In a fast-paced retail environment, it is clear that kitchen retailers simply cannot afford to overlook investment into digital transformation.

By 2022 it is estimated that enterprises worldwide will spend almost $2 trillion on the technologies and services required to enable full digital transformation of their business operations. This represents a significant long-term investment into futureproofing strategies, heightening business performance and improving the customer experience.

 

To keep up with constantly evolving consumer demand, omnichannel commerce platforms, augmented virtual experiences, in-store contextualized marketing, and next-generation payments are expected to form a large portion of digital investment made by retailers, at more than $27 billion. These value-added services aim to strengthen existing in-store offerings, promoting high levels of customer engagement seamlessly across multiple channels and devices. By effectively utilizing technology in this way, in-store representatives can be redefined as expert consultants that bring experience and value to the purchase journey, playing a key role in the overall digital transformation of the brand.

 

But, for the kitchen retailer, what does digital transformation truly entail and what are the indicators of a solution that will deliver the best success?

 

The three pillars to success

 

Pillar 1 – Collaboration

 

Any winning digital transformation strategy should optimize the collaboration not just between kitchen retailers and their customers, but also across internal departments, retail locations, and online and offline channels. With internal teams often operating in silos, technology has the capability to connect the dots for a unified workforce and customer experience. With seamless knowledge sharing and access to centralized systems, kitchen retailers can reduce duplication and the need for manual information sharing, improving overall business efficiency and reducing errors.

 

 

Pillar 2 – Process optimization

 

Digitalizing processes via cloud-based solutions can unlock huge operational efficiencies. Kitchen retailers are able to reduce their margins for error due to more streamlined operations, using systems that can better interact with each other and utilize the data available to constantly adapt and improve existing processes. This means that greater profit margins can be achieved by retailers and critical staff resources optimized to their full capabilities.

 

Pillar 3 – Customer experience

 

It is critical that all retail strategies need to place customers and their needs at the very heart, focusing on delivering the most relevant and tailored communications and services. Digital transformation is set to entirely redefine how kitchen retailers engage and interact with customers, with the vast availability of customer data paving the way for fully personalized customer service. The customer experience is also transformed by new omnichannel capabilities, which enable shoppers to move between online and offline channels seamlessly, maintaining momentum and accelerating the sales cycle.

 

The transformative potential of 3D planning

 

With powerful technology platforms that are readily available and can be white-labelled, such as the HomeByMe for Kitchen Retailers 3D planning solution, kitchen retailers have everything they need at their fingertips to kickstart their digital transformation strategies.

 

The HomeByMe 3D planning solution has the capability to digitally enhance the customer journey at every step of the kitchen purchase journey, from initial need mapping through to order conversions.

3D planning solutions support a more collaborative sales process, allowing sales professionals full access to customer design projects in-store, where they can consultatively offer valuable installation advice and assistance that blends human expertise with technological innovation.

 

By giving customers all the tools they need to create, personalize and visualize their new kitchen in the context of their own home, customers can quickly and autonomously work their way through the sales cycle. With the added feature of automatic proposal generation, customers feel empowered and can quickly complete entire projects using automated business rules and product set recommendations to inspire and educate. This in turn optimizes in-store staff resources to their full potential so that more customers can be served in any given day.

 

Finally, when it comes to customer data, 3D planning provides unparalleled insight into the preferences and behaviors of consumers. Retailers are provided with critical insight into average basket values, popular products or ranges, and even abandoned purchases – all data that can be used to adapt and inform future retail strategies for the best resonance and results.

 

Conclusion

 

In a fast-paced retail environment, it is clear that kitchen retailers simply cannot afford to overlook investment into digital transformation for their brands. By leveraging the customer data now available as a result of digitalization and utilizing technology solutions such as 3D planning that can support collaboration, process optimization and enhanced customer experience, the business benefits for kitchen retailers are truly transformative.

Pillars of Successful Digital Transformation

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