- Currys builds on recent omnichannel investments with a selection of in-store improvements and tech upgrades
- From digital queuing to electronic ticketing – Currys will be easier for customers to shop with than ever before
Leading omnichannel technology retailer, Currys announces a range of upgrades to its UK&I stores ahead of the busiest time of year. The latest enhancements are designed to create a more seamless and easier shopping experience for customers, whilst also supporting Currys’ dedicated tech-experts better.
Diving into digital ticketing
Currys is switching from paper product pricing to digital labelling, known as ‘electronic shelf edge labelling’ (ESEL). This transformation will arrive in 100 UK&I stores by the end of this financial year, with 60 stores going digital ‘pre-peak’.
With clear labelling and easy to scan QR codes for further information, it seeks to make the in-store customer journey a lot smoother. ESEL will be managed by a centralised system which is also set to improve pricing accuracy and ultimately availability in stores for customers.
It’s also a very welcome change for colleagues, the switch has been driven by feedback that manual paper printing and labelling could become a real pain point for teams during busy trading periods. Teams will now be freed up to spend more time doing what they love: supporting Currys’ customers with finding the right tech for them.
Queuing, but make it digital
Currys has introduced a digital queuing system across all its 298 UK&I stores. This new process will be fronted by dedicated ‘Sales Floor Leaders’ who will be on-hand to give customers a ‘warm welcome’ and be identifiable to customers with ‘Here to Help’ hi-vis.
Integrated into colleagues’ ‘store-mode’ tablets that are used to process customer orders, shoppers can now join a digital line to speak to a tech-expert – improving the in-store experience, better managing their wait time expectations, and freeing them up to browse the store until a colleague is ready to serve them.
We’re open longer
Stores are now open longer, following customer and colleague requests to extend our unlocking of the doors! This will give Currys’ customers 1,800 extra shopping hours each week.
Local opening times can be found on the Currys website. Opening hours are subject to change due to variations in shopping centres and on the high street. Sunday opening hours will continue to trade in line with legal requirements.
Behind the scenes Order & Collect changes
Back of house improvements have also been made to how stock is delivered and managed when it comes to Currys’ popular Order & Collect service. Cancelled orders and the amount of time uncollected products are held in stores has been reduced from 28-days to a 10-day window. This means stock will be redirected more efficiently and customer refunds processed quicker.
A more efficient store delivery model will see daily stock arrivals take place in one go, rather than spread over several drops throughout the day as currently is the case. This hopes to free colleagues up to spend yet more time on the shop floor with customers, as well as giving customers a clearer indication on stock and availability.
“We’re ready to help all our customers enjoy amazing tech during what we know is our busiest trading period of the year. Our teams are excited by the new tools and improvements they’ve got to help them, help our customers."
Matthew Speight Currys' Director of Stores
“I’m looking forward seeing the benefits that digital queuing will bring in terms of improving the customer experience in-store, especially at our busiest periods. Also, we know Order & Collect is a really important proposition to customers over Christmas, so we’re excited to see the improvements come to life here.
“So many colleagues I speak to are very happy about the roll out of digital ticketing and the huge benefits that will bring to them and customers. In fact, everything in this plan is going to create an easier shopping experience for customers – and that’s really exciting too!”
Store upgrades are storming ahead too
On top of these enhancements, customers will also be able to enjoy the benefits of Currys store upgrades, with 50 superstores & 42 megastores revamped since July’s announcement, and 23 to be completed by the end of the financial year.
In Currys superstores (medium-sized stores), customers are greeted with more navigable spaces, making it easier for them to shop. Moving to megastores (the largest stores in the estate), the introduction of bigger ‘seasonal showcase’ displays and the arrival of brand-new categories gives customers even more reason to come in-store. Whether it’s tech for pets, or health & fitness equipment, all the new categories are all also available to order online via currys.co.uk.
“The speed by which the business has transformed the 92 stores ahead of the Christmas period is really quite incredible. We’re listening to our customers and know they want to see new ranges and categories in-store and online – and we’re excited by the response we’ve had so far. We’re not standing still, there’s so much more new tech sectors we are planning to introduce, and with more investment planned, we can’t wait to help everyone enjoy even more technology from Currys.”
Michelle Gorringe-Smith Currys' Director of New Growth Categories