As customer behavior has changed due to the pandemics and the retail industry is forced to adapt, tech professionals become key for making companies ready to survive in a market with new demands.

In opposition to the idea of a decreasing retail industry, recent studies show that it’s all about adapting to the new shopping habits of customers.

The industry went through a rush to adapt and respond quickly to the subit boom in online purchases motivated by physical contact restrictions. Keeping up to the health measures meant laying on technology and reshaping the supply chain.

Read also: Latin America: Before and After Pandemic

What triggered the digital transformation

The main reason for the digital acceleration in retail is the shift in consumer behavior. E-commerce went from 9% of all retail in 2013 to 13% in 2018, according to Mary Meeker’s 2018 Internet trends report.

Online shopping was already a trend in earlier years, but the sanitary measures intensified their use, and the retail industry had to adapt quickly.

Retailers were pushed to improve their technological channels in a short time, reaching a level that, in normal conditions, would have taken years to achieve.  

after the pandemic first moment, retailers have been experiencing, testing and collecting data from their customers, and are looking to perfect their system to differentiate in the industry.

Due to the technical implementations required to meet clients needs, the customer acquisition costs increased. Therefore, retailers are looking for new revenue streams. Under this mindset, memberships and partnerships are being tested and applied.

Read also: Financial inclusion in Latin America generates career opportunities in digital transformation

Innovation is the way

The new role of retail is being shaped by innovation, while retailers test new initiatives to gain customers and continue adapting to the changes in the market.

Online shopping is redefining  physical stores’ purpose. Some are turning into distribution centers for online orders. This phenomenon transfers the sales process to the digital world, introducing the customer in an online experience. Consequently, the need for tech professionals  that take part in the design, development and maintenance of e-commerce platforms has grown.

In this scenario, Developers, UX / UI Designers and Marketing Specialists are in high demand in retail’s digital acceleration.

According to Linkedin’s global analysis, “software developer” is the fastest-growing retail role, while sales-associate jobs fell 41% from 2013 to 2017.

Read also: UX Writing is at the Core of Every Digital Product

Future perspectives

Retail is not coming back to what it was. As digital interactions continue to increase, retail will keep finding ways to innovate and increase customer’s satisfaction faster and in a  personalized way.

Customer experience dictates the rule. Retailers’ best choice is to continue investing in creating the smoothest customer journey, by integrating the newest technologies with several channels simultaneously.

However, only 3 in 10 organizations have mature digital capabilities to promote the digital transformation required to succeed (Deloitte). That’s why many companies plan to invest heavily in their technical upgrade.

When businesses need to  reshape their whole system into digital, it’s essential to count on the right professionals to drive this process. Here at The Bridge, our passion is placing talented people to drive the digital acceleration.
We can augment your staff or build a full squad, with flexibility and agility to meet your business’ goals. Contact us to get your company ready to give customers a smooth shopping experience and lead the retail industry.

‍