Although some of these technologies are still years away from practical use, each is expected to have some impact on the retail world in the coming years. Augmented RealityThe ability to lay additional information over streaming video in real time brings countless opportunities to the retail world, from helping shoppers find certain products within a store to helping employees manage inventory. So far, retailers have relied on augmented reality to help customers get a glimpse of their products before buying them. With augmented reality apps, consumers can see what furniture would look like in their homes or what certain apparel might look like on their bodies without ever leaving their homes. Virtual RealityFacebook’s Oculus Rift, the PlayStation VR and the HTC Vive are taking virtual reality mainstream in 2016. The first wave of applications to take advantage of the medium will be focused on gaming and entertainment, retail and ecommerce won’t be far behind, according to Zenstores CEO Tom Palmer. “Despite the ease of shopping online consumers’ still place emphasis on seeing and touching products before purchase. Virtual reality may finally enable retailers to deliver on that requirement without having to invest in costly bricks and mortar stores,” Palmer says. DronesSpeaking of technology that’s still far away from mainstream adoption, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos mooted the idea of drone delivery for small online purchases as far back as December 2013. Although it is estimated to be at least a couple of years away from launch, drone deliveries could make a big impact upon the retail sector – provided it delivers as expected (a big if). Big data analyticsFor consumers, the smartphone may soon replace the traditional wallet. For retailers, consumers’ smartphones may actually replace the cash register. Continued growth in mobile payment capabilities could soon blur the lines between online and in-person shopping, enabling customers to pay for their purchases from their mobile devices rather than waiting in line at cash registers. ChatbotsChatbots have come of age in 2016 thanks to Microsoft’s bot ‘Tay’ and the integration of chatbot capabilities into Facebook Messenger. “For retailers this technology has fantastic potential to bring efficiency to dealing with customer questions around product information, customisations and delivery options. Responding quickly to customer questions, or even pre-empting them, should reduce cart abandonment rates,” according to Zenstores CEO Tom Palmer.
This article was originally published on Tech World.
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An online forum that tracks and encourages discussion on topics at the intersection of retail and digital technology, including e-commerce, omni-channel retail enablement, retail ERP software, digital platform integration for retail businesses, retail supply chain management and integration solutions, digital marketing and merchandizing, and mobile commerce. Archives
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