THE UNEXPECTED SUCCESS OF HUMANS IN RETAIL
Contrary to predictions, the salesperson hasn’t gone away. In fact, it’s the most common occupation and shows no signs of disappearing.
Technology has completely changed the way we lead our life. Starting from selecting a gown for an upcoming event to looking for a life partner, everything can be done with a few simple clicks. It is true when people say that the world is now at your fingertips. The impact of the technology is immense. Each Like, Comment and Retweets are like a mini boost of confidence that gives people the satisfaction of being somebody. It’s like their self-esteem is tied to every Like and Comment. It’s the same even in the case of economy and retail.
About hundred years ago, a salesperson would go from door to door in order to sell his products. Fifty years later, advertisements on billboards, television and radio replaced the travelling salesperson and they would be hired in various shops and malls to sell the product. Today, in the 21st century, it is said that technology is replacing humans in retail business. The consumers can easily purchase a product by swiping through his smartphone, make a few clicks on the screen and receive his product without even being physically in the shop.
Businessmen and retail companies seek to captivate the potential consumers by building innovative tools and business analytics according to the preferences of the consumers. Retail believes that the Millennial will be the future and it is transitioning itself to match the persona.
Many think that soon within the next ten to twenty years, automation will replace humans. But it seems unlikely. Think for yourself, would you like to be serviced by a robot who doesn’t have the ability to understand you? There have been reports that consumers do not prefer automated technologies in stores as they feel detached. Eliminating salesperson means the elimination of human contact and most consumers crave for human contact.
It is true that the innovative technology that is build today offer us with various benefits. The most important is that it saves time. But instead of completely eliminating the physical contact, it can be merged with the innovative, optimized technology. With the help of the technology, a salesperson can easily gain access to the consumer’s preferences so that in turn they can offer suggestions and recommendations in order to meet the requirements of the potential consumer. Every shop, store and mall can have a joint human and technology buy and sell the system, making it a substantial part of the world retail business.
