What:  A retail tech supplier shows a real world application of what a connected store looks like.

Why it is important: Such an equipment involves significant amounts of investments. However, it is interesting to see a fully fitted store live, rather than prototypes in suppliers’ showrooms, in order to evaluate the actual added value and ROI of said investments.

In 2017, just after its acquisition of Browns in London, Farfetch promised the retail world a new era with the “Store of the Future” concept, a place where everything would be connected for the customer’s sake. Since then however, this has remained a promise rather than a reality, as retailers embraced the tech by bits and pieces rather than investing full Capex on this topic.

The new COS store in Los Angeles (from the H&M group) could be a good example of what a connected store looks like:

• Touch-screen smart mirrors interact with the RFID chips included in every product, allowing to display more in-stock options, alternative proposals or alert salespersons that the customer is ready to leave with the product,
• Dedicated tablets allow store managers to monitor in real time what is going on in the store: inventory level, shelving situation, area management.
• The tablets also allow to train sales associates on a permanent basis whenever they have some free time
• Of course, the whole store is fully fitted for buy online, pick-up or ship from store, and other convenience options given to customers.

Retail tech applied, the LA COS store example