Location, location, location goes online with omnichannel systems

This doesn't mean that you now have to fling open the doors of your brick-and-mortar shop 24/7, 365 days per year or go door-to-door to sell your merchandise or service.

With consumers who are becoming increasingly impatient (they want it now), sophisticated and digitally-empowered, coupled with the proliferation of mobile devices and the constant evolution of web connectivity in terms of speed and availability, the omnichannel is becoming a necessity if one wishes to stay abreast of the competitors and turn a profit.

The world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart has begun implementing it already. Yet despite the recent spike in its e-commerce revenues, the retailer revealed that it still only accounts for 3% of its overall sales. Thanks to adopting and implementing new strategies, including a few omnichannel initiatives like the ship-to-store service, Wal-Mart believes that it can deliver 30% e-commerce revenue growth this year, jumping from $10 billion in fiscal 2014 to $13 billion this year.

The one omnichannel strategy of Wal-Mart that we think is true genius and which might work well in South Africa, where many people are still unbanked and still transact with cash only, is its 'pay-with-cash' facility, which allows customers to order products online and then pay with cash at their nearest store.

In the end, this is what a great omnichannel plan will do: benefit your brand, increase your bottom-line, as well as appeal to the consumer by making interaction with your brand as easy and pleasant an experience as possible.