Benefits:
1. Integrated Communication and Analytics. In order to harness the near-endless amount of data generated by all communication channels, customers’ needs and desires must be always considered. To do so, an Omnichannel approach opens a world of possibilities: its cross-channel possibilities allow businesses to effectively administer customer data regardless of their source and execute platform-wide profile comparisons.
2. Meet customers where they are. Client profiles should be handled as single entities across all channels in order to avoid potential information loss or corruption, which will result in higher quality, bespoke customer service and being able to reward customers no matter the chosen platform to make their purchases.
3. Obtain data from every transaction. Every individual transaction counts. Together, these bits of information work like tiles forming a mosaic and it is this “final picture” which will allow businesses to track and sort customers by demographics, profiles or buying persona. In turn, this is a crucial aspect of business system basic management.
4. Specific Audiences Targeted. Having established proper customer and transaction analysis, marketing and retail experiences can be fixated on selected target markets. You can use inbound links to tailor your online marketing campaigns to a definite group of people.
5. Business Integration. It is composed of five elements: 1) Customer service, 2) sales, 3) merchandising, 4) inventory, 5) enterprise resource planning. These elements combine to enhance the level of both customer service and products.
6. Experience and Service Focused Shopping. Providing multi-channel services and products is key to offering customers the best service available. To do so, Omnichannel management is paramount to providing proper service-focused shopping.
Challenges:
1. Service unification might prove difficult when taking into account the price variances within channels.
2. Order management might not be good enough.
3. Stock-related inputs might not be as precise as needed.
4. Customer Support might be incomplete or inexistent.
5. Loyalty programs might not be as productive as needed.
6. The merger between physical and digital worlds might not be completely clean due to culture clashes.
7. Partners might not have previous experience with Omnichannel management