Blis, WBR Insights, and Future Stores Release New Report Showing Location-Based Strategies Convert Customers with Customized Content at the Right Time

NEW YORK, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Blis, the global pioneer in advanced location data technology, today announced the launch of new report with WBR Insights and Future Stores. Created to better understand how retailers are engaging in digital-to-physical strategies, Driving In Store Traffic and Purchases Through Digital Channels looks at the digital-to-physical strategies of more than 100 retail professionals and highlights the role of location in the retail playbook. Results from the study indicate retailers using a location strategy report a greater lift in retail footfall and location-based digital initiatives have helped retailers convert customers with customized content at the right time.

As part of digital strategies for guiding visitors to physical stores, location-data assets are leveraged by the majority of retailers in one of four ways: re-targeting strategies, marketing automation, proximity tools like geofencing and beacon technology and in-market consumer targeting. Nearly half of retailers reported using location-based insights for real-time contextual targeting.

"Because of location-based data, we have been able to re-allocate marketing dollars to locations based on traffic. Now, we can pinpoint exactly when a member is near one of our locations and deliver timely content/offers," said Blis client Greg Lawville, AAA's Director of Marketing Strategy & Advertising through agency 160over90.

Additional insights from the report include:

• Most retailers leverage location data and integration for location-based advertising (71%); emails and notification (63%); video, images, and photography (52%)' and 'right-time engagement (52%), the latter of which also includes the use of behavioral and other customer data to engage local audiences when they're most receptive.
• 79% of retailers partner with third-party data providers to collect geolocation data (56%), conduct first- and third-party data integration (53%), and support geographical data visualization (45%).
• Most retailers provide location-based resources for customers, including local product or inventory search (60%), interactive maps (65%), localized social media accounts (60%), and localized online customer service (51%).

“[It’s] critical to have customer data from partners at the right time to be able to make the best use of the digital tools and location-based systems we have implemented,” said Kelley Coleman, Director Ecommerce Operations at Columbia Sportswear Company. “With well-established partnerships with third-party data providers, we get reliable data at the right time. It gives us an upper hand in targeting customers with the right offers.”

The data shows the future is ripe for marketers to optimize on location-based strategies, with 70% of retailers reporting a positive outlook on their location strategy performance. Additionally, the report indicates that retailers are working to document their digital to in-store purchase strategies with more than one-third of retailers having an existing documented plan and a quarter creating one within the next year. With regard to team size, nearly half of retailers have more than 10 people dedicated to in-store localization efforts.

Added Gil Larsen, VP Americas, Blis: "Impactful brand marketing is no longer just about reaching the right person at the right time; the content of the message also needs to be tailored for the right place. Location information allows retailers to go beyond generalized understandings of consumer behavior and develop quality, right-time and place personalized experiences."

To gather this information around retailer strategy, WBR Insights and Future Stores surveyed senior managers, directors, VPs, SVPs, and C-Suite retail leaders in operational, omnichannel, marketing, IT, CX, and analytics roles primarily at U.S. and Canadian companies reporting at least $250 million in annual revenue. Respondents represented specialty retailers, apparel, supermarkets, department stores, hardware, electronics, appliances, and home furnishing retailers.

Visit blis.com for more information on location-based tactics or to download the Driving In Store Traffic and Purchases Through Digital Channels whitepaper to learn about how retailers are leveraging location data and how it can further benefit them in this uncertain time.

About Blis
Blis is the global pioneer in location data. Our proprietary technology and platform helps agencies and brands use location data to better understand consumer behavior, allowing for effective targeted advertising to drive business outcomes. We believe that where you go defines who you are, and advertisers must capitalize on these insights for meaningful marketing experiences across devices. Our technology filters and scales location data, giving advertisers access to the most accurate location events, location data, and unique devices. The data is then applied across the apps that matter most to their consumers for targeting based on rich insights. Clients are supported by our location experts or can work in an agnostic service model of their choice. Since creating the world's first location data technology platform in 2004, Blis has grown to be a global company with 17 offices across 5 continents. Blis' clients include all major holding companies as well as leading brands in top verticals including Samsung, McDonald's, HSBC, Mercedes Benz and Peugeot.

About WBR Insights
WBR Insights is the custom research division of WBR (Worldwide Business Research), the world leader in B2B focused conferences.  From research-based whitepapers to benchmarking reports, infographics and webinars, our mission is to help global institutions across a variety of industries to inform and educate their key stakeholders while achieving their strategic goals.

For more information, please visit https://digital.wbresearch.com.

Contact information
Jamie Crespi
VP Marketing, Blis
[email protected]

George Morin
PR Director, WBR
[email protected]     

SOURCE Blis

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