Essential Tools for the Return to Normal Comments Off on Essential Tools for the Return to Normal 3125

Alice Wonders28 de May de 2020 16:5919 de October de 2026

Ferramentas essenciais para a volta ao normal

The innovations that have emerged so far during the pandemic, and which tools will be essential in the early days after social distancing ends.

The post-pandemic world will be very different from the one we knew before, and technology will play a key role across many service sectors, just as it already does in our social relationships. Tech companies and startups are more committed than ever to developing new devices and products that help both people and institutions with health, hygiene, and prevention.

It may take a long time before we find an effective vaccine, and what we need to do is keep protecting ourselves in every way we can. When the quarantine ends and we start going out again, the solution for businesses (companies, manufacturers, brick-and-mortar retail, and commerce as a whole) will be to equip themselves with useful tools for everyday prevention, so they can keep people safe until the virus is no longer a threat.

The basic must-haves for personal protection are masks and bottles of hand sanitizer. Everyone knows that by now! On top of that, face shields, made of clear splash-resistant acrylic, have emerged as an extra layer of protection for frontline workers, such as healthcare professionals.

Innovations that emerged during the pandemic

In more than two months of quarantine, a lot has changed. We’ve moved from the adaptation phase to preparing for the “new normal.” Little by little, we’ve seen these adaptations take hold in many businesses. The most common example is the use of hands-free hand sanitizer dispenser stands.

Acrylic protective barriers have been installed on counters and at supermarket checkouts so businesses can keep serving customers while keeping both staff and shoppers safe. The same goes for social distancing floor markers, which help prevent crowding in checkout lines. Meanwhile, ride-hailing app Cabify handed out protective plastic barriers to be installed in the cars of drivers operating in areas with the highest trip demand.

Keep Your Distance

Alice Wonders recently launched the Thermometer Kiosk, which measures body temperature without any contact with the device or between people. A smart solution for a time of extra health precautions, the Kiosk runs on high-tech sensors. While it takes temperature readings and reminds people about the importance of prevention, it also generates real-time foot traffic data for store and facility managers.

The Thermometer Kiosk also works as a communication device, allowing companies to display corporate videos and essential information for everyone.

No-Touch Thermometer Kiosk, by Alice Wonders — Thermometer Kiosk with automatic hand sanitizer dispenser, created by Alice Wonders.

We’ve even seen sanitizing booths created in a variety of models. They’re installed at building entrances (in São Paulo, for example, one was set up at the Tatuapé subway station), and people step into the booth one at a time and get sprayed with a non-toxic substance that disinfects their clothes and skin, albeit temporarily, helping to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Another excellent initiative comes from the startup Carefy, which developed a hospital admissions management tool for hospitals on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. The platform, which follows a SaaS model, manages information on every hospital bed, giving staff faster decision-making, better use of available capacity, and lower costs. It also reports to Brazil’s National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS) the number of beds occupied by patients diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.

Tools that are here to stay

Throughout the quarantine, we started using technology for almost everything in our daily lives. And we will certainly carry these habits forward. During Chá da Alice, our LIVE with special guests, we discussed “Digital Experiences, Technology and Futurism” with Demetrio Teodorov, Head of Tech Research & Development and Innovation at Riachuelo, and touched on the impact the pandemic has had on innovation. We started accelerating processes that should have been in place a long time ago and are only now getting off the ground, and we managed to take significant steps toward the future we want in terms of technological development. “Behavior drives innovation for society,” said Teodorov.

Another interesting point discussed during the Live was “no touch” technology, one of the trends set to keep moving forward across many sectors. It is one of the best solutions for preventing contagion through touch and for making devices that work automatically easier to use. “No touch” can work in two ways: through sensors or through voice commands – like the virtual assistant Alexa. It is an innovation with huge potential for market expansion.

And since we’re talking about Lives, they have definitely won over the “quarenteners” for good, which has broadened the range of topics and subjects in this format, as well as the relevance of consuming this kind of content during the period of social distancing. All thanks to video conferencing and live streaming tools. Zoom has become one of the most widely used platforms in the world, which pushed Google to create Meet, a video meeting tool for businesses, included in G Suite and available free of charge until September of this year for anyone who already has a Gmail business account.

Video conferencing tools are providing the support work teams need to hold meetings and function properly while working from home. Once companies had to fully adopt the remote work model, a number of cloud file storage tools gained even more value. Throughout remote workdays, Software as a Service (SaaS) management platforms have become essential to keeping teams’ work moving forward productively.

By all indications, a large share of people will keep working from home even after the quarantine ends. Companies such as Nubank, XP, Twitter and Coca-Cola recently announced that their employees will continue working remotely until December of this year. This may give rise to new behaviors that will impact the way people shop. At times like these, Big Data Analytics solutions are essential for extracting data and building strategic BI (Business Intelligence) plans.

We are going through a lot of changes and adaptations at an accelerated pace, even though no one is yet sure what the coming months will really look like. Retailers are constantly adapting their stores to be able to serve everyone safely (read more on this topic). Meanwhile, shopping apps and websites are improving their features to handle all the demand for online shopping, as well as providing up-to-date information to the public and supporting service at physical stores. It seems that we are finally witnessing the union of online and brick-and-mortar retail (Phygital), each one supporting the other to optimize services for consumers and working in complementary ways.

As we are seeing, new technologies will emerge more quickly to meet the new challenges that keep arising. The digital world will remain present even after the lockdown ends — that’s what we expect. Online work, school and university are already our reality. Telemedicine is now being seen in a new light and advancing to better meet people’s needs. We will move even further ahead, and we believe that physical spaces will become more technologically integrated to connect people, brands, entertainment, information, services and care.

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Innovative Retail Experiences: Augmented Reality at the POS Comments Off on Innovative Retail Experiences: Augmented Reality at the POS 2891

Alice Wonders4 de August de 2023 10:324 de August de 2023

Innovative Retail Experiences: Augmented Reality at the POS

If you’re a retailer looking for innovation, we’ve got good news for you: Augmented Reality at the POS is here to transform your business into a space of innovative experiences and efficiency.

Here’s what we’ll explore:

Benefits of Augmented Reality at the POS – Learn how AR can take the customer experience to a whole new level and, as a result, boost your sales.
Augmented Reality Use Cases in Retail – Discover practical examples of how to implement AR in your store.
Challenges and Solutions – Get to know the obstacles you may face and how to overcome them efficiently.

Get ready to transform your point of sale and captivate your customers like never before!

What Is Augmented Reality?

Have you ever seen those social media filters that add bunny ears or sunglasses to your photo in real time? That’s a simple but effective example of Augmented Reality.

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that overlays digital information — such as images, videos, and sounds — onto the real world through a device, whether it’s a smartphone, a tablet, or special glasses.

This means that with AR, your customers can use their own smartphones to view additional information about a product, see reviews from other shoppers, or even visualize how a piece of furniture or an appliance would look in their home. And all of this happens while they’re physically in your store.

The magic of Augmented Reality lies in its ability to create a hybrid shopping experience that combines the best of the online and offline worlds.

The result is a more interactive, informative, and engaging sales environment.

Augmented Reality in Retail

Bringing Augmented Reality into your store represents a significant leap forward, not only in the way you sell, but also in the way customers shop.

Product Try-Ons

With Augmented Reality, trying on products reaches a whole new level. If you run a clothing store, your customers can “try on” different styles and sizes without having to deal with the fitting room. The same goes for eyewear, jewelry, and even sneakers.

All the customer has to do is point their smartphone at the item they want and see it virtually projected onto their own image.

Personalized Shopping

Augmented Reality enables a highly personalized shopping experience. Based on the customer’s interactions and choices, you can provide product recommendations, show related items, or even create a unique virtual store environment for each visitor.

Wayfinding and Information

Let he who has never gotten lost in a big store cast the first stone! With Augmented Reality, your customers can easily find what they’re looking for.

By pointing their smartphone at an aisle, they can see digital cues about the products in front of them, saving time and boosting customer satisfaction

Engagement and Gamification

Augmented Reality technology offers a range of opportunities to make shopping more interactive and fun.

You can create digital treasure hunts, quizzes, or other games that encourage customers to explore more of the store and, as a result, discover more of your products.

Watch the video of an Augmented Reality activation Alice Wonders created — packed with technology, fun, and engagement — to showcase all the technology available in modern agriculture:

Customer Behavior Analytics

With Augmented Reality, you can collect valuable data on how customers interact with products and the store environment. This data can be used to improve layout, inventory, and even marketing strategies.

Benefits of Augmented Reality at the POS

Higher Sales and Average Order Value

When you offer a more engaging and informative shopping experience, customers are more likely to spend more. Augmented Reality lets shoppers visualize how a product will fit into their lives before they even make a purchase, building confidence and encouraging higher-value sales.

Fewer Returns

One of the biggest challenges in retail is the high rate of returns. With Augmented Reality, customers get a clearer, more accurate picture of what they’re buying, which minimizes the chances of dissatisfaction and, consequently, of returns.

Competitive Differentiation

In a saturated market, every edge counts. Implementing Augmented Reality at your POS not only improves the customer experience but also positions your brand as innovative and in tune with tech trends.

Better Customer Experience

Augmented Reality’s power to deliver detailed information and realistic visualizations makes the buying process much easier and more enjoyable for the customer. On top of that, this technology can eliminate many of the uncertainties customers have when shopping, resulting in a more positive overall experience.

Store Space Optimization

Augmented Reality lets you make the most of your store’s physical space. How? By using Augmented Reality features, you can display a virtually unlimited inventory, which is especially useful if your store is short on space.

Employee Training

That’s right, Augmented Reality doesn’t just benefit customers. It’s also a valuable tool for training your team. Customer service scenarios, for example, can be simulated to prepare your employees for a wide variety of situations.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that Augmented Reality is more than just a trend; it’s the future of retail.

By leveraging Augmented Reality at your Point of Sale, you’re taking a significant step toward a world of interactive possibilities, more effective sales, and happier customers.

So, what are you waiting for? The time to act is now.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Augmented Reality at the Point of Sale (POS)? Augmented Reality at the Point of Sale is a technology that overlays digital information, such as images and data, onto the real world through mobile devices or special glasses. It gives customers a more interactive and informative shopping experience.

What are the benefits of Augmented Reality at the POS? The benefits are numerous and include increased sales, competitive differentiation, a better customer experience, optimized store space, and the potential for more effective employee training.

How can I implement Augmented Reality in my store? Implementation can range from simple mobile apps to more complex systems that use Augmented Reality glasses. The first step is to understand your specific needs and goals, then consult with specialized professionals to choose the best approach for your business.

Is Augmented Reality expensive to implement? Costs can vary, but thanks to technological advances, there are options for businesses of all sizes and budgets. The key is to start with a pilot project and scale up as you see the benefits and return on investment.

Is Augmented Reality just a fad, or is it here to stay? With continuous improvements in the technology and clear proof of value across many industries, Augmented Reality is an innovation that’s here to stay. Its power to engage customers in new and meaningful ways makes it a valuable tool for any retailer striving for operational excellence.

Sensory Rooms: Transforming Experiences at the Point of Sale (POS) Comments Off on Sensory Rooms: Transforming Experiences at the Point of Sale (POS) 1711

Alice Wonders30 de June de 2023 20:4130 de June de 2023

Today we’re going to talk about an amazing tool that can completely transform your customers’ shopping experience: sensory rooms for points of sale.

A New Concept in Shopping Experience

You’re always looking for ways to stand out from the sea of competition in retail, right? One way to do that is by offering personalized, engaging experiences to your customers, and this is where sensory rooms come into play.

Sensory rooms are spaces designed to draw customers into an immersive experience, activating all of their senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.

All five senses come into play, making the shopping experience truly memorable. Let’s look at some examples of how to use each sense:

Sight

You can use sensory rooms with lighting, colors, and visual effects to create a specific atmosphere.

Imagine, for example, that you own a furniture store. How about a sensory room that simulates different types of daytime and nighttime lighting? That way, your customers can see how the furniture looks under various lighting conditions.

Tok&Stok, a leading name in furniture and home decor, uses the visual experience in its stores so customers can picture themselves using the furniture in their own homes. Settings are put together with the store’s products, simulating living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, offices, and more. The lighting is designed to highlight the products and create a welcoming atmosphere.

Hearing

Music or other sounds can be used to create a relaxing, welcoming environment.

For example, if you own a camping gear store, nature sounds, like birdsong or rain falling on a tent, can enhance your customers’ sensory experience and make them feel more connected to the camping environment.

Centro Nacional Store — Livraria Cultura is an example of a company that uses the auditory experience to create a more pleasant environment. Its stores usually have a soft soundtrack playing in the background, creating a relaxing environment that invites customers to spend more time in the store.

Touch

You can create sensory rooms that involve customers’ sense of touch.

If you own a clothing store, how about offering different fabrics and textures for customers to touch? It’s an amazing way for them to connect with your products.

Natura, the well-known cosmetics brand, lets customers try many of its products in its brick-and-mortar stores. They can feel the texture of creams, lotions, and makeup by applying them directly to their skin. This helps create a deeper connection with the products and allows customers to choose the items that best meet their needs and preferences.

Smell

Smell is a powerful sense, often underestimated when it comes to creating shopping experiences.

However, you can use it to create sensations and environments that match your products. For example:

Some stores, like coffee shops, already use the smell of coffee to create a more welcoming environment.
Imagine walking into a clothing store and smelling freshly washed fabrics. That would definitely improve the shopping experience.
Pão de Açúcar creates an olfactory experience through the aroma of breads and cakes baking in its in-store bakery. When customers walk into the store, they’re enveloped by these delicious smells, which creates a welcoming atmosphere and encourages purchases from the bakery.

A perfect example of a Sensory Room is the Dior activation at Hotel Sephora, developed by Alice Wonders. For a captivating, multisensory immersion in the brand’s exclusive space, we created projection mapping that brought to life the launch of J’adore Eau de Parfum, the brand’s newest fragrance. Check it out:

Taste

Last, but certainly not least, we have taste.

In some stores, especially those that sell food or beverages, you can offer tastings to customers.

Pão de Açúcar combines the sensory experience of smell with taste, also offering tastings of wines, cheeses, breads, and other products in its stores. This not only lets customers try before they buy, but also creates a more engaging and enjoyable shopping experience.
Another company that embraces this practice is Cacau Show, a chain of chocolate stores, which often offers samples of its products, letting customers enjoy the flavor before deciding to buy.

The Impact of Sensory Rooms at the POS

Now that we’ve talked about how to engage and stimulate each of your customers’ 5 senses at the POS, how about we look at the benefits of bringing it all together in Sensory Rooms for your brand?

The main goal of a sensory room at a point of sale is to create a unique and memorable experience for the customer.

On top of that, you not only set your store apart from the competition, but also encourage customers to come back. It’s a win-win strategy!

Here are some of the many benefits of creating sensory experiences in your store:

Benefits of the sensory experience for brands

The sensory experience helps brands stand out from the competition, increase the perceived value of their products, and create an emotional connection with customers.

Creating an Emotional Connection

When we engage all five senses in a shopping experience, we’re going beyond the simple act of selling a product. We’re creating an emotional connection with the customer.

We know that strong emotions are tied to our most lasting memories, so by providing a memorable, emotionally charged experience, we’re fostering customer loyalty and making sure they remember our brand in the future.

Market Differentiation

In today’s competitive retail world, it’s vital for your brand to stand out.

Sensory rooms can provide a unique advantage, setting your brand apart from competitors. Offering an immersive, multisensory experience is a powerful way to stand out and create a unique identity for your brand.

Added Value

The sensory experience adds value to the customer’s purchase, making it more than a simple transaction.

The customer isn’t just taking a product home, but a complete experience that engaged all of their senses. This can justify a higher price and increase profit margins for your brand.

Longer Dwell Time in the Store

When you provide an engaging sensory experience, customers tend to stay in the store longer. That’s because they’re immersed in an environment that stimulates their senses.

As a result, a longer visit increases the chances that customers will discover more products they like, which in turn raises the likelihood of generating more sales.

It Drives Word of Mouth

Creating a unique, unforgettable shopping experience makes customers want to share it with friends and family.

That’s where valuable word-of-mouth marketing comes into play, amplifying your brand’s visibility in a genuine, personal way.

Conclusion

Investing in sensory experiences at the point of sale is a strategy for transforming the way your customers interact with your brand.

By creating a shopping environment that engages all the senses, you deliver a richer, more appealing, and more memorable retail experience.

This not only boosts your sales opportunities and dwell time in the store, but also drives valuable word-of-mouth marketing, helping expand your brand’s visibility.

However, it’s important to conduct research to truly understand your audience and offer experiences that align with their expectations and desires. And you can count on us to help.

Get in touch with us and learn how you can create unique experiences for your customers and unlock your business’s full potential.

FAQ – People Also Ask:

What are sensory rooms for points of sale? Sensory rooms are spaces specially designed to engage the customer’s senses, delivering an immersive, delightful, and unique experience. This involves using techniques and technologies to stimulate customers’ sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.
Why should I consider the sensory experience in retail? The sensory experience can significantly improve the customer experience and increase sales. When their senses are engaged, customers tend to spend more time in the store, increasing the chances that they’ll make a purchase. In addition, a unique and memorable experience can lead customers to share it with others, driving word-of-mouth marketing.
What types of retail sectors can benefit from sensory experiences? Any retail sector can benefit from sensory experiences. Whether it’s a furniture store that uses different lighting scenarios to showcase its products or a bakery that uses the aroma of fresh bread to draw in customers, the possibilities are nearly endless.
How can I implement a sensory experience in my store? There are several strategies for introducing a sensory experience into your store, and they can be adapted to the nature of your business and the profile of your target audience. For example, you can use lighting and décor to create an environment that highlights your products’ attributes and encourages customer interaction. You can include themed spaces and strategic lighting to spotlight specific products, and choose colors and materials that evoke certain emotions or sensations.