Sales Tablet: 3 Benefits for Your Brand

Digitization has revolutionized how French retailers operate, requiring them to offer a wider product range with a sense of immediacy, much like pure players. Multibrand stores with limited supplier inventory access face the challenge of enhancing their product catalog and devising commercial strategies to consistently meet customer demands. This is where the sales tablet becomes invaluable: here are three key benefits of integrating it into your chain of sports stores.

1. What is a vendor tablet ?

Investing in a connected point of sale has become essential to meet the new expectations of consumers regarding their shopping journey. In this context, sales tablets are a key driver for the digital transformation of retail.

Connected to the store’s POS software, the sales tablet—whether a touchscreen tablet or a smartphone—provides complete mobility for staff on the sales floor. Always in touch with customers, they have all the necessary information at their fingertips, avoiding unnecessary back-and-forth and maintaining continuous customer interaction. Linked to various peripherals via WiFi or Bluetooth (printer, scanner, etc.), the sales tablet allows management of the entire in-store shopping journey, from expert advice to checkout.

2. Providing a better customer experience

The idea of a sales tablet quickly gained traction among branded stores, where control over production, distribution, product catalog, and e-commerce platforms facilitates innovation. The goal: to enhance the customer experience and foster closer relationships.

Consider brands like Nike or Caroll: they support their customers from the initial greeting, recognizing them through a loyalty card, offering advice on the entire product catalog (whether the stock is in-store, in a warehouse, en route for delivery, or in another store), and completing the checkout process right in the aisle.

Also read: 6 Examples of Successful Customer Experiences in Sports Retail

The sales tablet, connected to a mobile retail app, can incorporate numerous features to enhance the in-store customer experience:

• A media library (photos and videos) to demonstrate a specific product
• Usage and accessory recommendations
• Sales pitches to assist the salesperson during interactions with the customer
• Visualization of all touchpoints between the brand and the customer
• Recording a wishlist for the customer
• Building a pre-basket before checkout
• Checking available stock in other stores of the brand
• Enhancing merchandising by offering virtual try-ons through augmented reality

Implementing mobile software solutions like the sales tablet transforms your staff into a connected sales force, constantly engaging with consumers and enhancing their loyalty to your brand. With these digital tools, physical stores can compete with e-commerce pure players by offering an omnichannel shopping experience similar to what is available online.

3. Combining productivity and service

Beyond enhancing the shopping experience and conversion rates, team productivity also presents significant challenges. Sales tablets and other mobile retail solutions, beyond their sales support roles, can facilitate commercial operations, allow direct tagging from the app, manage returns to suppliers, and transfer goods between network stores. The department manager continues to fulfill their sales role while remaining available on the sales floor and actively contributing to efficient stock management.

In networks where teams are responsible for department management (GMS and large stores), the sales tablet enables the completion of numerous back-office tasks. The goal: to provide teams with greater mobility and increased presence on the sales floor.

Another feature gradually emerging in stores is mobile in-aisle checkout. This is particularly useful during peak periods (sales, private events, etc.) or for VIP services, especially for large purchases like bikes, skis, and other technical sports equipment.

4. Empowering vendor users

The sales tablet allows your in-store staff to have a thorough understanding of the entire product catalog, whether it’s from the store or the brand, enabling them to make comprehensive recommendations. Sales associates feel valued for their expertise, enhancing their ability to advise and support sales, making them more engaged and motivated. They are also better equipped to perform their daily tasks efficiently, improving their perception of the store. Thus, they become valuable ambassadors for the store, with a positive employee experience that resonates with customers.

However, this requires a significant investment in implementing your POS and stock management software. While the sales tablet represents a small revolution, boosting productivity, reducing unnecessary back-and-forth, and increasing customer availability, it must also integrate into daily routines: mastering the associated hardware, managing the department while being available for customers. Regarding product knowledge, sales staff must be able to advise on items in the store as well as those seen only in the brand’s catalog, complete with descriptions or sales pitches. For sports equipment, they must know its technical features, usage conditions, differences from other products, and more.

This change management phase should be integrated from the start of the project for anyone responsible for deploying a sales tablet in-store or a mobile and connected sales app within a fashion and sports distribution network.

Three advantages of the sales tablet in your chain of sports stores:

1. Enhanced customer experience with an omnichannel shopping journey similar to pure players, fostering genuine proximity between your brand, through your sales associates, and your clientele.
2. Improved productivity for your staff, allowing them to allocate more time to offer a range of distinctive in-store services (advice, returns, mobile checkout, etc.).
3. Empowered sales associates who are supported by modern tools, making them daily ambassadors of your brand.