With InternetRetailing (IRX ) and eDelivery (EDX) 2018 both starting tomorrow I’ll be looking out for some of the technological innovations that are predicted to revolutionise the retail market.
Some savvy retailers are already embracing emerging technology as a way to maximise engagement and drive traffic. Whereas, others are seeing a waning footfall in brick-and-mortar stores due to their refusal to invest in technology as part of their overall business strategy.
With the footfall slipping, new Fujitsu researchs reveals that digital really does hold the key – and customers really want it. In fact, almost half (46%) of British consumers reveal that augmented reality (AR) will positively impact retain sector and virtual reality (VR) close behind (22%), according to the same body of research.
This year, a whole day will be dedicated to conference track under the theme Innovation & the Future which will zoom into four of the key innovations that are making the most impact on retail including artificial intelligence, augmented/virtual reality, IoT and voice activation. Below are the keynote address’ I’m looking forward to discovering the latest developments in the field of technology.
Voice-activated shopping and search: getting beyond the hype
A conference track about the future place of voice-assisted devices in the retail field will begin on Wednesday, March 21 on 9:30 in Theatre 2. Paul Wilkinson, head of technology research and open innovation at Tesco Labs will take the lead to evaluate the real impact of voice search in the shopping landscape. Wilkinson then will assess how Google Home and Amazon Echo are changing the shopping game through voice activation and consider how retailers should develop their websites to capitalise on voice technology and what partners they need for this endeavour.
How will search innovation be optimised and personalised in the future to reflect changing customer needs?
I’ll be heading down to absorb insights from a keynote presentation by Markus Stripf, co-founder & chief executive officer at Spoon Guru where he’ll be discussing the lastest trends in the industry: AI and personalisation. Stripf will be evaluating the impact of AI on hyper-personalisation and tailored customer choice to understand what omnichannel could look like for the modern, multi-preference customer. He will also consider how smart retail technology can simplify shopping processes, improve customer engagement, drive sales and strengthen brand loyalty. The keynote address will take place on March 21, at 13:15 at Theatre 2.
Assessing what artificial intelligence really means for ecommerce and how it can improve sales, customer engagement and delivery
Retailers’ that are curious to know how they can build an AI strategy that delivers sales, customer engagement and improved delivery must attend this closing keynote track, taking place March 21, 15:05 at Theatre 2. In fact, Alex Murray, director ecommerce at Lidl UK will help retailers in this endeavour by drawing together the current limitations of AI in a retail context so retailers’ will have an idea of how to experiment with this technology in a smart and cost-effective way.
InternetrRetailing Expo (IRX) eDelivery Expo (EDX) 2018 is Europe’s only dedicated fulfilment event covering (S.O.L.D) – Supply Chain, Operations, Logistics and Delivery for multichannel retail takes place on 21-22 March in in Birmingham.
To find out more and to register free for InternetRetailing Expo and eDelivery Expo, visit internetretailingexpo.com. Get involved on Twitter by following @etailexpo and with the hashtags #IRX18 #EDX18.
