Now, more than ever, shoppers expect a smooth and seamless retail experience online. Any roadblocks in finding critical product information on a retailer’s website could result in a customer’s business going to another store. That’s why Nationwide Marketing Group has teamed up with website partners Site on Time (SOT) and Retailer Web Services (RWS) to provide free access to centerpoint, a tool that connects retailers’ point-of-sale (POS) data with their websites to give shoppers real time line of sight into product inventory and pricing information.

Nationwide has partnered with SOT and RWS to make centerpoint available for free to its members who have a Level 4 website and are sharing POS data. At launch, centerpoint will integrate with a number of Nationwide POS providers, including Furniture Wizard Software, Myriad Software, Smartwerks, andSTORIS. Nationwide is also working to onboard EPASS Software.

“Retailers can’t take any chances with their shopper experience, whether that’s online or in store,” says Jennifer Danko, senior vice president of omnichannel technology for Nationwide Marketing Group. “By linking a dealer’s POS platform directly to their website, centerpoint puts that critical product and pricing information front and center and ensures that a customer will have a consistent, seamless shopping experience wherever they are in the shopper journey.”

Centerpoint was developed to allow retailers to offer an enhanced shopping experience through a unique package of benefits. Website improvements that retailers can unlock include:

• The option to show in-store product, floor models, ready-to-buy and in-stock
• Consistent pricing online, in store and at the point of sale
• Products highlighted as on-display and in-stock on vendor “where to buy” pages
• Protected margins with in-stock product flags
• Fewer order cancellations and calls to ask about product inventory
• Ability to offer BOPIS — buy online, pick-up in store

“Centerpoint provides independent retailers with all the tools they need to keep their websites relevant for today’s shopper,” Danko says. “Customers expect to find information fast and be able to purchase product in a way that’s convenient for them. Centerpoint ensures an independent retailer’s website goes above and beyond to meet the shopper’s needs.”

Nationwide members interested in learning more about integrating centerpoint into their websites are encouraged to contact their Site on Time or Retailer Web Services account representative.