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FuturistU > Retail > How to be Retail Resilient > Module 2 / 4

Retail Resilient: Simplicity

Instructor: Ady Floyd
Innovative Technologies
Download the Innovative Technologies Trend Report
In a fast-paced and cluttered world, simplicity continues to stand out to consumers, especially in the retail industry. Retailers must place a higher precedent on keeping consumers safe in brick-and-mortar stores and through ecommerce platforms. Leveraging technology to create simple approaches to modern problems will help retailers succeed in the future. Contactless shopping and digital security are integral now. In a world where consumers are easily overwhelmed, this module showcases how retailers have the ability to simplify certain aspects of a consumer's daily life.
Related Trend Report: Innovative Technologies
Workshop Questions:
1. How are you ensuring that your employees and your customers feel safe visiting your establishment?
2. What is one way you can improve your digital security strategy?
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Featured Insights

Shopping Locker
Contactless lockers enhance the safety of shopping experiences
Trend - Lockers in the retail industry are being rolled out as businesses look for ways to keep both customers and employees safe amidst the ongoing pandemic. Everything from food pickup to in-store returns are now being exchanged via lockers to reduce instances of person-to-person contact.
Workshop Question - How is your brand prioritizing safety as it conducts its day-to-day business?
5.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends

Insights by Trend Hunter AI

Employee-Free Retailer
Brick and mortar stores are turning to AI to mitigate labor costs
Trend - Retailers and grocers are testing fully automated locations to lower costs. By saving on the many complications associated with labor, these retailers are able to offer reduced prices for the benefit of the consumer. These often begin as solo test locations before expanding based on demand.
Workshop Question - How could your brand alter its operations to reduce costs of its products or services for consumers?
8.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
AI Kiosk
Smart kiosks that provide recommendations and point-of-sale support are being deployed
Trend - Retailers are deploying in-store kiosks powered by artificial intelligence (AI). These AI kiosks interpret and make recommendations for consumers interacting with them, thus streamlining the retail process. The advent of AI kiosks also reduces the required staff and, thus, costs for retailers.
Workshop Question - How could your brand improve its consumers' experiences by employing artificial intelligence, or other, smart features?
8.2
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Gamified Storefront
Brands are gamifying brick and mortar stores for the retailtainment trend
Trend - Brick-and-mortar storefronts are adding elements of gamification and entertainment to improve the in-store shopping experience. These 'retailtainment' initiatives add immersive experiences and interactive elements to increase consumer engagement and pull the focus away from simply spending money.
Workshop Question - How can we integrate gamification and entertainment into our physical spaces to create a more engaging and immersive experience for our customers?
8.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Barcode-Free Checkout
Artificial intelligence is used to identify barcode-less items at checkout
Trend - Artificial intelligence has been adapted to enable barcode-less product scanning, facilitated by algorithms that analyze images and videos of objects to identify unique features. This technology accurately accounts for retail items in real time, providing shoppers with seamless checkout experiences.
Workshop Question - How can your brand use automation to appeal to consumer's demand for convenience?
8.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Accessible Grocery
Grocery delivery platforms now accept electronic benefit transfers
Trend - Electronic Bank Transfer (EBT) is becoming a standard payment method as consumers seek convenient and secure ways to pay for grocery deliveries. This payment method aims to help individuals relying on government assistance programs access essential food items with ease and dignity.
Workshop Question - How does your brand demonstrate attentiveness to the financial well-being of its customer base?
3.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Small-Format Retail
More retailers are rolling out small-format stores with curated offerings
Trend - Retail is entering a "less-is-more" era, driven by consumer desire for curated shopping experiences that simplify decision-making. Consumers, overwhelmed by past excess, now value well-edited selections that simplify decision-making. This trend prioritizes quality and guidance over sheer quantity.
Workshop Question - How can your brand refocus its approach to retail by becoming a trusted curator of products, simplifying decision-making for consumers?
6.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Mobile AI
Retailers are using AI to add unique features to their mobile retail apps
Trend - Retailers are launching mobile apps with AI-powered features designed to replace their existing apps. These apps offer recommendations, conversational support, image search, and features unique to certain retailers. These brands aim to improve customer retention while reducing ordering friction.
Workshop Question - How could your brand improve its customer satisfaction rates through AI features?
7.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Retail Ad
Smart retail shelves are being used to provide customizable in-store marketing
Trend - Brick-and-mortar retailers are implementing smart retail shelf displays to market to consumers at the point of sale. These displays are eye-catching and provide helpful information or video advertisements–enhancing in-store immersion for nearby consumers.
Workshop Question - How might your brand benefit from offering immersive experiences or events to attract new and existing customers to return?
6.7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Consumer Marketplace
Brands are launching first-party storefronts to connect consumers to others
Trend - Brands across multiple industries are launching consumer-to-business-to-consumer (C2B2C) storefronts. C2B2C offers consumers discounts on products and enables consumers to sell unwanted products while the business handles transactions and verifies the quality of listed items.
Workshop Question - How might your brand benefit from connecting its consumers via an online marketplace or forum?
6.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Senior Retail
Retailers are making shopping more convenient for elderly demographics
Trend - As accessibility becomes a priority for more brands, some are offering initiatives that assist elderly shoppers in-store. In-store assistance, accessible environments and senior-specific shopping zones are all prioritizing convenience for elderly consumers.
Workshop Question - How could your brand better adapt to the needs of consumers who require accessible solutions?
5.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
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Megatrends