Historically, retail has evolved significantly over the last hundred years.From the emergence of the first physical stores, which operated independently and without the need for integration between units, to the current scenario dominated by digitalization and integration in real time, the sector faces technological and behavioral transformations that have radically changed the consumer experience.
In the early days of retail, physical stores functioned in isolation. Each unit had its own control of inventory, customer service and management. The main focus was on the local consumer experience. Such simplicity, however, became unsustainable with the growth of retail chains, societies and increasingly complex relationships between brands and consumers.
The arrival of integrated management systems in the early 90s, such as ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning), was the first step towards centralizing operations, enabling a new era of scalability for the business.
In addition, with the advent of new channels, such as telephone, email and digital platforms, retail began to operate in a more complex environment. Multichannel emerged as a response to this diversification of touch points, allowing consumers to interact with the brand in different ways and through multiple points of service and contact.
In practice, multichannel enabled consumers to buy online and withdraw in store, or even seek after-sales solutions on channels such as WhatsApp and social networks. Recent data show that 50% of consumers prefer to solve after-sales problems through WhatsApp, highlighting the importance of offering agile, convenient options that dialogue directly with the consumer.
However, while efficient, multichannel often fails to deliver an integrated experience. Operations across different channels often do not talk to each other, resulting in frustrations for the consumer and operational challenges for companies.
Unified Commerce: full integration
In this scenario, Unified Commerce emerges as the natural evolution of multichannel, offering an integrated and centralized approach that unites data, inventory, logistics and customer service in a single orchestration system.The goal is to deliver a fluid and real-time experience to the consumer, regardless of the channel used.
Unified Commerce is not just about connecting sales channels. It is necessary to integrate the entire chain of operations, from inventory to delivery logistics, using advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Big Data to anticipate needs and customize interactions. The concept meets the expectation of consumers for frictionless experiences, where there are no barriers between the physical and the digital. It is an evolution, made possible by technology, of the concept of omnichannelness, so talked about but always implemented with great difficulty by companies.
Who is leading this revolution?
Several retailers have already adopted Unified Commerce as a core strategy. Examples include:
Walmart: the retail giant has invested heavily in technology to integrate its online and physical operation, enabling customers to buy from anywhere and receive products quickly and efficiently.
Amazonwhile traditionally a digital platform, the company is expanding its physical footprint with initiatives like Amazon Go, where data and technology integration eliminates queues and simplifies the shopping experience.
Luiza Magazine: in Brazil, Magalu is an example of how full integration can benefit the customer. The company uses systems that connect inventory, logistics and service, allowing the consumer to choose where and how to receive the products.
The implementation of Unified Commerce, however, is not simple.It involves technical challenges such as the integration of legacy systems, and strategic ones such as training teams to operate in a highly connected environment.In addition, it requires significant investments in technology and infrastructure, changes in incentive and reward mechanisms of commercial teams, putting the customer “de fact” at the center of management, and much more.
On the other hand, the benefits are clear. Companies that adopt Unified Commerce are able to better meet the demands of modern consumers, increasing loyalty and boosting operational efficiency.In an increasingly competitive market, this can be a decisive differential.
Therefore, the transition from multichannel to Unified Commerce represents a revolution in retail. More than technological change, it is the cultural transformation that puts the consumer at the center of all operations. Companies that embrace this change will be better prepared to compete in a scenario where customer experience is the most valuable currency. Total integration is not a differential, but a necessity for those who want to remain relevant in the current market.