Brick-and-mortars need mobility and AI transformation to enhance the in-store experience and maintain their relevance.
Retail store operations and front-line sales teams face a unique set of challenges. For example, rising and constantly growing customer expectations drive retailers to find new ways to reinvent themselves to provide consumers the value they want.
What’s causing the turmoil in this industry? It’s primarily consumers seeking a richer, more personalized retail experience that eliminates the back-and-forth common in most conventional retail shops.
Not only are store operations being asked to introduce new systems, processes and tools, they’re also tasked with adapting store functionality to fit the way associates work, learn, and engage with customers to deliver a better and more personalized customer experience.
With foot traffic under pressure thanks to competitive online markets and profitability under pressure from increasing staff and property costs, retailers have to make every store visit turn into revenue – either at the point of sale in the store or back at home on the customer’s mobile device. They must also understand what their customers want to increase sales and keep shoppers returning.
With all of these factors in play, it’s high time for retailers to re-evaluate how they drive revenue and adopt AI to increase associate productivity and reduce operating costs.
Take your brand mobile
Mobile technology continues to change how retailers connect with customers in 2024. Mobile shopping now accounts for nearly 50% of online purchases — expected to reach 62% by the end of 2025. Global mobile sales will hit $2.52 trillion in 2024, growing 16% from last year.
Yet, many retailers only offer basic mobile websites. This limited approach doesn't match the scale of mobile adoption, with smartphone shipments reaching 1.214 billion units in 2024 and growing 4.8% in 2025.
This means retailers must expand their mobile technology to stay competitive.
The AI-powered mobile experience
Modern retail platforms now deliver a single mobile platform where associates, managers, and corporate teams access everything. By integrating with an AI-powered sales enablement software, retailers will receive:
- Real-time learning and training materials
- Corporate communications
- Sales and marketing content
- Team collaboration tools
- Customer engagement analytics
In a nutshell, AI helps stores improve pricing, manage inventory, schedule staff, and plan promotions. This allows retailers to work more efficiently while better understanding their customers and teams.
What today's shoppers want
Gen Z shows a clear preference for in-store shopping, with 64% choosing stores over online shopping.
To meet these preferences, retailers are adding technology that makes shopping easier and more enjoyable. For instance, stores now:
- Offer digital fitting rooms, mobile checkout, and personalized suggestions through apps. These improvements help shoppers while giving stores useful data about what customers want.
- Use AI and mobile technology to enhance shopping with digital try-ons, 3D product views, and quick inventory checks. This makes shopping more convenient and compelling for customers.
Use in-store AI to support sales teams
AI in retail goes beyond the hype, offering specific ways to help store associates work better. It starts with smart recommendations. Like social media suggesting content you might enjoy, AI helps store associates by recommending what to do next.
This includes suggesting training to improve customer service or preparing teams before new products arrive. AI-powered sales enablement platforms help store teams work more effectively by:
- Suggesting the right training at the right time
- Preparing associates for new product launches
- Tracking and improving customer service skills
These tools help stores train and support their teams in ways that weren't possible before.
Drive revenue and performance
Retail stores face tough competition and rising costs. How can store teams increase sales while helping employees perform better?
AI and mobile technology give stores new ways to share information and improve three key areas:
- Better training: Store teams can train on the sales floor instead of in back rooms. This creates more space for products, helps employees feel confident, and makes scheduling more flexible.
- Higher sales success: Employees can quickly find the correct product information when talking to customers, leading to more sales.
- Faster daily tasks: Teams complete inventory checks and paperwork faster on the sales floor, while AI tracks and compares data throughout the day.
Improve your impact on the customer
Customer relationships determine retail success. And AI and mobile technology help stores connect better with shoppers from their first visit.
Remember, AI helps store teams:
- Recognize when customers enter the store
- Access the customer's previous shopping history
- Suggest relevant products based on customer interests
Retailers who use mobile devices and AI tools can improve sales and customer service while reducing costs. The results? Higher revenue and more satisfied customers. Like in this example form our client, GUESS.
Want to see how Bigtincan helps retail teams use AI to create better shopping experiences? Schedule a demo to learn how we can help you increase sales.
