4 minute read
Takeaway: Creating a true omnichannel organization demands changes in the end-to-end value stream, structures, management mechanisms and what we call ‘glue’ activities.
Years ago, we heard about the death of the specialty store. Then we all accepted that the shopping-mall was simply the most efficient way to go shopping.
Then, we started to see the introduction of convenience stores and realized that made sense, because of how busy we had all become.
Today we continue to see the growth in convenience, however we’re also now hearing all about the combination of clicks and bricks. Namely how we’re shopping more online, alongside a different kind of convenience concept.
So what’s next?
We’ve seen the importance of the customer evolving from a state of ‘customer satisfaction’ to ‘engaged customers’, to now – where the customer should be at the center of a business. ON THE MARK’s (OTM) experience in FMCG and retail has allowed them to see over 25 different projects evolve through to what Treacy and Wieserma call ‘Customer Intimacy’.
What makes an omnichannel organization?
Consumers aren’t just shopping in new ways. Their omnichannel habits also translate into potential gain for companies, if they can adapt accordingly. In a survey, Deloitte stated that over half of consumers’ holiday spending budget is for online shopping, while in-store funds are left at 42%. Without a presence across several key channels, companies may very well be increasingly missing out on ripe opportunity.
Mark LaScola, Managing Principal of OTM, explains that omnichannel is a multi-channel approach to sales intending to provide customers with a seamless experience regardless of which channel they purchase. What distinguishes omnichannel is its true integration between and across sales channels.”
GfK’s annual Futurebuy Survey has stated that a third of shoppers worldwide are blending online and in-store shopping. This statistic is set to continue and the upward trend shows us that Millennials ‘mobile’ mindset is going to change the way we all look at shopping forever.
So, what does omnichannel mean for organization design?
OTM has seen mistakes made with omnichannel, as they can often be framed as technology projects, which have limited impact on only small areas of the business.
LaScola goes on to explain that markets are changing and the omnichannel phenomenon is what will drive a change in how we bring traditional management and the role of social, data and customers together.
GfK studies state that super-connected consumers value experiences more importantly than possessions, so the social experience both online and in-store is still important. So what we want and how we want it is changing, and not just in retail. Experiences in everything from shopping for groceries to managing our healthcare are becoming increasingly important to us. Making sure we get the experiences we want affects everyone from manufacturing to logistics.
Creating a true omnichannel organization demands changes in the end-to-end value stream, structures, management mechanisms and what we call ‘glue’ activities. And not just in the commercial side of the business, but also in the manufacturing. Overall, changes in behaviors across the business are needed.
OTM has always championed the importance of a customer-centric design, but now more than ever this type of collaborative design is gaining momentum for clients.
The future is now and omnichannel is already here.
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OTM is the leading global boutique organization design consultancy with offices in the USA and UK. With over 450 successful redesigns and operating model modernizations completed, OTM is owner of the industry’s most integrated, comprehensive and holistic organization design solution. OTM enables its clients to realize their future ambitio
