One of the consequences of the global health crisis that has been shaking us since last year is the great (and forced) evolutionary leap that has taken place towards digital. The retail sector, more anchored in traditional methods, was no stranger to this total transformation of consumer habits and thousands of businesses have reoriented their strategy towards e-commerce. Adapt or die.
As a result, technology and the company's adaptation to it have become one of the main challenges for the organization and for each and every one of its employees. Microsoft is committed to intelligent retailing and has developed solutions that help to better understand today's volatile customers, to make the supply chain more agile and flexible, and to reinvent the sector.
In a recent publication, the company highlights four retail trends that have been accelerated by the circumstances of 2020:
Lots of data and the need for monitoring
An enormous amount of data is created every day. So much that it greatly exceeds our perception and, of course, our ability to process and analyze it using old business tools. Unstructured information cannot be exploited.
Microsoft incorporates Artificial Intelligence to recover the value of all this data so that organizations can use it thanks to predictive analytics intelligent recommendations for customers, establish connections with buyers, fight against online fraud, etc. All these intelligent technologies that help us to interpret and process the data (in fact, they interpret the data at the click of a button) are hosted on a powerful and secure platform: the Microsoft cloud.
More alliances to be stronger
Strategic alliances can help generate value. In this sense, Microsoft collaborates to improve solutions and cover all end-user needs. For example, it recently announced new capabilities for B2B e-commerce.
Sustainability and e-commerce
One of the main consumer motivations is the degree of brand engagement. The end customer associates brands with values and this interest can lead to a purchase. An example of commitment is Microsoft's determination to minimize carbon emissions and regenerate more water than is consumed by 2030.
Loyalty
The pandemic has changed shopping patterns. Two proofs of this are customers' interest in trying new brands and the rise of online shopping. Technology helps retail companies to be prepared for these changes and react faster.
A new tool: Microsoft Cloud for Retail
A solution designed for an ever-changing industry that moves between physical and digital. Microsoft Cloud for Retail enables multiple data sources across the retail value chain and connects shopper experiences. Members of the retail industry will be able to build more segmented and relevant recommendations for customers, simplify payment processes and protect against fraud, among other features.
