Technology has changed how we shop, and upcoming innovations promise to introduce even more incredible transformations in the years ahead. While the notion of popping down to the store to acquire some essentials will always remain, most of us are heading online, where the most significant changes occur.
New developments are also visible in physical stores and shopping centers, and these updates add to a whole new shopping experience.
The entries here reflect those new technologies. Some are available in the real world, while others are solely online, but each has added something to the shopping revolution.
1. Self Checkout
We’ve come to accept it as a part of everyday life, but the self-checkout system is a perfect example of how technology has changed our shopping experience. It speeds up our visits, and the do-it-yourself method is far more convenient than waiting in line for a cashier.
If you have only a few items to scan, self-checkouts are the logical option. They remove the social element from shopping, but their sheer speed is a huge bonus.
2. Chatbots
Some online shoppers prefer to message real people when they open a chat window. Chatbots aren’t perfect, but technology continues to improve, and they will eventually get everything right the first time.
For now, opinion is divided over their value. I’m one of those shoppers who aims to bypass the virtual assistant, but there’s no denying that chatbots are transforming our online shopping.
3. Robotic Shop Assistants
The robots are coming: Along with online chatbots, physical retail is slowly welcoming humanoid robots who work as shop assistants on the floor. Robotic helpers like Pepper in Japan welcome shoppers, guide them to the right areas, and make recommendations.
It may be some time before these programable shop assistants become more visible worldwide, but it seems inevitable that the robot retail revolution is coming.
4. Artificial Intelligence
Online chatbots also play a big role in another significant shopping revolution. Artificial intelligence is creeping into other industries, but it’s been evident in e-commerce for many years.
By following your shopping patterns, recommendations are made based on your preferences. Cynics see AI as a way of getting consumers to spend more money, but the system can be helpful and remind us to add products while encouraging us to try new things.
5. Contactless Cards
They may not seem revolutionary, but contactless debit and credit cards have sped up the shopping experience. This system is the fastest way to pay for our goods.
With higher purchase limits, the method is even more beneficial to customers. Many people need a fast shopping expedition;, and contactless cards help streamline the process.
6. In-Store WiFi
Along with contactless cards, in-store WiFi is a tech that shoppers now take for granted. Stores haven’t always supplied this service, and it’s a balance for the retailers.
For example, shoppers could conduct a price comparison on their mobile devices before heading to another outlet. The benefits for the store should outweigh that risk, as the retailer offers information on the product via QR codes, including customer reviews and discounts.
7. Touch Screen Orders
The touch-screen ordering system is widely used in the fast food industry, but it’s starting to appear in other retail areas. The concept is simple: Look up your desired product, tap the screen to add it to your basket, and pay with your contactless card.
In a noisy food outlet, touch screen technology is a significant bonus. There are fewer chances for assistants to get your order wrong, and the tech should speed up the process.
8. Omnichannel Purchases
An omnichannel transaction involves different aspects of retail, and many of us already use this system. Buying online and picking up in-store is a perfect example of omnichannel.
The technology involved has already changed the face of modern shopping. New developments, including the ability to collect from a remote, secure location, are another extension of the omnichannel.
9. Voice Activation Purchases
Our voices will play a more prominent role in online shopping in the months and years to come. It’s simple to ask Siri or Alexa to search for products and to place them in our baskets when we find the right one.
The technology is already here, and more consumers will use voice activation soon.
10. Virtual Reality
Software developers face the challenge of allowing customers to enter an online store. Virtual reality provides the answer, and the technology is already in place in some areas of e-commerce.
The benefits of VR are plentiful, and this tech has the power to transform online shopping. Potential buyers can now browse the stock and go to other departments as they make their choices.
11. Wayfinding Apps
Large shopping centers and city-based shopping malls still have a place in today’s shopping landscape, but the sheer size of these areas can be confusing. Those with physical and mental impairments can also be overwhelmed by the many stores located in parks and malls.
Wayfinding apps provide a solution, guiding customers through the area and quickly taking them to their chosen location with minimal fuss.
12. Augmented Reality
Augmented reality is a step up from VR, promising to give shoppers even more power. The two technologies are similar, but AR allows users to try products before purchase.
Imagine giving your measurements and trying on shirts, dresses, shoes, and more. Shopping for clothes online is tricky, and augmented reality offers a genuine solution.
13. Interactive Fitting Rooms
Want to streamline the fitting room process? eBay-developed technology is now available in certain Nordstrom stores. Smart mirrors allow customers to try on clothes and see what they look like in different sizes or colors.
Assistants can then locate and bring alternative items to you. The technology is developing, and we should see more smart fitting rooms hitting the high street.
14. Personalized Sensor Data
Most shoppers are unfamiliar with the technology involved with sensor data, but it promises to become a common development in offline retail stores. Beacon sensors are placed around the retail floor, and if the shopper has Bluetooth enabled on their smartphone, the store’s app downloads automatically.
Data is then sent to the store, informing them of purchases and how long the shopper stays in a specific location. This information allows personalized discounts to be sent straight to the customer’s phone.
15. Facial Recognition
While privacy considerations must be considered, facial recognition is another new technology set to transform the way we shop. Once the customer has been identified, it offers discounts and other promotions.
Stores also aim to fully introduce facial recognition as a means to battle theft, and we’ll see its usage increase soon.
