How Retailers Are Innovating With Technology To Connect With Consumers

Today’s consumers are tech savvy and expect to be able to access the same online shopping experience, no matter where they are or what device they use.

With an increasing number of shoppers accessing e-commerce through their mobile and tablet devices, retailers need to innovate with technology if they want to stay competitive. The good news is that many other retailers have already started embracing digital technologies as an essential part of their strategy.

Below we will get into some retail innovations that are changing with how we shop.

AI-Enabled Stores

Over the last few years, we’ve seen the rise of AI-enabled stores. These retailers have invested heavily in technologies such as sensors, analytics and visual recognition to create a more seamless shopping experience. To match the preferences of individual customers, AI stores are able to analyze people’s digital behavior, track the right products, and show customers relevant offers. To personalize the shopping experience, AI stores can also recommend complementary items to make purchasing easier.

In addition to AI, these stores are also starting to use augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to create more engaging experiences. AI-enabled stores can provide customers with personalized recommendations, while AR and VR can be used to provide a more interactive shopping environment. For example, you could use an AR shopping app to track an item you’re interested in as you browse through a store. VR can also be used to let customers see how an item looks on them.

Virtual Reality Drop shipping

VR has already been used to great effect in retail, from immersive fashion shows to online shopping experiences that let you try on clothes and even order items online. Now, we’re starting to see retailers take the next step and bring VR into their physical stores. These stores are using VR to create a more immersive shopping environment, both for customers and for staff.

VR can be used to create an interactive “try-on experience” where customers can see how clothes fit them and experiment with different looks. You can also use VR to help keep your store’s stock up to date. VR software can help you to scan products and find out their location, helping to avoid missing out on orders. And it can also let you create a 3D model of the store to let your visitors see how you’d like them to navigate your store.

Robotic Retailers

With eCommerce soaring, retailers have been keen to incorporate digital technologies into their stores. One of the most radical changes to the way most stores operate is the introduction of robots. Robotic retailers are using automation to reduce the need for human staff in the retail environment. Robotic systems can help customers navigate stores by scanning products, displaying product information, and even taking customer orders.

These systems can reduce the risk of human error, allowing stores to run more efficiently. And they can also help stores reduce their operational costs, as robots don’t require salaries, benefits, or other costs associated with hiring and managing staff.

Robotic retailers are also being used to help brands manage their inventory and increase efficiency. They can also help to reduce costs and improve the customer experience, allowing retailers to offer customers more personalized experiences.

AI-enabled eCommerce Platforms

AI can also help to power your eCommerce platform. Using data from customers, the eCommerce platform can optimize sales, increase conversion rates, and improve the shopping experience. This can be done through the use of a customer journey map or a customer experience map. These maps will show you where customers are within the journey, what their experiences are and allow you to optimize as needed.

From an inventory management perspective, an AI-enabled eCommerce platform can help retailers manage their inventory. It can also help them to forecast demand by predicting what items customers will want next.

Augmented Reality Stores

AI-enabled stores are already transforming the way we shop, but they’re just one of the ways in which retailers are innovating with technology to stay competitive.

Another important trend is the use of AR to create more engaging experiences for customers. AR allows brands to create new ways of communicating with customers. For example, customers can see an AR “pickup” option, where items can be delivered to them at home. AR can also help to break down the barrier between online and offline shopping. AR can also be used to create an interactive shopping environment where customers can see how items look on them. This can help to keep stock levels up to date and provide customers with more information about items.

Bottom line

Technology is transforming the way people shop, creating new experiences for customers and opening up new ways of communicating with them. Retailers that adapt to these changes will be in a better position to stay competitive. These technologies are also becoming more accessible to smaller businesses, opening up a new marketing opportunity for many organizations.

EZ-Chow has solutions such as an Online Ordering, Self-Ordering Kiosks and Rewards/Loyalty Solutions that integrate into your existing POS systems. To learn how EZ-Chow can help you with these initiatives and more, get started by contacting us here.

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