk losing business to competitors. Maintaining shop floor stock levels is critical, and retailers need to have processes in place that enable quick replenishment on the shop floor, and seamless solutions to finding products in the back of the store.

Labor Shortages

A top-tier customer experience depends on the availability of in-store staff. Whether they’re greeting customers with a smile and personalizing experiences, or finding items in various sizes for shoppers, a personal touch is vital in a customer-first approach.

Understandably, the ongoing labor shortage causes complications in delivering an exceptional experience. Customers expect to receive top-quality service in-store. Without enough staff on the shop floor can make it difficult for retailers to meet customers’ expectations and complete daily tasks.

The right technology can alleviate all of these challenges and help retailers integrate a customer-first approach into a demanding retail environment. However, in a complex environment with a number of variables, any retail technology deployment must be able to operate and communicate across all systems in real time in order to ensure all solutions are providing optimal value. Retailers must take a holistic, all-encompassing, approach to their retail tech stack.

Integrating the Approach

Teamwork Commerce has its own integration platform to assist modern retailers with the ever-changing omnichannel ecosystem. This system allows retailers to easily keep up with customer demands to provide a better retail experience, even throughout the labor shortage.

This platform combines the best-in-class Mobile Point of Sale (POS), Order Management System, Inventory Control System and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) to ensure an effective customer-first operation. Using this platform, employees can balance their day-to-day tasks while ensuring the needs and demands of the customer are met efficiently.

Delivering Personalized Experiences

With CRM software built into Mobile POS devices, staff can approach customers and immediately begin personalizing their experiences. Drawing on previous interactions – such as purchase and return histories – helps them to tailor their approach to make accurate recommendations on products, allowing customers to feel valued.

Streamlined Stock Management

The same Mobile POS device can be used to also help in-store associates resolve stock enquiries for customers. The associate can quickly locate any item, provide accurate stock information in real-time, and either source the product straight away, or place a specific product order for later pick-up or home delivery. Providing a streamlined service creates quick and convenient experiences for the customer, improving satisfaction levels and increasing the chances of their return.

Labor Shortage

Retailers can deploy an all-encompassing retail technology approach to alleviate ongoing labor shortages while streamlining customer experience. With the right technology at their fingertips, in-store associates can help customers with recommendations, locate items and complete transactions all in the same place, in a matter of minutes. This satisfies both staff and customers, as shoppers can be served quickly, and the shop floor assistant can continue on with any other tasks quickly whilst maintaining great service.

The Customer Comes First

Being able to deliver exceptional and personalized service to every shopper, even in highly demanding retail environments, can create highly positive experiences for consumers, helping attract new customers while driving loyalty with existing ones. Trends come and go, and retailers are expected to step up to meet the ever-evolving demands of the industry. Being able to incorporate a customer-first approach into such an environment strengthens the relationship between the customer and the brand, helping maximize customer retention and even increase customer acquisition.