Market Trends of Asia Pacific Retail Automation Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the APAC Retail Automation Market according to our research experts:
Significant Upsurge in E-commerce Sector
- The rise of e-commerce and the need for quick distribution of goods to obtain a competitive advantage has resulted in a tremendous demand for retail automation products such as Barcode Reader, Card Reader, Kiosks, Self-Checkout Systems, etc. As a result, prominent retail automation providers have a significant chance to develop digital solutions to improve old operations.
- For instance, Datalogic S.p.A. has decided to invest in "AWM Smart Shelf," a computer vision and artificial intelligence firm situated in California. This initiative intends to keep up with developing trends in cashierless/autonomous checkout, consumer demographics and behavior tracking, automated inventory intelligence, and a Retail Analytics Engine (RAE) for in-store analytics and reporting. The focus is more especially on Frictionless Shopping along with Automated Inventory Solutions, two increasingly crucial areas for improving customer convenience on the one hand and store efficiency on the other.
- Moreover, as an alternative to in-house fulfillment, many retail businesses have turned to third-party logistics providers (3PLs) to meet their online needs. As real-time tracking and tracing become the new standard, retail automation products are projected to expand in popularity in the logistics business.
Increasing Demand for Handheld Barcode Readers
- Increasing demand for handheld barcode readers/ scanners across various industry verticals includes transportation and logistics, warehouse, healthcare, hospitality, oil and gas, etc., is one of the key trends in the retail automation market in the Asia Pacific. For instance, Inventory management and asset tracking are made easier using handheld barcode readers/scanners. Handheld barcode readers/scanners are often small and lightweight, making them ideal for covering large areas at end-users like warehouses.
- Moreover, handheld barcode readers are less expensive than fixed barcode readers/ scanners. Various retailing companies like Wal-Mart Stores, Tesco, Carrefour, and Metro have embraced handheld barcode readers/ scanners. Handheld barcode readers/scanners are versatile, reading and scanning both one-dimensional and two-dimensional barcodes. Businesses can save money on upkeep because of the device. Due to the device's low cost, even small companies may readily adopt and upgrade to a current asset and inventory management system.
- Handheld barcode readers/scanners can now be readily connected to iOS or Android-based mobile devices such as tablets, smartphones, and laptops. This makes data handling easier for the device by allowing it to scan and store real-time data.