If you have chosen to open a retail store in the internet age, then you will be well aware of the challenge in front of you. Retail stores have always been difficult business propositions, but the 21st century has thrown down the biggest challenge yet. As some of the biggest retailers go out of business on a seemingly daily basis, there’s no doubt that any savvy retailer needs to have a few tricks up their sleeve to ensure they remain relevant.

One of the most important aspects of a modern retail business — and, in fact, any business at all — is technology. Modern customers are accustomed to technology and, in fact, they now expect it. If your retail store doesn’t embrace the technological, then you could find yourself being left behind.

If you want to ensure that your retail business stays up to date, here’s three key features your store should look to implement…

Click and collect

You don’t have to run a huge national business to offer click and collect services. The idea behind click and collect is blissfully simple; customers can check stock levels on a website and then reserve a product to collect at their leisure. Any half-decent web designer will be able to implement such a process for you. Your customers will love the convenience of being able to check stock levels, and you actually gain an advantage over internet retailers, as your customers won’t have to wait for delivery if they choose to click and collect on the same day.

Interactive display stands

Gone are the days when product displays could just be basic and analogue. If you want your retail store to survive in the modern era, then interactive and touchscreen POS displays are an absolute must. The best use of these displays is to showcase the most popular products that your store carries; as you already know the products are well-liked, you can further enhance their visibility to customers who have never had the chance to try them.

Accept credit cards

This might seem like a basic, and not particularly high-tech, but a surprising number of stores still don’t accept non-cash payment methods. In the modern world, this is simply intolerable. We are gradually moving towards a cashless society,  and if they can’t make a card transaction in your store, they’re not going to waste time hunting down an ATM; they’re going to go elsewhere. Many small retailers hate the idea of accepting card payments as they will usually be charged fees to do so, but it’s better to put your prices up by .5% across the store to cover the costs than to only accept cash.

In conclusion

It’s worth remembering that tech solutions can also benefit you as a retailer, making your life simpler and your management of the store quicker. This, combined with the fact that your customers will expect modern solutions, makes the implementation of the above tech innovations a necessity for any modern store.