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What you won’t see in retail in 2025
As the retail landscape evolves, predictions for the future abound. While some trends become reality, others remain mere concepts. With 2025 on the horizon, it’s important to focus on practical, value-driven innovations. In this article, we’ll take you through some of the most overhyped expectations for the coming year so that you can prepare for real-world challenges.
1. AI will not replace human interaction entirely
While artificial intelligence is transforming retail, it won’t fully take over by 2025. AI excels at personalisation, predictive analytics, and automation, but consumers still value the human touch, whether it’s personalised styling advice or empathetic customer service. What’s important for retailers is being able to integrate new technologies like AI to deliver next-level customer experience. That’s why retailers need to have a robust POS system that facilitates integration with any advanced technology and empowers sales associates with actionable customer insights.
2. Physical store will not vanish completely
The notion that eCommerce will entirely replace physical retail has been a recurring myth. While online shopping continues to grow, physical stores still play a vital role in the customer journey. What will rather be seen is a rise in the use of a mix of these channels. Consumers seek immersive experiences and seamless benefits across in-store and online. So retailers need to be equipped with a robust Unified Commerce solution that bridges the gap between online and offline to provide seamless, personalised experiences.
3. Blockchain will not revolutionise retail overnight
Blockchain has been making headlines for its potential to secure transactions and enhance supply chain transparency. While it’s a powerful technology, it won’t reshape retail by 2025. Here’s why, its widespread adoption in retail faces significant barriers, including scalability issues, high costs, and a lack of industry standards. For retailers, the focus right now should be on proven, scalable solutions that address real-world challenges like real-time inventory tracking, omnichannel fulfilment, and streamlined inventory management. These are capabilities that can be effectively delivered through a flexible and modular platform like Enactor.
4. Loyalty Programs aren’t dead
Some suggest that loyalty programs will become obsolete as AI and personalisation take centre stage, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Loyalty programs remain a cornerstone of customer engagement, evolving to leverage new technologies rather than being replaced by them. The key is combining loyalty with promotions and delivering tailored offers across any channel. With Enactor, retailers can seamlessly configure and manage promotions in one place while creating advanced loyalty strategies that foster lasting customer relationships.
5. One-size-fits-all technology will not win
Every business has unique requirements, making it impractical for a universal solution to address everyone’s needs. On the other hand, building a completely bespoke system from scratch can be both costly and time-consuming. That’s where a hybrid approach becomes invaluable, a solution that offers the flexibility to adapt to specific business needs without starting from scratch. Enactor’s modular platform embodies this hybrid philosophy, allowing retailers to strike the perfect balance between “buy and build’. With its unique Toolkit, retailers gain complete control and self-sufficiency to do their own developments. Enactor’s modular architecture also ensures businesses remain future-proof, seamlessly integrating new technologies as they emerge.
What to focus on instead
Rather than pursuing overhyped trends, retailers should prioritise solutions that deliver immediate value while keeping them agile for the future. This means.
Embracing modular, future-ready systems
Choosing technology designed to integrate with emerging innovations.
Focusing on scalability
Adopting platforms that grow with your business.
Investing in omnichannel experiences
Providing seamless customer journeys across all touchpoints.
Why Enactor?
Enactor is built for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. Its flexible, scalable platform enables retailers to implement practical solutions that align with their current needs while preparing for the future. With Enactor, retailers don’t have to worry about what changes might come next, they can focus on their operations while we handle their retail technology and ensure they’re ready to adapt to whatever the future brings.
