What will it take to achieve ‘retailtopia’ in 2020?

We’re constantly asking ourselves what people will want from the future shopping experience so we can help our retail customers stay ahead of the game. That’s why we’re delighted to be launching ‘Retailtopia’ today – a vision of how shopping might look in 2020 created by a panel of independent retail and consumer experts.

The panel, led by Professor Patrick Barwise, Chairman of Which?, believes the 2020 shopping experience will be far more personalised, interactive and seamless in the way customers use technology to enable purchasing. There will be no technological or geographical boundaries: retail experiences will be accessible anytime, anywhere, anyplace.

The most successful retailers will slash customer waiting times to a minimum. This will mean instant online content, constant stock availability, no queues and same day fulfillment without the need to pre-book. The panel foresees retail environments will be completely wireless enabled. Retailers will connect in helpful ways with customers before they reach the store. Contactless payment will release staff from tills to focus on service and the customer experience. Retailers will also enable customers to bring their own devices into store to help with their shopping or share what excites them.

The ‘Retailtopia’ vision was shared with media this morning at an event in London. A group of leading journalists and experts debated the vision at the top of Centrepoint Tower, overlooking Oxford Street – one of the world’s busiest shopping hotspots.

In a sector where the UK leads the rest of the world, technology brings huge opportunities for retailers. From click and collect to mobile payment, we’re increasingly using networked technology to perfect and personalise our shopping experience. To thrive and grow, every retailer needs to keep up with these ever-changing demands.

To read the ‘Retailtopia’ vision paper, view video interviews with the panel and see unique images of what shopping might look like in 2020, visit bt.com/retailtopia. We’d love to get your feedback.