Despite the challenges of online retail, physical stores remain as vital as ever. Brick-and-mortar shops maintain a distinct advantage over online stores, offering customers an invaluable firsthand look at goods and allowing them to make informed decisions regardless of whether they choose to buy on the spot or through an online channel, later on.
However, to make brick-and-mortar stores viable in this digital age, they must now offer a level of service beyond what was once expected. Moreover, the pressure to deliver better in-store customer service is intensifying in the Philippines, thanks to the domestic consumer market becoming more accustomed to the convenience of e-commerce.
Fortunately, technology provides a few ways to meet the rising demand for better service in traditional retail settings. Some key technologies have already transformed stores from simple depositories to showrooms where customers can try out never-before-experienced approaches to personalized service.
Whether you already own a brick-and-mortar shop or are simply planning to dip your toes into physical retail, Maya has you covered. Here are a few vetted technologies that you can already start adopting to vastly improve your in-store experience:
1. Portable Payment TerminalDevices
Having a portable payment terminal machine like the Maya Terminal and the Maya Terminal Lite in your store will make it simple to accommodate your customers’ preferred digital payments. Whether they prefer paying by debit or credit cards, digital wallets, or QR Ph, these terminals can help reduce transaction and queuing times, increasing overall customer satisfaction. Even better, these devices allow your staff to facilitate transactions anywhere in the store or even outside of it, opening up even more ways to serve customers better.
2. Interactive Digital Signage
Digital displays are useful tools for communicating with customers as they move about your store. Aside from showcasing promotions and important announcements, you can also use these to offer a level of interactivity that can deepen your customer’s engagement with your business. Through touch screens or QR codes, customers can navigate these digital displays to learn more about your offers or to take advantage of limited deals.
Best of all, you can even leverage these signs to improve your in-store payment process. Digital screens can be used to display your store’s Maya QR, allowing customers to pay by simply scanning your unique QR Ph-compliant Maya QR code. Thanks to the QR Ph standard, which makes QR codes from all participating financial institutions interoperable, no mixing and matching will be needed to accommodate different e-wallets and bank apps, removing a long-standing hurdle in local digital payments.
3. Self-Service Terminals
Self-service terminals can empower more customers to browse products, check prices, and even make purchases without needing assistance from your staff. They can even be set up to accommodate multiple languages, in case your store regularly caters to foreign customers. If you have recurring issues with long queues, self-service terminals can be part of your solution for shortening wait times and increasing overall customer satisfaction.
4. Digital Queueing Systems
Digital queueing systems can simplify managing customer flow, particularly in high-traffic areas such as customer service counters. With these systems, customers no longer have to be stuck in a long queue. Instead, they’re empowered to run quick errands or take a seat until it’s their turn. These systems can also synergize with other technologies like interactive display screens to deliver an even better waiting experience.
5. Augmented Reality Solutions
Augmented reality (AR) solutions offer an immersive shopping experience by overlaying digital information onto the physical world. For instance, AR mirrors can give customers at clothing boutiques an idea of how outfits will look on them without them needing to go through the hassle of trying them on. Online, AR-powered virtual try-ons using smartphone cameras also let customers virtually try on clothes, shoes, accessories, and even cosmetics to see how they look without physically wearing them. This makes AR even more useful for physical stores that also have brick-and-click operations.
Though AR usage is still in its early days, a small but growing number of stores have adopted it for virtual clothes fittings, interactive product demonstrations, and in-store navigation. If you want your brick-and-mortar retail businesses to stand out, integrating AR technology gives you a deeply engaging way to delight customers as they go along their shopping journey.
Enjoy Effortless Customer Service and Lifetime Loyalty with Maya Business
Maya’s payment tools make it easier to cater to the needs of today’s digitally savvy in-store customers. Through Maya Business, you get access to powerful in-store POS systems like the Maya Terminal and Maya Terminal Lite that empower both your customers and staff, creating a better foundation for long-term business growth. Sign up for Maya Business today to order a Maya Terminal and access a range of cutting-edge services.
Signing up for Maya Business automatically entitles you to exclusive perks, including a high-performance Maya Business Deposit account. With a market-leading 2.5% per annum interest rate, you can earn an extra PHP 25,000 a year with just a PHP 1 million deposit. Maya Business Deposit also lets you enjoy free money transfers via InstaPay and PESONet, saving you more cash on payments to suppliers and employees.
Once your Maya Business application is approved, you’ll also qualify for a Maya Flexi Loan offer valued up to PHP 2 million. You can use your loan to train our team in customer service, streamline your payment process, or even develop a trendy new interior for your store. To receive improved Maya Flexi Loan offers, just keep using Maya as your primary processor for all wallet and card payments.
Send in your complete Maya Business application today to order your first payment terminals and enjoy the many benefits of Maya Business solutions.
