The future is already here! Everything that used to be imagined ten years ago is in customers' hands today, and they are taking good advantage of it by shopping & experiencing products on the move. Retailers are now focused on implementing innovative technologies that will improve the customer experience and stay competitive.

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The fight to distinguish retail business offerings on digital and physical channels together (An immersive phygital experience) is driving the race to better customer shopping experience, brand loyalty, and service.

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Here are some remarkable retail technology trends in 2023 adopted by retail businesses worldwide.

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Trend 1: Augmented Reality for Consumers

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Augmented Reality is the new retail business norm in 2023. Enhanced in-store navigation experiences, AR live stream shopping, virtual fitting rooms are spreading across the industry in no time.

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American Eagle is a leading global specialty retailer offering high-quality, on-trend clothing, accessories, and personal care products at affordable prices under its American Eagle® and Aerie® brands. It ran a back-to-school 2021 campaign: “Future Together, Jeans Forever” featuring new styles for teenagers. 

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As part of the promotion, the company worked with Snapchat to develop an augmented reality "dress yourself" experience that allows users to shop for and try on selected ensembles using their self-facing camera. The commercial starred a cast of teenage actors and promoted a digital apparel line for Bitmoji avatars.

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Kohl’s Virtual Closet

Click, click, click and check out! As many consumers continue to shop from home, Kohl's is continuing to lean into the convenience of our digital channels, like Kohls.com and the Kohl’s App.

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Kohl's recently partnered with Snapchat to create the Kohl's Augmented Reality (AR) Virtual Closet, allowing users to shop for their favourite styles from a curated selection of Kohl's merchandise. When users discover a look they like, they may purchase it directly from the Snapchat app. Kohl's Snapchat Virtual Closet initially featured spring fashions and then expanded to include athletic and athleisure goods as buyers sought comfortable work-from-home clothing during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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Trend 2: Artificial Intelligence in the Retail Industry

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Inventory management powered by AI

AI can be used in inventory management and other valuable consumer behavior analysis. 

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The complexity of computer systems and databases has resulted in many inefficiencies from errors. Artificial intelligence can assist us in managing these inventories more successfully in a variety of ways. For instance, AI can analyze consumer spending data to forecast when specific types of merchandise are expected to move more quickly on the sales floor. It can cause the system to prioritize particular areas for human auditing over others. While inspecting the entire business area presents a significant challenge, checking only the areas that require priority care is far more effective.

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When it comes to Amazon Go Grocery stores powered by Just Walk Out, the company takes it a step further. This project uses deep learning, sensor fusion, and computer vision. The store's extensive network of cameras and IoT sensors can recognize when a customer removes an item from the shelf and places it in their shopping basket. When a customer leaves the store, the store will automatically charge their credit card for the purchased products.

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It requires a deep understanding of the customer's products in their basket and a thorough knowledge of the Amazon retail store's layout. Even if an item is moved away from its original location on the shelf, the retailer must keep track of it.

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Consumer behaviour analysis

Retail businesses can use artificial intelligence to measure their spending habits and consumers' interest in spending money alongside their demographics. It can give companies a better idea of how they should be marketing to their audiences.

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The powerful AI technology can track the user's behavior while visiting an online storefront. It can reveal some exciting information about a customer shopping, like what items their cursor hovers over, how much time they spend on a particular page, and where they come from. 

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Trend 3: Indoor Positioning System

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The global indoor positioning and indoor navigation market was valued at $2,642 million in 2017 and is projected to reach $43,511 million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 42.0% from 2018 to 2025.

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The usage of Indoor Positioning Systems (IPS) has been a growing trend for a few years now, allowing users to navigate around indoor environments where GPS is either unavailable or insufficiently reliable.

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Target has implemented Bluetooth IoT lighting systems at many of its locations. When customers shop in-store using the Target app on their phone, they gain access to a map that assists them in locating their location within the store and locating the items they require. These are some great ways in which Target is using them to better customer shopping experience. 

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Use in item tracking: The placement of products on the sales floor may be more accurately tracked using IPS. As a result, not only will the protection of assets be enhanced, but it will also be made more accessible to return moved things to their correct locations.

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Share targeted deals: When customers use the retail store’s official app to locate themselves in a particular store area, the IPS system may track their location and provide them with the targeted product and discount suggestions on their smartphone. IPS systems are becoming increasingly popular as they can help to increase conversions when customers shop.

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Trend 4: Smart Omnichannel Shopping Baskets

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Smart shopping baskets allow your customers to add, edit or check out products from every physical and digital brand channel. To enhance the customer experience further, retailers have started integrating omnichannel customer profiles. These profiles are updated with each new interaction and are available to customers and sales employees at all touchpoints. 

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Customers may access their shopping carts and profiles from any of the brand's touchpoints.

• Retailers have a better chance of closing a deal.

• Retailers gain a complete understanding of their customers, which can be used for retargeting purposes.

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Kroger is the latest retailer to test connected shopping carts in the age of social distancing. The wireless carts can total your purchases, give recommendations, and accept payment immediately on the cart. The gadgets eliminate the need to queue alongside strangers or pass stuff off to a salesperson. The AI company claims that smart carts encourage customers to spend more money because they can keep track of their purchases in real-time and provide them with more marketing materials while they shop. For example, if you purchase cereal, it may also recommend that you buy milk.

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Trend 5: Retail Brands Using Metaverse

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The Metaverse is the joining of physical and digital worlds. Here is a list of brands and their campaigns in Metaverse. 

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Nike: A non-fungible token studio that creates digital collectibles (including digital sneakers) to integrate culture and gaming was acquired by Nike in December 2021. Real sneakers matched with virtual ones were sold by RTFKT and juvenile artist FEWOCiOUS for $3.1 million in less than six minutes, selling 600 pairs and NFTs in total.

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A recent trademark filing indicates that Nike intends to develop and sell virtual footwear, apparel, and accessories branded with the Nike logo that may be used in virtual settings.

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Gucci: In connection with the launch of Garden Archetypes, an immersive multimedia experience, Gucci collaborated with Roblox to create Gucci Garden, an interactive virtual exhibit. As guests entered the Gucci Garden, their avatars transformed into neutral mannequins. Each visitor's mannequin absorbs elements of the exhibition as they move through the various rooms. With each person encountering the rooms in a unique order and retaining pieces of the spaces, they emerge as one-of-a-kind creations at the end of their journey.

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Conclusion

In this blog, we took a look at some of the top retail technology trends for 2023. We hope you've enjoyed this article and found it helpful to your understanding of the advancements in the retail industry. Some of the trends are already in use, while some are expected to become standard by 2022.  Retail stores have already started to use AI, AR, IPS, smart baskets, while some companies plan to use them later this year. So, these trends are already happening and will become common by 2022.

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Fynd is India's largest omnichannel platform trusted by over 600 brands and 10,000 stores helping retail businesses accelerate growth and adapt to dynamically changing retail technologies. Integrate now to grow and manage multiple sales channels seamlessly. Book a Demo or Contact us today to learn more about our industry-recognized & future-proof omnichannel solutions for the retail industry.