Solutions: Omnichannel Holiday Shopping

As a retailer, you’ve already kicked off your holiday shopping campaigns. Did you remember to focus on omnichannel strategies? I hope so. Let’s take a look at what the big players plans are for this holiday season.

The retail giant, Walmart, kicked off their holiday shopping on Sunday November 1st with eight weeks of savings. The retailer is promoting everyday low prices and mobile capabilities, summing up its holiday plans as “easier shopping every day”. They are also emphasizing their many digital initiatives developed this year.

The retailer expects more than 210 million visits to its app in November and December, up from 18 million in 2013. With that said, it will be the most digitally integrated holiday for Walmart and all retailers, many of whom are making sure that shoppers know about the new and improved omnichannel capabilities.

As seen originally on FierceRetail, "I want customers to be in awe when they see what we have to offer as they walk into our stores or click around our site," said Judith McKenna, chief operating officer, Walmart U.S. "Our managers have made a lot of progress to improve the shopping experience before the holidays and our merchants made sure we have the right products in stock. We're delivering the prices customers expect, but we've taken it up a notch. Our supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Walmart.com will be a powerful combination for customers this holiday season."

Mobile marketing will also play a large role this holiday season for consumers and retailers alike. Roughly 75% of traffic to Walmart’s website is expected to come from a smartphone this season, and in-store pickup is expected to be heavily utilized. In addition, they have opened in-store pickup areas, so shoppers can now check in from their mobile devices when they arrive.

For the first time, shoppers will have the opportunity to scan items to a wish or gift list using the Walmart app.

Again, from FierceRetail, Walmart's holiday initiative is the culmination of a year's work "to accelerate digital innovation, bridge in-store and online shopping, improve inventory management, and make Walmart stores cleaner, faster and friendlier," according to a company statement.

While buying online and picking up in-store, price matching and mobile check-in were all developed and tested throughout the year, the holidays will be the true test.

For more on eCommerce solutions, contact us or see: Visual Search Unlocks mCommerce

Graphic: Adlucent