Honeywell advances digitalization in retail to enable frictionless shopping for customers

Honeywell advances digitalization in retail to enable frictionless shopping for customers

- 94% of consumers believe a positive experience will make them more likely to purchase again

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Honeywell (Nasdaq: HON), the global technology leader, reveals some of the top trends in the retail supply chain in the new post-pandemic age as consumers return to in-store shopping.

As the global retail industry makes a comeback with brick-and-mortar stores, a similar trend is also visible in the region. The size of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) retail sector is expected to rise to $308 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate of 4% from $253.2 billion in 2018. MENA e-commerce sales also continue to grow, with around nine in 10 customers in MENA becoming digital converts since the pandemic and who will continue to buy online, while in parallel also shopping in physical stores.[1]

The Need for Frictionless Retail

Retailers are increasingly unifying their operations so that customers can have a frictionless shopping experience – one that removes frustrations such as items online not being available in-store and challenges with online returns. Top technologies enabling frictionless retail include contactless checkout, digitally informed employees and inventory optimization. A key benefit of digital transformation is improved customer experience, as 94% of consumers