A seamless customer experience gives customers a smooth interaction across all channels when buying a store's products, whether it's an online or offline purchase. Here are five tips to create a seamless sales experience across your brick-and-mortar stores, your social media sites, and your online purchases.
1. Implement a payment processor for retailers.
One of the best ways to ensure a seamless sales experience across all your sales channels is by implementing a payment processor. A payment processor for retailers ensures your customers get a quick, efficient transaction. It's especially useful when you have long lines and plenty of customers making holiday purchases.
The benefit of payment processors is that they allow retail stores to accept an array of payment options, such as debit cards, credit cards, digital wallets, and more. In addition, many come with security features so that customers' financial details remain safe.
Another benefit is that you can use the same platform in your brick-and-mortar store as well as in your online store, and the processors provide real-time authorization so you'll know immediately if a transaction was declined.
Most payment processors can be updated to new technologies, too, such as QR codes or contactless payments.
2. Use an online payment gateway.
An online payment gateway is essential for your online retail business as it accepts and processes payments quickly. Without one, you would need to manually verify the financial details of each customer before accepting payment, which can be tedious and sometimes impossible.
A payment gateway is an excellent way of letting customers make in-store pick-up purchases from your website as well. Payment gateways also let customers make purchases directly from your social media platforms. This not only creates an easy shopping experience but also encourages impulse buying.
Some payment gateways support different currencies, which can be helpful if you want to expand your online store and sell your products internationally.
With this platform, you can send payment links via email or text, allowing customers to complete their purchases wherever they are: online, in your physical store, or on your social media site.
These platforms also come in handy when you have long lines. Customers can skip the line and use the self-service checkout or pay with a QR code.
3. Create a unified customer support platform.
Creating seamless sales across your channels will be easier with a unified customer support platform or with omnichannel support. Whether customers contact your retail store through your website or social media, the live chat tool should be the same and provide a uniform experience.
An omnichannel support system allows customer service agents to see customers' interactions. This bird's eye view enables them to answer questions quickly and efficiently. Agents can provide updates on order statuses or payment issues, for example. This system also ensures customers' questions are prioritized across different channels.
Plus, with an omnichannel platform, you can train customer support agents using one centralized platform, ensuring training is consistent.
4. Optimize your store for mobile devices.
With mobile usage on the rise, purchasing items via a mobile device is becoming more and more frequent. Another way to create a seamless sales experience across all your channels is to optimize your store for mobile devices.
This allows customers to purchase items directly from their phones at any time, whether they're online or even inside your store. They should be able to visit your website and your social media pages without facing design or functionality issues.
Your store's website page should be mobile-friendly, adapting easily to different screen sizes. This ensures your website is functional whatever the device your customer has.
Moreover, customers should be able to search for products using your store's search feature and then make payments using mobile wallets or other payment options. When optimizing your retail store's website for mobile devices, prioritize fast loading times and smooth interactions.
Use QR codes to your advantage, placing them in your store and online. Social media links can go directly to discount pages, seasonal products, and promotions. In other words, all your channels should be seamlessly integrated and accessible with a smartphone.
5. Virtual terminal.
A virtual terminal allows you to accept payments outside of traditional systems. This kind of flexibility enables you to sell your products at fairs, outdoor markets, and special events. Virtual terminals are typically designed to accept a variety of payment options, such as credit cards, debit cards, and mobile wallets, guaranteeing a smooth checkout process.
Like other payment systems, virtual terminals can be integrated with your social media platforms as well as your website. You'll get real-time authorization as well.
They also work on any device that has an internet browser, which gives you opportunities to sell your products in environments that might otherwise be inaccessible.
Conclusion.
When you're looking to create a seamless sales experience across your digital, social, and brick-and-mortar stores, you can't go wrong with the above tips. These tips will not only boost your sales, but they'll help you sell across all your channels with ease.
