There are few events in recent history that have changed the way people all over the world go about their daily lives more than the outbreak of COVID-19. From how we interact with other people to where we work, COVID-19 has changed so many aspects of our daily lives. 

Perhaps no one has felt the impact of these changes more than those in the retail industry. COVID-19 has dramatically impacted the in-person retail experience. Retailers have had to adapt—and quickly. Below, we examine a few key ways retailers can continue to provide a positive in-person experience while keeping customers safe. 

Follow Safety Guidelines

Customers are doing more of their shopping online these days, but when they venture out, they are looking for retail establishments to be clean and compliant. In order to ensure your customers feel safe, all employees should be wearing masks and signs should be posted in the windows asking that customers also wear masks.  In addition, the number of customers allowed within the building at one time should be limited as required. While this will limit the amount of foot traffic stores can expect, adhering to safety guidelines will encourage more people to visit your store overall. 

Make Your Inventory Visible

One thing that customers (and store owners) should try to avoid is unnecessary handling of products. Many customers are more cautious about touching products due to the risk of contracting COVID-19, so retailers should have their products clearly visible so customers can easily see the products they intend to buy. One solution is a display case that is both functional and secure.

Tools like Senseon Plus enable retailers to monitor activity and create audit trails to better understand how cabinets are being accessed.

With Senseon’s intelligent cabinet-level access control systems, employees can use a RFID card, wristband, or badge-affixed tag to securely disengage a lock. In addition, features such as auto open enable doors and drawers to automatically pop open when unlocked, creating fewer overall touchpoints.

Fewer Trips With More Spending

Americans are spending more time online and less time in-stores. When customers do venture out for a rare in-person shopping trip, they tend to spend more money per trip. In addition, each trip out is more planned than it used to be, meaning most people are ready to buy when they go out shopping in person. 

Contactless Pick-up

Contactless pick-up has been gaining popularity over the past several years, but its popularity has skyrocketed with the onset of COVID-19. Today, customers expect to be able to go online and order a product, then pick up their order with little hassle. In some cases, employees personally deliver the product–while wearing a mask–right to the trunk of the customer’s car. Contactless pickup is a great option for both customers and retailers as the customer saves time and the store receives the money upfront. In addition, contactless pickup lowers the risk of infection for both customers and employees.

Sanitizer is Expected

People are washing and sanitizing their hands more frequently to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Most people will have some form of hand sanitizer or wipes with them, but it is expected that there will be a bottle of hand sanitizer at the front of a store. It is an inexpensive way to keep your customers as well as employees happy and healthy while making sure you are compliant. 

Different Hours for At-Risk Customers

A large portion of American shoppers are in the at-risk category for COVID-19 because of their age or pre-existing conditions. This can discourage some from going shopping in-person. As such, retailers should consider setting a special set of hours for at-risk customers. This could mean opening a little early or designating a few morning hours a week to make this group of consumers more comfortable. 

By implementing these simple, yet effective, changes, retailers can continue to provide a positive in-person experience while keeping customers safe.

Final Thoughts

In today’s world, it is more important than ever to ensure both your customers and employees are keeping healthy and staying safe. At Senseon, our goal has always been to help people feel safe, which is why we provide cabinet locking solutions that create fewer touchpoints and reduce the spread of infectious diseases. Take the next step in reducing the spread of infectious diseases with a smart cabinet locking system from Senseon. Our expert team can help you build a customized solution for any retail setting. Get in touch to learn more.