In a world of commerce changing faster than can be imagined, companies in B2B and B2C
commerce must be as flexible, and as omni-present as possible. As customers become
ever more volatile, the challenge is not only to keep an existing customer base but to win
back lost market shares and gain new ones.
Having to compete with Amazon and other aggressive, pure online players, a traditional
retailer must develop its individual omni-channel strategy that links physical store
advantages with digital edge into a unique, authentic, and seamless shopping experience
for the consumer.
To do so, IT systems must be not only flexible but simple, transparent, and easy-to-use.
And since it is a complex process to build simple solutions, corporations should go for
seamlessly integrated systems with a single source of the truth and a single-view environment
for all users and related processes. It also has to be as rich as possible in features
and in opportunities to expand to new processes.
Mobile channels in particular will be in focus for many companies within the next
months and years. Many brick-and-mortar stores will experience a complete makeover.
Leading retailers rollout thousands of devices to put their store associates on a somewhat
equal footing with today’s digitally empowered customers.