Technologies in Retailing: A Case Study of ALDI

This report analyzes the impact of technology on the retail industry with a focus on ALDI. It includes five articles related to the latest technologies in retailing and provides recommendations for ALDI to enhance its presence in the e-commerce sector.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Articles related to the technologies in context to ALDI..................................................................1
Conclusion and recommendations...................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................5
Appendix………………………………………………………………………………………6
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Introduction
ALDI is one of the largest brands and in around 20 countries the activities of the
company are managed. It has been investigated that company is having more than 10,000 stores
on the global platform. Headquarter of the company is in Germany and was established in the
year 1913. The activities of the company are divided into two different areas in the year 1960.
The two areas in which the activities are divided are Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud. ALDI Nord is
concerned with the German activities and there are 2500 stores which are situated in France,
Denmark and Spain. Aldi Sud is situated in China and Slovenia (Aldi.com.au, 2018). ALDI is
one of the biggest companies with the large market and company offers quality product in the
market with the aim of enhancing the satisfaction level of the customers.
The company offers daily products and alcoholic products in the market. It has been seen
that the aim of the company is to offer products at low price. In the first phase of the report the
five articles will be selected and these articles will focus on the entire activities of the company.
These articles will focus on the concept of retailing and also it will be related to the technology
so that it can be simple to achieve success in the high competition level prevailing in the market.
Articles related to the technologies in context to ALDI
Article 1
(CONSUMER TRIAL, CONTINUOUS USE, AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF A
RETAIL SERVICE INNOVATION:
THE CASE OF THE PERSONAL SHOPPING ASSISTANT)
It has been stated by Evanschitzky et al. (2015); the innovation based activities are
impacted by the retail sectors. There are many technologies that are considered by the
companies so that it can be simple to improve the services which are offered to the customers. It
has been seen that personal shopping assistants help the customers to purchase the products in an
easy manner. The author also stated that the effects of the technology can also been seen on the
overall revenue of the retail organization. It is necessary for the store front retailers to emphasize
on considering the experience of the customers so that it can be simple to maintain the
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performance and growth of the company. Technological innovation also enhanced the overall
level of service and focuses on giving satisfaction to the customers.
Article 2
(Consumer-to-store employee and consumer-to-self-service technology (SST)
interactions in a retail setting)
According to Lee (2015), it has been seen that retail firms focuses on considering the
application of the technology so that it can be simple to interact with the customers. Also there
are various types of service encounters like human to machine interaction. Technology has
enhanced the overall role in service production and also with the customers can easily avail the
services from the employees. Also it has been seen that customer contact can be considered as
the key factor of the perception of the customer for maintaining the quality of the service. Also
there are various types of customers contact like technology free customer contact, technology
assisted customer contact, technology facilitated customer contact and also technology mediated
and generated customer contact. In this it has been seen that technology free customer contact
relates to the traditional interaction with the interaction with environment. Also technology helps
to replace the overall role of human representatives in context to service delivery so that it can be
simple to maintain the overall customer interaction. Customer contact also varies with the
technology by emphasizing on the overall face to face services.
Article 3
Placeless Store or Ubiquitous Stores? New Technological Frontiers in Retailing
According to Pantano and Verteramo (2015), it has been seen that retailing is a
continuous process related to constant progress in reference to technology. Also, latest
technology can help in modification of the overall function of the retailing sector. The innovative
approach related to retailing helps to enhance the overall competitive pressure and it also help to
grow in the high level of competition.
Also it can be easy to enhance the customer value by emphasizing on considering the
latest technologies. Also there are various changes in the experience of the customers like
through online store people can easily purchase the products in the high level of competition.
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Ubiquitous store is also based on the diffusion in context to the high connectivity and also it
takes into consideration the overall retail setting so that it can be easy to shop the products.
Article 4
Mobile Payment Technologies in Retail; A Review of Potential Benefits and
Risks
According to Taylor (2016), there are various benefits which are related to the mobile
payment based technologies in the retail sector. It has been seen that there are various challenges
which are faced by the retailers but it can be minimized when new technology is taken into
consideration. The mobile based technologies help to consider the payments from the different
retail companies and it helps the company to grow in the high level of competition. The trend
also focuses on the mobile shopping which can affect the overall retail industry so it is important
for the company to focus on maintaining the services related to mobile shopping so that it can be
easy to grow in the high competitive market.
Article 5
Introduction to the Special Issue Information Technology in Retail: Toward Omni
channel
Retailing
According to Piotrowicz and Cuthbertson (2014), it has been seen that the technology
affect various areas like multinational and in store retailing and also it focuses on development of
the business models. Also, it focuses on the overall experience of the customers and the relation
of the supplier. It has been seen that with the help of the technology it can be simple for the
company to accomplish the goals and also it attracts the customers towards the services and
products of the company. It has been analyzed that technology focuses on the various aspects
like it has a relation with the supply chain redesign, mobile solutions, diverse customer need and
also role of social media. It is necessary to focus on these aspects so that company can grow in
the high level of competition.
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Conclusion and recommendations
By analyzing the overall report, it has been concluded that retail industry can achieve
success if focus is given on the latest technology. It is necessary for the ALDI Company to focus
on considering the latest technology so that profits can be maximized. By considering the latest
technologies by ALDI it can be simple to enhance the overall revenue and profits. In the United
Kingdom the company is considering the latest technology which can help to maintain the
overall profits. The company focused on various new technologies which has given help to
achieve growth in the high level of competition. The company focused on ERP and also
customer relation management so that it can be simple to consider the effective technology
which boosts the overall sales of the company.
So, it is necessary for the company to maintain the overall image of the company so that
it can be simple to accomplish the desired goals and objectives. Also to interact with the
customer it is necessary for the company to focus on considering the latest platform as it can help
to maintain the goodwill of the company. By interacting with the customer it can be simple for
the company to analyze the need and requirement in the workplace. Also it will help to maintain
or enhance the image of the company in the competitive market.
Recommendations
ALDI requires enhancing the overall presence in the e commerce sector so that it can be
easy to achieve profits in the market. By considering the usage of the internet it can be simple for
the company to maintain its presence on the global platform. It is necessary to aware the
customer about the products of the company so that it can be simple to enhance the demand of
the products in the competitive market. It has also been examined that retail sector is affected by
the use of technologies and it is important to enhance the profits so that growth can be achieved
in the market. Also the company should emphasize on considering the latest technology as it can
help to boost the sales of the company and also motivate the employees of the company to give
their best towards the overall activities of the company.
It is recommended that company should take into consideration the platform of social
media and promotion should be done of the products or the services. With the help of social
media it can be simple for the company to accomplish the overall targets in the market.
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References
Aldi.com.au., 2018. ALDI Supermarkets - Good Different - ALDI Australia. [online]
Aldi.com.au. Available at: https://www.aldi.com.au/en/ [Accessed 28 Sep. 2018].
Evanschitzky, H., Iyer, G.R., Pillai, K.G., Kenning, P. and Schütte, R., 2015. Consumer trial,
continuous use, and economic benefits of a retail service innovation: The case of the personal
shopping assistant. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 32(3), pp.459-475.
Lee, H.J., 2015. Consumer-to-store employee and consumer-to-self-service technology (SST)
interactions in a retail setting. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 43(8),
pp.676-692.
Pantano, E. and Verteramo, S., 2015, July. Placeless store or ubiquitous stores?: New
technological frontiers in retailing. In e-Business and Telecommunications (ICETE), 2015 12th
International Joint Conference on, Vol. 2, pp. 173-178. IEEE.
Piotrowicz, W. and Cuthbertson, R., 2014. Introduction to the special issue information
technology in retail: Toward omnichannel retailing. International Journal of Electronic
Commerce, 18(4), pp.5-16.
Taylor, E., 2016. Mobile payment technologies in retail: a review of potential benefits and risks.
International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 44(2), pp.159-177.
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Appendix
(Source: Aldi.com.au, 2018).
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