Phygital Retail: 07 Technologies to Use at Your POS Comments Off on Phygital Retail: 07 Technologies to Use at Your POS 2579

Igor Santiago8 de June de 2022 20:1119 de October de 2026

When it comes to retail, the bar for delighting consumers is much higher today than it was just a few years ago. Price differentiation or attractive deals are no longer enough, and a creative POS is essential for building a strong image and winning customers over.

If you want to make your customer experience more enjoyable, you’ll have to go all in on creativity and, above all, innovation. When applied correctly, this little word makes a big difference in retail, and that’s what we’ll cover in this post.

At Alice Wonders, innovative digital experiences for brick-and-mortar retail are what we do best. We specialize in creating creative POS displays and, with autonomous, proprietary technologies, we build personalized experiences that attract, engage, and sell more.

In this post, you’ll learn how to create a creative POS, the importance of the phygital experience in retail, the power of technology in creating experiences, and 7 technologies that can turn your point of sale (POS) into an innovative point of experience (POX). Let’s get started!

The phygital experience

First of all, it’s worth recalling what phygital means, how much this strategy can impact your customer experience and, as a result, improve your results and boost sales.

The term Phygital refers to the fusion of the digital and physical worlds. The physical and digital worlds are becoming more connected every day, and combining these two dimensions through technological and interactive resources makes it possible to create increasingly integrated experiences aligned with the omnichannel trend.

That way, a phygital experience will not only make your POS more attractive, but also create new sensations and memories for consumers the moment they walk into your store. Not to mention that, with this strategy, your audience can engage digitally with your brand not only through e-commerce channels, but also through interactive technologies in your physical store – making the customer experience even more complete.

Making the experience complete

Making the consumer experience even more complete throughout the shopping journey has become a necessity these days. According to a Maplink survey, 73% of consumers use multiple digital channels to do their research before making a purchase.

In other words, even inside your store, your customers may be browsing competitors’ websites to compare prices, payment options, and the range of products/services offered. This makes it all the more important for your POS to feature innovative solutions that give customers faster, more efficient access to information and products.

The power of technology in retail

Using phygital strategies and setting up a creative POS in retail are ways to innovate and be extremely effective at delivering a great experience and driving sales for your business.

If the world is tech-driven (and so is your customer), that’s a sign your business needs to be too. With digital transformation, the way people shop has changed, and now it’s necessary to adapt the POS to customers’ new shopping habits. These are habits they picked up online, where technology and personalization have made them more informed, more demanding, and quicker when choosing a product.

That’s why innovating with technology to make your POS creative is no longer an option, but a necessity for anyone who wants to keep up with market trends.

Now, after this brief explanation of why retail needs innovation and technology, you may be asking yourself:

– Given this whole digital landscape, how do I innovate in my physical store? Which technologies should I bring to my POS, and where do I even start?

First and foremost, you need to understand that the market offers a wide range of technologies and solutions that can make your POS creative and more high-tech. That said, there are undoubtedly some that will work better for your business model and customer profile.

Whatever your business or customer, Alice Wonders has the ideal solution for you.

Check out 07 types of technologies to make your POS even more creative:

Phygital Retail: 07 technologies to use at the POS

Shelf Holography

In very basic terms, Shelf Holography can be thought of as a kind of three-dimensional photograph. It relies on the wave properties of light and is a great choice for making your POS creative.

Here at Alice, we have several success stories using this technology in advertising campaigns, including one for Omo, which was a huge hit in terms of numbers and sales.

What’s more, here at Alice, unlike most of the market, we strive to give clients the freedom to use holography as an unlimited communication tool.

Shelf Holography offers many benefits, and using this strategy is the best way to boost your POS. With it, you can:

make your product stand out;
capture behavioral data;
generate personalized interaction;
strengthen your brand image;
and enjoy many other benefits.

If this technology caught your interest and you want to know the best way to use it, check out our guide on how to use it at the point of sale.

Store-in-Store

Have you ever imagined walking into a store and realizing there’s another store inside the one you just entered? Pretty interesting, right?

Well, that’s basically what Store-in-Store is: a strategy that is guaranteed to grab shoppers’ attention and make your POS creative.

This POS technology model has been used in developed markets for almost two decades and has proven to be an efficient model, with 25% higher profitability than traditional POS.

Alice Wonders creates Store-in-Store projects with Digital Experiences for brands like Nestlé, Colgate, and Intel all across Brazil!

It’s worth checking out the links to learn more about this technology.

Interactive Display

The interactive wall, also known as a Totem, is another well-established product here at Alice. When it comes to grabbing attention, making the POS creative, and delivering a standout experience along the customer’s shopping journey, the Interactive Display is always a great option.

And I say this based on the results Alice has already generated with this technology.

We’ve used the Interactive Display right in the middle of Shopping Eldorado, in São Paulo, to run a giveaway for the Loungerie store, precisely at the time of year when malls are most packed with shoppers: Christmas.

Another Interactive Display success story here at Alice Wonders was the one we did for Intel, inside the Extra hypermarket. The goal of the activation was to help consumers choose the best laptop for their profile and buy it.

This activation was also a huge success and generated above-average sales results.

Vending Machine

This is, without a doubt, one of the most effective strategies when it comes to engaging shoppers at the point of sale.

Vending Machines make it much easier to buy and sell products strategically.

Here at Alice, we’ve developed activations that put brands in the spotlight and boosted sales and customer engagement. One example is the activation we created with Delboni Auriemo under the theme “Every vaccine a story.”

The activation was designed to help sell vaccines while doing good. For every vaccine purchased, another one was donated to an elderly person.

Another success story of ours is the one for Abimapi, developed to celebrate Cookie Day.

We also had AMA, an AMBEV project, which relied on our expertise to give shape and life to the social initiative through creative electronics.

Projection Mapping

This one may be among the most magical and effective when it comes to customer impact and a creative POS.

Also known as Video Mapping, Projection Mapping is a technique that projects three-dimensional images and videos onto facades, monuments, and a variety of other surfaces.

With the growing demand for Digital Experiences in the Retail & Events market, many brands have already embraced Video Mapping as an innovative way to delight customers, create memories, and deliver unique experiences.

Two of Alice Wonders’ biggest Projection Mapping success stories were developed for Epson, and both delivered great results. For our first activation with the company, Epson invited us to create new uses for projection in stores and restaurants.

We did the projection at the Laser Signage Solutions event, where we presented a fun projection-mapped table and projected floor signage showcasing the full immersive potential of their products.

For the second project, we created projection mapping on a mannequin for the opening event of the Solutions Center at Epson’s factory in Barueri/SP.

Another big success story here at Alice was a Projection Mapping for the ABYAT launch in 4 stores in the Middle East.

For the launch of the new ABYAT themed print collection – considered the largest retail store in the Middle East –, we created Projection Mappings for a truly playful, immersive experience. The activation ran for 2 months, simultaneously in 4 stores: 1 in Saudi Arabia and 3 in Kuwait.

If this technology caught your interest and you want to learn more about it, it’s worth reading about how it works and how to make the most of it.

Virtual Try On (Augmented Reality)

This is a great option for anyone in fashion retail who wants to stand out by making their POS creative, interactive, and dynamic.

Virtual Try On is simply an augmented reality technology that simulates a given situation for the customer.

It can be used, for example, in apparel retail, where customers can see whether a garment would look good on them without having to go to the fitting room. Just standing in front of the machine would be enough to see the outfit on their body. Interesting, right?

Well, we did just that for a fashion retailer, one that, in this case, sold jewelry. This case was developed for the Flagship in Monte Carlo. It featured a kiosk with facial recognition and virtual try-on of earrings and necklaces

It was quite an experience, and it delivered great results in terms of interactivity and sales.

Granometrics.io (Alice Wonders multisensor)

Finally, there’s Granometrics.io, a technology exclusive to Alice Wonders. Granometrics is a multisensor platform that maps the physical store at a granular level and provides insights for decision-making and immediate action.

Granometrics has already delivered a wide range of results and offers many benefits, such as:

cost savings and efficiency
increased sales
higher average ticket
prevents disruptions
anticipates demand

Brands such as Nestlé, Intel, Fast Shop, Carrefour, Pontofrio, MPD, and many others have already used and approved our technology.

Conclusion

Technologies like these are what can set you apart from your competitors and turn your customers into huge fans of your brand.

All Alice Wonders technologies have been tested and approved by major brands, and what sets us apart is simple: we don’t offer entertainment; we offer actions that drive sales and tangible results in the short, medium, and long term.

If you’re interested in our technologies, get in touch with our customer service team! We’d love to learn more about how we can help you. See you soon.

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Innovative Retail Experiences: Augmented Reality at the POS Comments Off on Innovative Retail Experiences: Augmented Reality at the POS 2892

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.