It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Gary Piper, Sales Director at Barron McCann, a provider of IT services across retail, hospitality, travel, banking and payments throughout the UK and Europe.
In 2025, additional revenue streams like digital media and advertising spaces will play an increasingly critical role for retailers. On screen advertising space will be an opportunity that stores should own, but we will start seeing these spaces, and WIFI advertising space, sold to external advertisers too. We’re going to see even smarter technology emerge, capable of tracking customers throughout store and delivering highly targeted advertisements.
Smart shelf solutions are also gaining traction – improving pricing accuracy and supporting consumer-facing apps like the Co-op’s or Tesco’s Clubcard app, enabling members to view exclusive pricing. Customer experience is becoming more critical than ever and aligning with individual customer behaviours is essential for retailers to stay competitive.
Serving the eco-conscious customer is another opportunity retailers can’t afford to overlook. EV charging stations, for example, not only support sustainability goals but also drive footfall and loyalty. The focus here isn’t on making money from the chargers but on keeping customers who value these services from going elsewhere. With EV technology becoming more affordable and reliable, it’s crucial for retailers to stay ahead.
Moving to low-carbon logistics is a key part of this – think green vehicles for last-mile delivery and initiatives that encourage employees and customers to adopt more sustainable practices.
For hospitality and retail businesses, leveraging green technologies will be a powerful way to attract eco-conscious customers by 2025. IT hardware recycling is one example of how we can embed sustainability into our operations while also demonstrating our commitment to the environment.
