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What is omnichannel and how to implement it ?

Definition of omnichannel, its advantages and how to integrate it into your marketing strategy. Offer a smooth and consistent customer experience across all your channels.

Last update:

March 11, 2025

7

minutes read

Written by:

Coralie Claude

What is omnichannel and how to implement it ?
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Omnichannel marketing has become an essential pillar of marketing.

Today, consumers navigate between several sales and communication channels before finalising a purchase.

They discover a product on Instagram, compare prices on an e-commerce site, go to the shop to test it, then place an order via a mobile application

Faced with this new behaviour, brands must adapt by offering a fluid and coherent experience at each point of contact.

The objective? Simplify the customer journey, strengthen engagement and maximise loyalty.

How can this be achieved? That's what we're going to explore together.

Omnichannel is an essential approach to attracting and retaining customers

The customer experience is now at the heart of marketing strategies.

To capture and retain the attention of consumers, companies must offer a smooth and frictionless journey, whether online or in-store.

This is precisely where omnichannel becomes interesting.

Defining omnichannel

Omni-channel marketing is based on a simple principle: integrating all communication and sales channels to create a seamless and consistent user experience.

Unlike a multichannel approach, where each channel operates independently, omni-channel marketing connects these channels to each other to avoid any disruption in the customer journey

It aims to interconnect them intelligently, guaranteeing a natural transition between each point of contact.

A customer can thus start a purchase on an e-commerce site, ask a question via a chatbot, then finalise their purchase in-store without ever feeling a break in their experience.

Let's take a concrete example: a customer spots a pair of shoes on Instagram.

He clicks on the link and adds the item to his basket on the brand's website.

Later, he visits the store and receives a notification on his mobile app informing him that he can try on his selection in the shop.

An effective omnichannel approach allows him to easily find his online basket in the shop and pay directly on the spot with his smartphone.

What is the difference between this and multichannel and cross-channel?

Multichannel is a bit like each channel living its own life. A website, social media, a shop... but with no link between them.

The result? A customer who starts online often has to start all over again in the shop.

Cross-channel brings a little more fluidity.

With click & collect, for example, you can buy online and collect in-store.

But if a change is necessary in-store, everything has to be done all over again.

Frustrating, isn't it?

Omnichannel is the next level.

All channels are synchronised for a seamless experience.

A customer adds a product to their basket on their mobile, finds it instantly on their computer and can finalise their purchase in-store, without losing their preferences.

It's fluid, natural and perfectly adapted to new consumer expectations.

What is the objective of omnichannel

Omni-channel responds to the new expectations of consumers.

Today, customers no longer want to be restricted to a single channel.

They are looking for total flexibility and a fluid journey, where they can move from one medium to another without friction.

The objective of omni-channel is therefore twofold:

  • To offer a seamless and consistent customer experience
  • To personalise interaction with the customer

By integrating these elements, a brand not only improves customer satisfaction, but also its commercial performance.

A fluid and coherent journey encourages purchase and loyalty, thus strengthening consumers' attachment to the brand.

Example of omnichannel customer journey

The 6 essential channels

Omnichannel retailing is based on the fluid and coherent connection of several sales and communication channels.

Each point of contact plays a key role in the customer experience and customer loyalty.

Let's take a look at the six essential channels to be integrated into an effective omnichannel strategy.

1. The physical store

Despite the rise of digital, the physical store remains a central point of contact.

It allows customers to see, touch and test products before purchasing, while benefiting from the advice of expert salespeople.

In an omnichannel approach, the physical store should no longer be an isolated channel. It should be integrated with other points of contact by offering new services:

  • Click & collect
  • Mobile payment
  • Fitting by appointment

The aim is to transform the store into an omnichannel hub, where each visit enriches the overall consumer experience, whether in-store or online.

2. The online store

It is impossible to talk about omnichannel without mentioning the e-commerce site. It is the brand's digital showcase and often the starting point of the customer journey.

To be effective, it must offer smooth and intuitive navigation, but above all, it must be connected to other channels.

A customer must be able to find their online basket on any device and finalise their purchase wherever they want.

Personalised recommendations, based on previous purchases, strengthen engagement and facilitate conversion.

And of course, customer reviews are key to reassuring and guiding future buyers. In short, a successful e-commerce site doesn't just sell products: it creates a coherent experience, linked to all the other channels.

3. The mobile app

With a higher conversion rate than websites, mobile applications are a powerful asset for building customer loyalty.

They enable a fluid, fast and above all personalised experience.

The most interesting features are:

  • Push notifications
  • Integrated loyalty program
  • In-store scanning

The mobile application is an essential lever for building loyalty, combining an immersive shopping experience with optimised customer relations.

4. Social media

It is impossible to ignore social media, which has become a real platform for shopping and interaction.

Instagram, Facebook, TikTok... Every day, millions of users discover products and interact with brands.

For a successful omnichannel strategy, these social media platforms should not be mere showcases, but real sales and customer service channels.

Comments sections allow for instant responses to consumer questions. Social commerce, meanwhile, allows customers to buy without leaving their favourite platform, in just a few clicks.

The idea is to use these platforms not only for communication, but also as a sales channel in their own right.

5. Email and SMS

Emails and text messages are highly effective marketing tools, especially when personalised. In an omnichannel strategy, they allow you to maintain the link with the customer at every stage of the journey.

Examples of effective uses:

  • Abandoned basket reminders
  • Exclusive offers and targeted promotions
  • Order tracking

SMS, more direct than email, is perfect for urgent notifications and personalised reminders.

To help you create your messages, Loyoly offers an e-book with free templates for WhatsApp and SMS.

6. Customer service

Omnichannel customer service is essential to ensure a smooth experience.

It often makes the difference between a successful experience and memorable frustration

To avoid repetition and offer seamless support, brands must unify all their communication channels.

A customer who contacts support via a chatbot shouldn't have to start all over again if they then contact support by phone or in-store.

A single database makes it possible to track the history of interactions and provide quick and consistent responses.

Customer service therefore becomes a key pillar of the omnichannel experience

6 essential channels for omnichannel customer journey

The 4 challenges of a successful omnichannel strategy

Deploying an omnichannel strategy transforms the company in depth, far beyond the addition of new channels. To succeed, several challenges must be overcome, from data synchronisation to cost management, while adapting to customer expectations.

The challenge of integrating all channels into your strategy

Omnichannel relies on perfect synchronisation between the different points of contact.

But monitoring and managing all these channels is a major challenge.

Data must flow smoothly to prevent a customer from getting lost between an abandoned online shopping basket and a visit to the shop.

The challenge is twofold: to guarantee a consistent customer experience and to ensure that information on all media is updated in real time A brand must be able to recognise its customer wherever they interact with it.

Pssst... You might find this interesting!

An omnichannel loyalty programs is strategic for your brand, and we can probably help. Check out our platform!

The costs of deploying the strategy

Adopting an omnichannel approach involves strategic investments.

Developing a high-performance site, setting up a mobile application, training teams, integrating a robust CRM system, etc.

Each stage has a cost Without rigorous resource management, implementation can become a brake rather than a growth accelerator.

Anticipating and planning technical, human and financial needs is therefore essential to ensure long-term profitability.

Keeping up with customer expectations

Consumer habits are changing rapidly.

Yesterday, they favoured in-store shopping.

Today, they juggle between several channels and demand a smooth, fast and personalised experience.

An omnichannel strategy cannot remain static. It must constantly adapt to new trends and technological innovations.

A channel that is effective today may become obsolete tomorrow: being on constant standby is the key to remaining competitive.

Select channels that are consistent with your market

Omnichannel does not mean being everywhere, but being where your customers expect you to be.

Each brand must identify the most relevant channels for its business and its audience.

To ensure this consistency, technologies such as CRM, CDP and AI play a key role.

They enable data centralisation and personalisation of the customer experience.

An omnichannel loyalty program then becomes a strategic asset: it strengthens engagement and values each interaction, regardless of the channel used.

5 steps to implementing an omnichannel strategy

Deploying an omnichannel approach cannot be improvised.

Each interaction must be analysed, structured and optimised to create a frictionless journey.

Here are the 5 key steps to a successful transition

1. Analyzing your customers' consumption habits

First and foremost, you need to understand your audience.

Where do they shop? Which channels do they prefer?

When do they interact with the brand? Mapping the customer journey allows you to identify points of friction and optimise each stage.

A detailed analysis of behaviour helps you adjust the experience to make it more fluid and intuitive.

2. Aligning communication and messages across all channels

Consistency, clarity and relevance: an omnichannel brand must maintain a strong identity across all its channels tone, visuals and offers must be aligned to avoid confusion.

Adapting the content format to the platform is essential: an immersive video on Instagram, a detailed email for a promotional offer or a push notification for a quick alert.

The aim is to offer a harmonised message, whatever the channel used.

3. Optimizing the user experience at every point of contact

The user experience is at the heart of omnichannel retailing.

A website must be fluid and user-friendly, a mobile application intuitive and customer service accessible everywhere.

Synchronisation between the digital and the physical is essential: click & collect is a perfect illustration of this approach.

A customer spots a product online, buys it via their smartphone and picks it up in the shop effortlessly.

Everything must be designed to facilitate the customer journey and avoid frustration.

4. Using data for better personalisation

Omni-channel retailing is based on the intelligent use of data.

Thanks to analytical tools, it is possible to understand customer behaviour and adapt each interaction.

An effective strategy is based on advanced segmentation, marketing automation and hyper-targeted campaigns.

The more personalised the experience, the more engaging and loyal it is.

5. Measuring and adjusting your omni-channel strategy

An effective omnichannel strategy never stops.

It is essential to monitor key indicators: conversion rate, customer loyalty, customer satisfaction, etc.

Each piece of data allows for continuous adjustment and optimisation.

A/B testing is a powerful tool for testing different approaches and improving performance.

Technologies such as CRM, CDP and AI facilitate the centralisation of data to refine each decision.

To go further we offer a more detailed guide on setting up an omnichannel customer journey.

Leveraging omnichannel to build customer loyalty

Omnichannel is not just about optimising the purchasing journey.

It is also a powerful lever for boosting customer retention.

By creating a fluid and engaging experience, it encourages consumers to come back again and again

Why does an omnichannel loyalty program boost customer retention?

An omnichannel loyalty program strengthens customer engagement by unifying all reward channels.

According to the Industry Report, 30% of customers are more active when they can earn points online and in-store.

This approach makes it possible to collect valuable data on consumer habits and to offer hyper-personalised offers.

The result? A stronger customer relationship and an enriched experience.

what encourages French consumers to be active in a loyalty program
Industry report results on what encourages French consumers to be active in a loyalty program

How Loyoly supports companies towards omnichannel loyalty

Loyoly is a loyalty and referral platform that allows you to engage your customers through more than 40 mechanisms, from purchasing to social interactions.

The objective is twofold: to increase LTV by stimulating repeat purchases and AOV, and to reduce CAC through referrals and the social proof generated by missions.

We help brands set up connected loyalty programs that are tailored to the new expectations of consumers.

Many companies have already boosted their retention thanks to this approach and we invite you to get a demo of our loyalty solution

Omnichannel, an essential lever

Omnichannel is not just a trend, it is a revolution in customer relations.

By intelligently connecting all points of contact, brands offer a fluid and coherent experience, capable of attracting and retaining customers in the long term.

With a well-thought-out strategy, customer engagement and satisfaction reach a whole new level.

It is no longer a question of simply being present on several channels, but of creating harmony.

The challenge is great, but the opportunities are immense.

For brands ready to take the plunge, omnichannel is a real differentiating factor in a market where the customer experience makes all the difference.

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