JUNE 2024

Managing Editor: John Mathews

Senior Writer: Stephanie Kreml

Writers:  Mary Alison, Allison Gillchrist,

Kim Langdon Cull, Connie Yerbic, Elena Borrelli

Magazine Designer : Michelle Wong

Digital Publishing Director: John Louis

Advertising: David Miller

david@retail-today.com

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Copyright © 2024

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher and copyright owner. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, the publisher accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions. The products and services advertised are those of individual authors and are not necessarily endorsed by or connected with the publisher. The opinions expressed in the articles within this publication are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of the publisher.

Retailers today must differentiate and ensure efficiency amidst evolving regulations, new payment methods, and AI technologies. They must integrate expanding channels—from stores to e-commerce, mobile, and social—ensuring consistent customer experiences across each. This is crucial as consumer demands evolve, necessitating personalized, exciting, and unique interactions.

Digital transformation, data collection, and creativity are essential for customer experience (CX) innovation. However, economic pressures, labor challenges, and supply chain shortages hinder the delivery of personalized experiences. Investing in CX is critical to drive loyalty among existing customers and attract new ones.

Business leaders aim to achieve three primary CX goals: creating innovative experiences that exceed expectations, providing personalized interactions, and gaining real-time insights for improved service, sales, and marketing. Understanding your audience and delivering a seamless experience across all touchpoints is challenging but vital.

The CX landscape is reshaped by technological developments, changing customer demands, and digitalization. Generative AI is transforming business interactions, enabling dynamic and intuitive customer engagements. Selecting the right AI technology that integrates with existing systems, coupled with proper implementation and staff training, can significantly enhance CX.

Extracting value from data and demonstrating CX’s impact on business outcomes remain key challenges. The horizon of CX innovation is bright, with technology poised to deliver awe-inspiring experiences. This edition provides clarity on navigating these challenges and improving customer experiences.

As you turn these pages, prepare to gain insights that will help you manage today's issues and offer better experiences for your customers.

John Mathews

editor@retail-today.com

Enhancing Retail Customer Experience