How can the retail industry survive (and overcome) new customer demands? In a decade of digital transformation, customer behaviour has dramatically changed. In 2017, nearly 20% of UK retail sales took place through non-conventional channels and customers spent £18bn on mobile shopping alone. Retailers not offering a hassle-free multichannel experience, whether it’s in store, online or mobile are missing out.
By 2020, being truly omnichannel will no longer be a luxury but a requirement so getting to grips with it NOW will be the only way retailers will stay ahead of the competition. This is the theme of IRX18.
The InternetRetailing Expo 2018 brings together the expertise, best practice and technology retailers need to enchant the customer and deliver a seamless shopping experience across channels. On 21-22 of March, 5,000+ digital professionals will gather at the NEC for the UK’s largest festival for digital and multichannel retail. With the largest educational programme in ecommerce, +80 retailers will unveil the solutions to today’s most pressing problems in digital retailing.
From creating your first ecommerce website to optimising your mobile experience or expanding internationally, IRX18 tackles today’s retail challenges no matter the retailer’s size or sector.
IRX 2018 boasts 8 conference tracks featuring a stellar line-up, including the Nigel Blunt, Head of Operations Development at Sainsbury’s Argos; Mark Cody, Mobile Product Lead at Eurostar; Caroline Hazelhurst, Operations Director at Deliveroo; Tom Rooney, Senior Mobile Apps & In-Store Digital Manager at John Lewis and Daryl Hughes, eCommerce Manager at Facebook & Instagram UK. During IRX 2018, visitors will also be able to experience the latest innovations and developments from over 300 exhibitors, namely Ingenico Payments, Visa, Magento, Worldpay and many others.
Sam North, Portfolio Director for InternetRetailing Events, commented: “Black Friday 2017 saw online sales overtake the high street for the first time, with £1.4bn taken on the Friday. The biggest differentiator can often be the customer service you deliver. Effective omnichannel; making it easy for customers to communicate, select, buy, take delivery and return, as they wish to, no matter which channel they’re using – mobile, desktop or in store. Omnichannel is the future of retail, and retailers not embracing it will stay behind.
