Studies show: AI, AR and robots are shaping the future of shopping

Studies show: AI, AR and robots are shaping the future of shopping

Studies of the future, such as the one by Klarna, a global payments and shopping provider, make it clear that retailers need to adapt their offering to win new buyers in the future. Particularly interesting are forward-looking forecasts from some of the world's leading retailers and from ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI. The study looked at shopping habits 18 years from now, when Gen Z turns 40.

In this post, you'll learn:

• how new technologies will influence future shopping experiences,
• what trends and influences already exist today,
• what Gen Z particularly values.

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Trends and influences of AI & co.

Studies and expert opinions suggest that artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and robots will significantly shape the future of shopping. These technologies offer many ways to improve the shopping experience and optimize the retail industry.

What trends and influences are there?

• Personalization: AI will be able to analyze customers' shopping behavior and give personalized recommendations – both online and in physical stores – to increase customer satisfaction and sales.
• Virtual try-on: AR lets customers try on clothes or other products virtually using their smartphones or AR glasses. That makes purchase decisions easier and reduces returns.
• Autonomous robots: robots can be used in stores for tasks such as inventory management, picking products or customer service. That can increase efficiency and reduce workload.
• Automated checkout systems: self-checkouts and mobile payment solutions are used more and more to speed up shopping and minimize contact between customers and staff.
• Delivery robots and drones: autonomous delivery robots and drones can make product delivery more efficient, which is especially important for online retail.
• Chatbots and virtual assistants: AI-based chatbots and virtual assistants can support customers with questions and problems, both online and in physical stores.
• Data analysis: with AI, retailers can carry out comprehensive data analyses to spot trends, optimize stock and improve marketing strategies.
• Augmented reality shopping experiences: AR can be used to create interactive shopping experiences where customers can experience products in augmented reality before deciding to buy.
• Sustainability: AI can also help promote more sustainable shopping practices by providing information about products' origins and environmental impact.

These technologies are changing the way people will shop and give retailers opportunities to optimize their offering and work more efficiently. At the same time, they also pose challenges, primarily around data protection and the need to train staff on new technologies. The future of shopping will undoubtedly be shaped by the ongoing integration of AI, AR and robotics.

Creating individual shopping experiences

Personalization is at the top of consumers' wish lists. A full 70 percent of respondents in the Klarna study want the shopping experience to become more personalized in the future. 42 percent are sure this will be the case both in stores and online.

81 percent of respondents expect augmented reality to improve in-store shopping, and 70 percent say more personalization is decisive for their purchase intention. However, less than half of Gen Z (41 percent) and millennials (38 percent) believe that shopping in virtual reality (VR) will surpass the physical shopping experience within the next two decades.

Conclusion: AI, AR and robots are here to stay in shopping.

Overall, AI, AR and robots have already transformed and advanced the shopping experience in many ways – they've increased efficiency, improved personalization and created new opportunities for retail. So these technologies are likely to keep playing a major role in the future of shopping. The young generation has high expectations of the shopping experience.

AI chatbots like those from melibo already give your store the best possible support today to keep customers happy and make the competition jealous! 💪

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