Gen Z Shops Different: How Unified Commerce Caters to Today’s Hyper-Connected Shoppers
The way we shop is completely changing. Forget stores and websites existing in separate worlds! Today’s shoppers, especially Gen Z, want a smooth, unified experience no matter how they interact with a brand, whether it’s browsing online, buying in a store, or using a mobile app. This is exactly what unified commerce offers.
Understanding Gen Z’s Shopping Habits
Gen Z, the generation born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s, is the first truly digital-native generation. They’ve grown up with smartphones in their hands and the internet as their playground. This translates to a unique set of shopping habits:
- Mobile-First: Gen Z prioritizes mobile for everything, including research, browsing, and even purchases. They expect a flawless mobile experience that is on par with, or even better than, the desktop experience.
- Omnichannel Shopping: Gen Z seamlessly switches between online and offline channels throughout their shopping journey. They might research a product online, and then visit a physical store to try it on before making a purchase (or vice versa).
- High Expectations: Having grown up with instant gratification, Gen Z expects a frictionless shopping experience. They demand convenience, fast delivery options, and a clear understanding of return policies.
- Brand Authenticity: Gen Z values brands that align with their social and environmental values. They are more likely to support companies that are transparent and sustainable.
How Unified Commerce Caters to Gen Z
Unified retail commerce creates a cohesive shopping experience by integrating all sales channels—online stores, physical stores, mobile apps, and social media—into a single platform. This empowers retailers to provide Gen Z with the seamless and personalized experience they crave. Here’s how:
- Unified Customer View: With a unified commerce platform, retailers can gain a 360-degree view of their customers. This allows them to personalize product recommendations, marketing campaigns, and loyalty programs across all touchpoints. Imagine a Gen Z shopper researching a pair of shoes online. When they visit the physical store, a salesperson can access their browsing history and recommend similar styles or complementary accessories. This level of personalization fosters a stronger connection with the brand.
- Inventory Visibility: Unified retail provides real-time inventory visibility across all channels. This eliminates the frustration of finding a desired product online, only to discover it’s out of stock in-store (or vice versa). Gen Z shoppers can see exactly what’s available and choose the most convenient fulfillment option, whether it’s in-store pickup, home delivery, or click-and-collect.
- Omnichannel Fulfillment: Unified commerce empowers retailers to offer a variety of fulfillment options that cater to Gen Z’s desire for convenience. This could include same-day delivery, buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS), or ship-to-store options.
- Streamlined Returns: Gen Z doesn’t want to be stuck navigating a complex return process. Unified commerce strategy facilitates easy returns and exchanges across all channels. This could involve returning an online purchase to a physical store or initiating a return process through the mobile app.
How ETP Unify Wins Over Gen Z Shoppers?
ETP Unify is a powerful cloud-native Unified Commerce Platform built using MACH Architecture. It brings the best of retail and e-commerce functionality to the user in one, easy-to-use, beautiful interface. All information stored in one database empowers retail retailers and managers to have all the information and tools at their fingertips to serve customers across channels, helping create an amazing experience for consumers.
In short, ETP Unify is a leading unified commerce platform that empowers retailers to deliver the seamless, personalized experiences that Gen Z demands. Here’s how ETP Unify can help:
- Amazing Customer Experiences Leading to increased loyalty
Whether customers are making in-store or online purchases, ETP Unify, a unified retail commerce offers a unified and smooth experience across all channels. Consumers can effortlessly move between several touchpoints, for example, from internet browsing to in-store purchases, or vice versa. As a result, customers are more satisfied and loyal because the experience is more unified and integrated.
- Real-time Visibility of Inventory Leading to Higher Inventory Turnaround
Retailers can view their inventory in real-time across all channels using unified commerce, ETP Unify. This lowers the possibility of stockouts or overselling since inventory levels and product availability are updated instantaneously. This results in higher customer happiness, better order fulfillment, fewer backorders, and better in-store service levels.
- Improved Profitability by Leveraging Artificial Intelligence
With the help of ETP Unify’s AI-powered product recommendation engine, sales can be enhanced through higher cart conversion rates and larger basket sizes. The AI engine used by ETP Unify to detect order anomalies flags possibly fraudulent or phony orders. Profitability is increased when these two AI engines are used together.
- Powerful Order Fulfilment Leading to superior customer service
With a consolidated view of inventory and order data, ETP Unify helps retailers optimize order fulfillment procedures. This effectiveness is especially important for companies who are fulfilling orders through many channels. It contributes to lowering shipping costs, expediting order processing, and satisfying customers’ demands for precise and timely deliveries.
- Centralised Information Management Leading to higher employee productivity
Retailers can centralize all of their information management, including sales, orders, promotions, and customer and product data, with a unified commerce platform, ETP Unify. This centralized method guarantees that correct and current information is available throughout the entire organization while streamlining operations. This facilitates more informed decision-making and enhances internal procedures and prompts action.
- Unprecedented Scalability to support your growth
The cloud-based solution ETP Unify is naturally scalable, making it simple for retailers to adjust to changes in their business, such as entering new markets, adding more brands, or managing higher transaction volumes. ETP Unify provides flexibility and a unified commerce experience with regard to upgrades and deployment. New additions and updates are implemented smoothly, causing little to no interruption to your business operations.
Gen Z is a powerful force in the retail landscape, and their shopping habits are shaping the future of commerce. By embracing unified retail commerce, retailers can create a shopping experience that is tailored to Gen Z’s needs and expectations. This will not only lead to increased sales and customer satisfaction but also foster brand loyalty in the long run.
Want to win over Gen Z and take your retail business to the next level? Partner with ETP as your unified commerce partner to build a future-proof retail business.
