The COVID-19 pandemic has reset the retail game board. The most successful retailers will be those that connect with consumers in new ways by leaning in on their digital, omnichannel, and in-store technology ambitions. In this edition, The Next Normal explores the coming decade in shopper experience and retail technology.

In upcoming editions, The Next Normal will explore the future of grocery, college, video entertainment, and more.

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More on the future of stores

Podcast

The path forward for the US retail industry
– What will it take for US retailers to succeed post-COVID-19? Three McKinsey partners offer their views.
Article

Retail Reimagined
– Everybody needs to rethink both digital and in-store sales. To help retailers prioritize these efforts, we compiled this... research both prior to and during the shutdowns, looking at what changed and what trends will likely stick in the next two months.
Article

The great consumer shift: Ten charts that show how US shopping behavior is changing
– Our research indicates what consumers will continue to value as the coronavirus crisis evolves.
Article

The next normal in retail: Charting a path forward
– To succeed after COVID-19, retailers must assess their revenue management practices, operating models, digital capabilities, capital... investments, and M&A strategies—then make bold moves to transform themselves.
Article

Adapting to the next normal in retail: The customer experience imperative
– The COVID-19 crisis has led to dramatic shifts in consumer behavior. Retailers will have to work hard to meet ever-evolving customer... experience requirements in order to win and remain relevant.
Article

Fashion’s digital transformation: Now or never
– Some apparel, fashion, and luxury companies won’t survive the current crisis; others will emerge better positioned for the future.... Much will depend on their digital and analytics capabilities.
Article

Automation in retail: An executive overview for getting ready
– Automation will reshape retail business models and the broader value chain, creating organizations with fewer layers and a better... trained and trusted workforce empowered by real-time data and analytics. The winners in the sector will be those who understand these implications and act quickly to address them.
Article

The ever-changing store: Taking an agile, customer-centric approach to format redesign
– Many retailers believe—rightly—that format redesign is often too risky, takes too long, and costs too much. There’s... a better way.

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This collection was edited by Monica Toriello, an executive editor in McKinsey’s New York office.