Omnichannel Experiences: Why Low Code Is Key for Retail’s Digital Transformation

Shopping habits have changed dramatically over the last decade, with consumers moving seamlessly between physical stores and digital channels. According to Gartner research, improving customer experience is now a top-three priority for retail chief information officers (CIOs) who are investing in technology.

However, creating unified shopping experiences presents unique challenges: complex technology integrations, limited IT resources, and rising customer expectations. Many retailers also face fragmented data systems, slow development cycles, and the high costs of traditional software development. 

So, what’s the solution? This article explores how low code platforms are making it faster and more cost-effective to build integrated retail applications. 

Short on Time? Here’s a Brief Overview

• Modern shoppers move freely between online and physical stores, making connected shopping experiences essential for retail success.

• Creating these unified experiences requires connecting many different retail systems and data sources.

• Low code platforms make building and connecting retail applications easier without large IT teams.

• These tools help retailers launch new features faster and adapt quickly to changing customer needs.

The Importance of Omnichannel in Retail

Today’s consumers like to move fluidly between physical and digital interactions with brands. Omnichannel retail creates a unified shopping experience across all touchpoints— from brick-and-mortar stores to mobile apps, websites, and social media platforms. 

Several key trends are driving the adoption of omnichannel strategies in retail:

• According to Forrester research, global e-commerce retail sales grew from $1.3 trillion in 2014 to $4.4 trillion in 2023 and are expected to reach $6.8 trillion by 2028.

• Gartner research indicates that retail CIOs expect their IT budgets to increase by 5.4% in 2024, with customer experience enhancement ranking among their top three priorities for digital investment.

• McKinsey reports that more than 50% of consumers use online and in-store options to research and purchase items. This number rises above 60% for categories like sporting goods, leisure products, consumer electronics, and furniture.

• Hybrid shopping models offer an excellent return on investment. McKinsey research shows that omnichannel shoppers spend 15-30% more than those who shop through a single channel.

Challenges in Delivering Omnichannel Experiences     

Retailers may find it hard to deliver cohesive omnichannel experiences due to several common obstacles:

Siloed data

Many retailers operate with disconnected systems that prevent them from building a complete view of their customers. When customer data lives in separate databases for online sales, in-store transactions, and marketing campaigns, it’s impossible to deliver truly personalized experiences or make informed business decisions.

Legacy systems

Many retailers rely on decades-old systems that weren't designed for modern omnichannel commerce. As a result, adopting digital technologies and artificial intelligence capabilities is slow and expensive. 

Inventory tracking inefficiencies

To deliver omnichannel experiences, retailers need total visibility of their inventory across all locations. Without the real-time inventory tracking and smart allocation systems of e-commerce platforms, retailers struggle to fulfill orders efficiently and maintain accurate stock levels across locations—making an omnichannel experience impossible.

Customer experience gaps

Inconsistencies between online and in-store experiences create friction in the customer journey. When pricing, promotions, or product information doesn’t match across channels, it erodes customer trust and satisfaction. These gaps often stem from disconnected systems and processes that don't share data effectively.

How Low Code Enables Omnichannel Success

Low code platforms enable banking modernization through visual development tools and pre-built components designed for financial services. Rather than writing thousands of lines of code for each new application, development teams use visual, drag-and-drop interfaces to assemble applications from pre-tested components.

Think of it as building with digital building blocks, each representing a secure, tested functionality that can quickly connect to create complete banking applications. It transforms how banks tackle their biggest challenges, especially in areas where traditional development methods are weak.

Gartner predicts that in 2025, organizations will build 70% of new applications using low code or no code platforms. It’s a transformation that’s reshaping how financial institutions approach modernization.

Let’s look at the main areas where low code helps banks solve their biggest challenges in digital transformation:

Low code platforms offer retailers a practical way to build connected shopping experiences without massive IT investments or long development cycles. Let’s look at how these platforms make omnichannel retail easier to achieve.

Data integration

Traditional retailers often work with disconnected systems—separate databases for in-store sales, e-commerce platforms, loyalty programs, and inventory management. Low code platforms fix this problem by combining these data sources with pre-built connectors. 

With connected data, retailers can personalize recommendations for each customer based on their shopping history. They can display accurate inventory levels online and in stores, run loyalty programs that work everywhere, and deliver better customer service by viewing all customer interactions in one location.

Streamlined operations

Low code development speeds up and simplifies the process of building applications that improve operational efficiency. For example, retailers can create inventory dashboards, order-tracking systems, and customer-facing employee apps in days or weeks instead of months. Companies can also build customer service portals and click-and-collect systems that work smoothly with their existing retail software.

Rapid innovation

The retail market moves quickly, and stores need to keep up with new trends and changing customer needs. Low code helps retailers test and launch new services faster than traditional development methods. According to CLEVR’s research, 73% of businesses launch products sooner using low code solutions.

Cost efficiency

Building connected shopping experiences often requires significant IT spending. Low code makes it more affordable by reducing the need for specialized developers while enabling faster design and implementation of new features. It also costs less to maintain these systems over time.

Store employees and business teams can even create their own solutions with low code tools, which takes pressure off the IT department. Additionally, the software they build can be reused in other projects, which means each new application is created faster and cheaper.

The Benefits for Retailers Using Low Code for Omnichannel

Let’s summarize the advantages of using low code to create omnichannel retail experiences:

• Enhanced customer experience: Retailers can create a seamless shopping experience by connecting all touchpoints—from mobile devices to in-store kiosks and beyond. This consistency builds loyalty and increases satisfaction.

• Agility and scalability: With low code, retailers can quickly adapt to changing market conditions and customer preferences. Likewise, they can scale applications to handle peak shopping periods without performance issues.

• Increased revenue: McKinsey’s research shows omnichannel shoppers spend up to a third more than single-channel customers.

• Future-proofing: Low code enables retailers to build flexible systems to incorporate new channels and technologies as they emerge

  
  

CLEVR’s Role in Empowering Omnichannel Retail

Using the Mendix platform, which is rated a leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Low Code Application Platforms, CLEVR helps retailers create unified commerce experiences that meet modern shopping demands.

Take a look at how CLEVR has helped these retailers succeed:

Premium Inc.

CLEVR worked with Premium Inc., an internationally operating athleisure-wear company, to implement Mendix Digital Lifecycle Management. The solution connected Premium Inc.’s ecosystem, improved department data sharing, and shortened communication lines. 

Etos

For Etos, a major Dutch pharmacy chain, CLEVR built a centralized promotion management system that replaced manual spreadsheets. The new system helps Etos make smart decisions about which promotions to run and, at the same time, recommends against running others.

Welkoop

CLEVR created a promotional management system for Welkoop, a retail chain with 149 locations. The system connects marketing, inventory, and store operations, giving Welkoop better insight into promotion results. It also helps the company plan future campaigns more effectively.

Final Thoughts

Retail customers now shop across many channels: browsing on phones, buying online, picking up in stores, and returning items at the most convenient locations. Delivering smooth shopping experiences across all these touchpoints is now essential for retail success. The retailers who do it well see more loyal customers and higher sales.

Creating these connected experiences no longer requires months of complex development or big IT teams. Low code platforms give retailers the tools to quickly and affordably build integrated shopping experiences. They can connect systems, automate everyday tasks, and quickly create new features when customer needs change.

To learn more about implementing low code solutions for retail, explore CLEVR’s comprehensive guide to low code or learn more about its retail industry solutions.

Research Methodology

This article combines insights from leading research firms—including McKinsey, Gartner, and the International Data Corporation (IDC)—with real-world implementation experience. The analysis encompassed current retail industry trends, technological capabilities, and successful omnichannel transformations to provide practical guidance for retailers considering low code solutions.

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