In a retail world increasingly defined by digital convenience and e-commerce dominance, brick-and-mortar stores remain crucial both to retailers’ growth and to meet shoppers’ preferences for experiential retail. But while both retailers and shoppers are leaning into physical stores, there is growing acknowledgment that the in-store experience frequently falls short of customer expectations. Our survey conducted by Retail Systems Research (RSR) underscores a critical disconnect: Shoppers are demanding more engaging, intuitive, and tech-enhanced in-store experiences, yet many retailers are falling short of these expectations.

Consumers are demanding more interactive, engaging experiences, and AR and VR  deliver just that. AR and VR are doing more than making the in-store shopping experience virtual. They’re making digital commerce more accessible and engaging than ever before. With 40% of shoppers being willing to pay more for a product if they are able to test it through AR, how will you leverage this tech to future-proof your brand?  

As you know, foot traffic is the lifeblood of a physical retail store. No matter how fantastic your products or exceptional your service, none of it matters if customers aren’t walking through your door. If you’ve been looking around your quiet store, wondering how to get people off the sidewalk and inside your shop, you’re in good company. And while there’s no secret manual, per se, there are several proven things you can do to boost foot traffic and turn casual passers-by into enthusiastic shoppers.

Dive into the data to see the trends shaping the grocery space in 2025 and uncover actionable insights for strategic decision-making in the competitive food-at-home market. Key takeaways:

Shoppers are taking more, shorter trips to grocery stores.Over the past 12 months, grocery stores have experienced nearly uniform YoY visit growth. And since COVID, the segment has steadily increased both overall visits and average visits per location – even as average dwell times have consistently declined. 

While “the store of the future” has been a fascination to the retail industry for over a century, the cold truth is that stores today look and feel far too similar to how they did 10, 15, and in many cases: 20 years ago. When will the promise of all the miraculous technology that surrounds us find its way into retail stores en masse?

To find out, we conducted a different type of research than our usual annual Store Report. Rather than survey all product segments, revenue bands and performance levels, we queried the retailers who are most likely to be at the forefront of technology-enablement in their stores – fashion & specialty retailers – all with high annual revenue. It also focuses on retailers that are outperforming the norm in sales, and as such, can be seen as a deep look into a very specialized – and advanced – set of the retail market.

The retail industry is a competitive business, and not just since the emergence and growth of e-commerce.Therefore, understanding your customer’s behavior and preferences contributes to your business’s success. While it can be challenging, the advent of smart retail technologies has aided retailers in gaining valuable insights through in-store tracking and analytics.

The relevant sections in this retail technology whitepaper:

Brick and mortar retailers are under tremendous pressure from the e-commerce boom and ever-evolving customer expectations. Globally, online shopping is projected to continue its strong upward trend. A lack of physical constraints has enabled e-commerce sites to innovate often and act quickly in terms of marketing and customer experience. Further, their lower cost of operations has translated into better pricing for customers. As a result, “offline” retailers are suffering from a drop in sales, lower footfalls and a dire need to reinvent themselves to stay relevant.

The use of retail in-store analytics involves incorporating data tracking and analytics techniques to gain customer insights and make informed decisions about the performance and operations of physical retail stores. By collecting and analyzing various data generated within the store, such as customer behavior and interactions, retailers can optimize store layouts, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the overall shopping experience.