As millions wait with bated breath to hear the news from our national and provincial governments on the third and final phase of Canada’s economic reopening, we look forward to a renewed beginning for our struggling economy, especially for those on the front lines of retail. And with that sentiment, the number one thing that many must consider is that the “old way” is no longer “the way.”

No matter how much we all yearn for the days when retail was just retail—grocery, restaurants, fashion, and more—the reality is that there is little of that life left. Between the global pandemic and the resulting hesitation of re-engagement from the general public, retailers must embrace the new way and cater to it otherwise they will fail.

But please don’t take that statement as a doomsday prophecy; in fact, it’s anything but. More so, it speaks of a business opportunity unlike anything we’ve seen in the past.

For decades, retailers of all types have competed on a mostly level playing field. And whether their patrons were due to convenience (geographic location), or brand loyalty for a variety of reasons such as price, speed, quality—today everything is quite different.

Now experience paired with a sense of safety is what will solidify and keep long-term customers. Think of the experiences that we all have on a daily basis. From drive-through windows handing the keypad to you on the end of stick to foster physical distancing, to plexiglass dividers, to new ordering processes for restaurant patios—each retailer has initiated a new type of experience for their customers to ensure that safety is paramount and that customers are happy, safe, and remain healthy.

Though I don’t want be one that pretends to predict the future, the reality in which we now all live will probably be here for a long time. Vaccines can take years—and even though expedited, administering the vaccine will take time. And, this may be a little dark, but if one global pandemic can hit, so can another. Being prepared to weather the storm now beats the alternative, the one that the retail industry faced the first time around.

So, what’s the next step?

My advice is to start small. Think of solving the little things that mean the most. For instance, contactless shopping has been a major topic of conversation for months, and those who initiated even the basics flourished. For example, for restaurants one of the easiest things to do would be to adopt contactless ordering and payment. A simple barcode added to a bill would enable an immediate scan and pay without the need for an Interac machine—minimizing items being touched by multiple patrons. This is something omNovos already offers as a plug-and-play solution that can be up and running immediately.

For others, perhaps it’s about understanding their customers better so they can greet, interact, and sell on their terms, ones in which they feel comfortable. Simple modifications to current systems not only can add to a retailer’s knowledge of their customers, but also it can propel them down the path of digital transformation. Again, small steps that can be done in a few days to prepare for the “now” and for the future.

Finally, I’m the first to admit that all this talk of adding new functions can seem horribly daunting. Especially given the circumstances of the past few months, let alone the sometimes overly complicated rhetoric that comes along with digital transformation in general.

To overcome this, how about we help you—for free? For months, we have been working with retailers by providing workshops and strategy sessions free of charge to ensure they are addressing the right challenges at the right time, along with taking simple and small, yet significant steps to better engage with their customers.

The world has changed, and so must retail. The time to act is now. Let’s do this together.