Study reveals untapped routes to address labor shortages, save on freight and delivery and reduce fuel emissions

by James · January 17, 2023

EXTON, Pa., 17 January 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Ricoh USA, Inc. today unveiled a study that finds advanced applications, such as intelligent lockers and Augmented Reality (AR), present a promising, largely untapped opportunity for retailers to improve user experience and ultimately increase customer satisfaction. The Harris survey surveyed more than 2,000 Americans online* and outlined consumer behavior and preferences for online purchases, motivating factors for using smart lockers to pick up and return packages, and attitudes toward specific online tools and apps that enable users to check for themselves products in use before making purchase decisions.

Survey results show that while only 12% of Americans retrieved a package from an intelligent locker in the past year, 77% would consider using one. This indicates an important opportunity for retailers to provide shoppers with more choice, including the ability to pick up ‘Buy Online, Collect in Store’ items at a secure location in a contactless setting. Investing in a secured intelligent locker solution for parcel collection and return can also help retailers ease labor challenges and save on delivery and shipping while reducing fuel emissions.

In addition, nearly 3 in 4 Americans (73%) say they would find special online tools or applications that help visualize how a product will look in the actual home or worn on the body helpful when making purchasing decisions online; and 1 in 4 Americans (25%) would find particular online tools or apps very useful.

“The future of retail is connected commerce and convenience,” said Rory FitzpatrickVice President of Vertical Marketing, Ricoh USAInc. “Retailers who streamline, optimize and automate processes for improved customer experiences will ultimately be more successful in building brand loyalty and driving business. It all comes back to using the most relevant and up-to-date information at their disposal to make informed business decisions that support customers’ changing demands and expectations.

“Applications such as Ricoh’s Intelligent Locker Systems and Ricoh Marketing Services can help retailers deliver better customer and employee experiences by using immersive AR to improve customer interactions, increase consumer loyalty and onboard and train team members. The ways AR can benefit retailers are truly limitless.” Fitzpatrick continued.

A recent study shows that 57% of customers are more likely to buy from a company that offers an immersive AR experience, and 64% of consumers believe that using AR in the shopping experience increases feelings of brand loyalty.

Tremendous growth is also predicted in the global intelligent cabinet market, which is estimated to be worth 804 million dollars in 2023 and is expected to reach 2.563 million dollars by 2028, with a growth rate of 17.8% between 2023-2028.

Retailers visiting Ricoh booth #1506 at the National Retail Federation 2023 will learn how to unlock the power of valuable information to optimize the retail ecosystem and engage customers through customized video content – and put AR to the test by creating their own avatar. Participants will also explore ways to automate retail technology with RICOH Service Advantage to reduce downtime, fill gaps across labor shortages, optimize the supply chain, secure information and market themselves through consulting, technology and creative services tailored to their unique goals.

For more information about Ricoh, click here, or follow the company’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, or YouTube.

*The Harris Poll survey was conducted online by the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Ricoh between 1.–3. November 2022, among 2,041 US adults aged 18+. The sampling precision of Harris online polls are measured using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.

| About Ricoh |

Ricoh is strengthen digital workplaces use innovative technologies and services that enable individuals to work smarter from anywhere.

With cultivated knowledge and organizational capabilities built up over its 85-year history, Ricoh is a leading provider of digital services, information management and print and imaging solutions designed to support digital transformation and optimize business performance.

With headquarters in Tokyo, Ricoh Group has major operations worldwide, and its products and services reach customers in approximately 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ended March 2022Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 1.758 billion yen (about. 14.5 billion USD).

For more information, please visit www.ricoh.com

SOURCE Ricoh USAInc.