How Agile Technology Drives Modern Retail Success
Retail has rapidly evolved and quickly accelerated and it’s clear the latest trends are something brands need to keep up with. By ways of technological advancements, shorter consumer attention spans, and shoppers’ need for even faster instant gratification, these quick transformations continue to reshape the way businesses operate and engage with consumers—and retailers can barely keep pace.
Through this digital change, one question arises: how are retailers adapting to meet the ever-evolving demands of consumers? The answer is simple: through technology providers that offer robust, future-proofed customer engagement solutions. In fact, loyalty program providers see a 54% increase in the number of shopper transactions.
We’ve connected with the CEO of Coniq, Ben Chesser, to learn about the retail’s emerging trends and the ways that technology can close gaps and springboard brands to success.
Key Emerging Retail Trends in the US
From the rise of e-commerce to the growing demand for personalized shopping experiences, staying on top of retail trends can be challenging, especially without the right tools. However, customer engagement and loyalty platforms play a crucial role in helping retailers stay competitive. US providers experience a 43% increase in active customers compared to non-members.
“Digital transformation isn’t just about technology—it’s about reimagining how we connect with customers,” says Chesser. “We believe the future of retail lies in creating personalized, intelligent experiences that turn every interaction into an opportunity for meaningful engagement.”
Let’s explore the emerging trends in retail that are gaining momentum.
1. Seamless Integration Across Channels
Consumers across the globe expect the ability to interact with retailers not just in the physical space, but through e-commerce platforms and mobile apps. A study shows 7 of 10 consumers use multiple channels in their shopping experience. Only 7% of shoppers buy exclusively online, while 20% prefer to shop in physical stores—and most online shoppers, move between a platform’s app and website, often exploring the brand’s social media in between.
Nowadays, retailers must leverage omnichannel technology to ensure that not only these touchpoints are integrated to connect the consumer buying journey, but also create a smooth customer experience with consistent messaging and call-to-actions in the process.
Customer engagement and loyalty platforms can track customer behavior across online, in-store, and mobile interactions—enhancing engagement across all channels, not just after a purchase. These platforms can also ensure consistent messaging and a unified experience, whether a customer is browsing a website, using an app, or shopping in-store.
2. The age of hyper-personalization
Personalization is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Personalized experiences are what keeps consumers coming back for more. Shoppers are no longer satisfied with generic offers or a one-size-fits-all approach. They expect brands to understand their preferences, anticipate their needs, and provide tailored recommendations.
In fact, 81% of customers prefer companies that offer a personalized journey. With so many brands hungry for consumers’ fleeting attention, it makes sense that the ones speaking directly to them are the most appealing.
Hyper-personalization helps brands deliver tailored experiences regardless of the channel, —whether it’s product suggestions, promotions, or content. By integrating a customer engagement and loyalty platform that captures consumer data from various touchpoints, retailers can deliver hyper-personalized shopping experiences. This not only simplifies retargeting and enhances convenience for consumers but also helps brands stand out in a crowded marketing landscape.
3. The demand for agile technology
Retailers need modular technology to stay competitive and to quickly respond to shifting market trends and customer demands. An adaptable platform ensures flexible solutions, scalability, and seamless integration, combining data from e-commerce and physical retail to provide and future-proof a comprehensive customer overview.
By implementing an advanced customer engagement and loyalty platform retailers can boost efficiency by streamlining operations and reducing technical debt, resulting in cost savings and improved productivity. A custom dashboard showcasing rich customer data, for example, can enhance the overall customer experience, by allowing mall operators and its tenants to optimize their marketing strategies and pivot when necessary to adapt to ever-changing consumer trends.
The Pain Points of Digital Investment
Navigating the digital transformation in retail can come with significant challenges, but partnering with an expert technology provider can help retailers overcome these obstacles.
“Complex integrations are a common hurdle, as retailers must connect legacy systems with new tools and technologies,” says Chesser. By collaborating with a provider who can seamlessly integrate with existing systems, retailers can ensure that all platforms work cohesively allowing them to modulate to market changes without disruption.
Resource constraints can also hinder progress. With flexible, centralized solutions, providers can save retailers valuable time and resources. “For mall operators, a centralized management solution that streamlines operations enables faster time to market for campaigns and initiatives,” he explains. These platforms eliminate the need for extensive internal development teams and reduce the complexity of maintaining in-house systems that offer limited functionality. This allows teams to focus more on driving center performance and delivering exceptional customer experiences.
Another challenge is data overload
Retailers often struggle to manage vast amounts of data but partnering with a tech provider who can consolidate this data and present it in intuitive dashboards simplifies data management. “These platforms turn raw data into actionable insights, helping retailers refine their customer experience and personalize marketing strategies more effectively,” says Chesser.
Finally, to keep pace with evolving consumer expectations, technology providers empower retailers to innovate quickly. “White-label app solutions, for example, reduce development time and allow businesses to roll out new features faster, giving them a competitive edge in meeting rapidly changing consumer demands,” he explains.
The solution is simple
Retailers must leverage technology to ensure these pain points are addressed, creating a smooth customer journey while leveraging a future-proofed platform.
Platforms like Coniq, a trusted partner for customer engagement and loyalty solutions designed for shopping malls, outlets, and retail destinations, provide the tools to streamline these experiences by unifying data across e-commerce, in-store, and mobile channels. With features like receipt scanning, digital wallets and a dedicated marketing hub , Coniq enables mall operators to track customer behavior and communicate with shoppers when it matters most!
Understanding where they shop, what they purchase, and how often they visit—helps tailor content and communication strategies that drive customer loyalty. Sales value from loyalty members is 55% higher than that of non-members.
Here’s a closer look at how Coniq is playing a pivotal role in addressing key emerging trends to shape the future of retail:
Omnichannel integration
The challenge: Consumers expect a seamless experience across in-store, online, and mobile platforms.
How tech helps: Platforms like Coniq enable retailers to integrate multiple channels, capturing data at every touchpoint to deliver consistent messaging and personalized experiences, guiding customers effortlessly from discovery to purchase.
Hyper-Personalization
The challenge: A lack of data and insights can lead to inefficiency, a lack of focus, and a generic customer experience.
How tech helps: A customer loyalty platform like Coniq’s uses data and insights to create personalized experiences. With intuitive dashboards, mall operators can analyze how much customers spend, the number of times they visit, what stores they shop at, their preferences, and even which rewards they redeem. By consolidating data in one place, retailers can craft tailored shopping journeys that engage customers and build loyalty.
E-commerce growth & integration
The challenge: While the growth of e-commerce has transformed retail, physical stores remain vital. Balancing both channels while demonstrating growth is no easy task.
How tech helps: The key is blending online and in-store experiences to meet modern consumer demands. Platforms like Coniq unify data from both channels, providing retailers with a 360° view of customers and enabling better, data-driven decisions through loyalty incentives.
Agile technology
The challenge: To stay ahead of consumer expectations, retailers need technology that is modular and can quickly adapt.
How tech helps: Technology platforms designed specifically for the mall industry, like Coniq, empower retailers to stay ahead of shifting market trends and evolving consumer demands by providing flexible, scalable, and future-ready tools. By seamlessly integrating data from various touchpoints, these platforms enable retailers to adapt quickly, test new concepts, and implement personalized customer experiences.
Retailers today face a critical choice: innovate or risk being left behind. Embracing digital transformation with a consumer loyalty platform is more than just a strategy—it’s survival. Over 50% of consumer spending was online in 2024, with 60% conducted through mobile devices.
Editor’s Note:
With proven success—including helping one client build a 120,000-member database in just 90 days—Coniq is equipped to help navigate the complex world of digital retail and empower your business to meet changing consumer expectations, unlock growth opportunities, and stay far ahead of the competition.
Coniq empowers brands to build lasting relationships, boost customer loyalty, and drive growth. Their cutting-edge technology provides personalized experiences across channels, helping businesses understand, engage, and reward customers.