It would be a relief for retailers to be able to successfully prepare for a predictable year. Unfortunately, retail is anything but predictable, and 2025 is already shaping up to be a challenging year for many retailers. From tariffs to possible dock strikes, a changing geopolitical landscape, interest rates and inflation, 2025 is already presenting a few challenges.
That is why winning loyalty is crucial; without always knowing what’s coming next, loyal customers provide retailers the assurance they need to ride the waves. Retailers can win loyalty a few different ways, including through personalized offers, optimizing their pricing and prioritizing a flexible POS. Let’s walk through these – and how GK can support in each.
Retailers can personalize offers to win lasting loyalty
With the uncertainties already characterizing 2025, personalization strategies will be especially important in helping retailers maintain the kind of customer loyalty that can help them overcome challenges. There are a couple of reasons why: personalization creates convenience, and it builds customer relationships.
Personalized offers give customers the discounts they need at the moment they need those discounts. This removes a step in their shopping process, creating an ease and convenience that will keep them coming back.
Not only do personalized offers bring ease and convenience, but they also foster relationships with customers at a one-to-one level, making them feel recognized and appreciated.
For example, GK’s personalization solution, GK AIR, tailors every touchpoint to the individual customer. It analyzes the interests of customers based on current behavioral data as well as historical transaction data, delivering fully automated and relevant recommendations in real time. This not only works for online shopping – in-store employees can also use product recommendations via devices when advising customers.
Retailers can optimize prices to stay competitive
With today’s climate of rapidly changing prices from suppliers, due to tariffs, shortages, demand spikes and more, it can be difficult for retailers to lock in an effective price that benefits both the retailer and its customers. Luckily, AI-driven tools can step in and ensure prices on all products match the company’s margin goals while meeting customer needs.
The GK AIR Price Optimizer, for example, uses intelligent algorithms to implement clear and transparent pricing processes and to establish effective price and promotion management. The AI solution keeps an eye on all price-influencing factors at all times: consumers who notice abrupt price changes at competing retailers due to macroeconomic factors will notice the difference compared to a retailer who automatically adjusts their prices to prevailing market conditions.
Retailers can offer flexible point-of-sale (POS) options to prioritize the customer experience
The POS is a critical touchpoint in the customer’s journey, as it can make or break the experience. When faced with a negative experience – such as the payment terminal rejecting a credit card or a long line to the check-out – it’s easy for a customer to use that as an excuse to try a new retailer next time.
However, if a store can meet a customer where they are, and have a reliable technology ecosystem, the shopping journey is made much smoother. A shopper may hope to interact with a clerk at a traditional counter or pay in the aisles with a mobile POS system, and flexible technology that can support each method will set the retailer apart.
GK offers a myriad of POS services to meet those needs, such as OmniPOS, Mobile POS, Self-Scanning, GK Go and more.
Building the bridge between retailer and consumer
Retailers must connect with consumers in new, fresh ways to inspire confidence and loyalty, which is why effective personalization, price optimization and a modern point of sale landscape are therefore the keys to winning loyalty during the bumpy and unpredictable year, building bridges between retailers and their customers.
Contact us today to learn how GK works with leading retailers on building customer loyalty.
