Unified commerce is the new standard for modern retail, a smarter way to do business that has grown from the omnichannel approach. It wasn’t that long ago when every business was focused on making sure their online and physical stores were connected. But often, those systems were separate and clunky, speaking different digital languages. The modern solution is to bring everything together on a single platform.
What is unified commerce? At its core, it’s a retail strategy that puts all business operations – online, in-store, mobile, inventory and customer data – onto a central platform. Think of it as having one brain for your entire business. Instead of different systems trying to talk to each other, you have one system that manages everything. This means your data is always in sync, in real time.
For a South African business, this unified commerce meaning is about creating a better experience for your customers, whether they’re in Cape Town, Joburg or anywhere else in the world.
Unified commerce vs. omnichannel: What’s the difference?
It’s easy to mix up omnichannel and unified commerce. They sound similar but they’re built very differently.
Omnichannel is about giving customers multiple ways to shop: online, in-store, click-and-collect and more. It’s great in theory, but behind the scenes it often relies on separate systems that are integrated after the fact. That can lead to delays or mismatched information. For example, a customer might see an item in stock online, but when they call the store it’s unavailable. This can be extremely frustrating for the customer.
Unified commerce on the other hand, is built as one system from the ground up. Your online store, POS, inventory and reporting all run on the same platform. That means real-time updates. When someone buys in-store your online stock reflects it instantly. No delays, no confusion.
Why it matters: Real-world unified commerce examples
Imagine this scenario: A customer is browsing a shop’s website on their phone. They add a jacket to their basket but don’t check out. A few days later, they walk into a physical store and a salesperson helps them. Because the business uses a unified commerce platform, the salesperson can see the customer’s browsing history on their point-of-sale system, notice the jacket in their basket and offer them a quick checkout right there. The customer doesn’t have to re-enter their details or anything else. It’s a frictionless shopping experience.
You can also offer real-time customer support. If a customer chats with a support agent online, the agent can see their entire purchase history – whether they bought something online or in your store – and help them faster. This level of service is what keeps customers coming back.
The benefits of adopting a unified approach
Managing your business on a single system offers some major advantages:
- Accurate Data: You get a single view of your inventory and your customer, which helps with everything from marketing to stock management.
- Customer Experience: Shopping becomes easier for your customers. They can buy online and return in-store without any hassle.
- Efficiency: Your employees have a single place to look for information, which saves time and reduces errors.
The Payfast Always Open difference
A powerful and reliable payments partner is essential for South African businesses. This is where Payfast by Network comes in, offering a solution that is truly always open for merchants and their customers. Payfast recognises that modern customers browse and shop at all hours of the day and night, and a business’s ability to accept payments shouldn’t stop after 5 pm.
The Payfast Always Open approach means your business is ready to handle payments whenever and wherever, regardless of whether you’re a small online store or a large corporation. Payfast powers secure online transactions and effortless payment aggregation, supporting over 18 different payment methods, including Instant EFT, QR code scans and card payments. This empowers businesses with solutions designed for local realities and helps them grow.
In fact, building a comprehensive, future-proof commerce strategy is a journey. We touched on some of the exciting changes happening in the local retail industry in our article about how commerce is transforming in South Africa. For other valuable insights, check out our insightful guides and resources about accepting payments online and in-person.
Ready to build a truly seamless payment experience for your customers? Sign up with Payfast today.
