Customers with disabilities at Currys’ Croydon store can benefit from a new digital tool designed to make shopping easier.
The electricals retailer has expanded its trial of web app “WelcoMe” to 20 additional stores, including Croydon, Brixton, Bromley, Orpington and New Malden.
The purpose-built app allows shoppers with a disability to register an in-person store visit, specifying what might make their visit more comfortable, and an estimated time of arrival. The stores are then notified of the upcoming visit, giving them the opportunity to accommodate any specific requirements.
The tool also gives Currys staff useful pointers and best practice techniques to help accommodate anybody, specific to certain disabilities. These are provided by leading charities and designed to heighten disability awareness in general.
WelcoMe provides disability inclusion customer service solutions, providing businesses with help to support customers and provide in-the-moment training and resources, including disability awareness. “This enables staff to assist customers with disabilities, ensuring a positive and seamless experience,” WelcoMe says.
“We believe businesses have a fundamental role in creating inclusion and accessibility. Through our innovative solutions and ongoing support, we strive to empower organisations to become leaders in disability inclusion.”
Sameena Panwala, a Currys manager in Oxford Street, which recently began using WelcoMe, said: “I’m already seeing the benefits of the tool be brought to life. Just the other day a customer shared the most amazing feedback about their experience in our store – outlining how they received a fantastic service and my team made their experience so much smoother than usual.”
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
As featured on Google News Showcase
- Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here
Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network
- Inside Croydon works together with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, as well as BBC London News and ITV London
ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
When I find all disabled parking bays filled with cars lacking blue badges, I often drive away, daunted by the distance I have to walk. Oddly enough the culprits usually drive enormous black vehicles, I have no idea why they can’t be bothered to walk. Of course the stores don’t want to offend these customers, so I am offended instead. If Currys really care so much about disabled customers, they need to fix our parking first.
What features does the app offer to enhance the shopping experience for disabled customers?