The Refashioning of Retail with AI
AI in retail is ushering in a new era of shopping, advancing front-of-house interactions and behind-the-scenes logistics across nearly every sector. From apparel, beauty, and personal care products to home goods, automotive equipment, and beyond, AI is pushing the boundaries in incredible ways to enhance client interactions and customer service while better meeting retailers’ operational needs.
Custom Shopping Experiences Powered by AI
On-the-floor retail salespeople may soon be an artifact of the past, with AI stepping into those shoes to level up the shopping experience. In fact, AI on the retail floor — both in brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce spaces — is making waves with innovations like (and not limited to) the following.
While many bigger name retailers are already unleashing these and other AI-powered advancements in their stores, online, and via apps, some small retailers are getting in on the action too, strategically using AI to try to level the playing field with major competitors and win more wallet share.
Autonomous Retail Stores Powered by AI
One key aspect of retail consumer experiences that’s shifting due to AI comes with the emergence of “autonomous stores.” These are physical retail locations without staff on the floor to help and support customers.
Amazon, Walmart, Aldi, 7-Eleven, and other powerhouse retailers have already rolled out some of these features in certain locations, testing other AI applications, as well, for future improvements.
Enhanced Retailer Forecasting Using AI
Supporting optimal customer experiences, AI in retail is also coming into play in strategic decision-making at various operational levels to refine and improve:
AI in Retail: Just the Beginning
With broad uses across the retail industry, AI is still largely in its infancy, with new uses and refined applications still coming to light. While that could mean that AI has enormous power to turn the retail industry inside out, it also may result in far greater customer satisfaction and retail profits, serving as a win-win for retailers who effectively and responsibly embrace this technology.