AI-driven personalization or Artificial intelligence driven online shopping personalization is transforming the e-commerce sector. Retailers may use AI to offer their customers personalized product recommendations, specialized search results, and more. The way we purchase online is changing as a result of this expanding trend, which is also giving businesses new chances to connect with their clients. Going forward, e-commerce firms must focus on personalization as consumers demand online experiences that are on par with or better than those of physical stores. AI and machine learning assist brands in customizing their goods and services to suit the requirements and preferences of each client.
Brands now have the ability to make every purchasing transaction relevant and enjoyable through customization. In reality, in today’s retail environment, individualized shopping experiences are crucial to customer engagement, retention, and loyalty. Brands can boost consumer engagement, loyalty, sales, and a deeper understanding of their customers all in real-time thanks to AI-based personalization. Brands may use AI to tailor the content of their websites to each individual customer, increasing conversion rates.
The future of retail: AI expected to reach $24 billion by 2027
In the upcoming years, it is anticipated that the global artificial intelligence (AI) market’s revenue, which includes the software, hardware, and services categories, would increase significantly, reaching approximately 126 billion US dollars by 2025. By 2027, it is predicted that the market for AI in retail will have grown rapidly to 23.32 billion US dollars. Although research indicates that personalization most frequently results in a 10 to 15 percent increase in sales, there is no particular revenue statistics for AI personalization in retail. Personalization generates 40% more revenue for retailers with rapid growth than for those with slower growth. As more shops use this technology to give their customers individualized experiences, AI-powered customization is growing in popularity in the e-commerce sector.
What is AI-powered personalization?
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are two technologies that can be used to tailor client experiences. Businesses can evaluate client data and make customized recommendations and offers that are more likely to result in a purchase by employing data analytics and machine learning (ML) algorithms. Because AI can analyze vast amounts of data and spot patterns that humans might overlook, it can be more effective than conventional personalization techniques.
Retail personalization strategies and consumer expectations
Consumer expectations and personalized reality are increasingly at odds. Only 27% of consumers believe that the online shopping experience is highly individualized, despite the fact that 91% of consumers are more likely to shop with brands who offer tailored offers and recommendations. Companies who are able to overcome this gap and give their customers more personalized experiences may forge deeper relationships with their customers, and are likely to enjoy an increase customer loyalty and revenue. Scalable digital personalization in marketing is the “holy grail”, but it is difficult to achieve digital personalization at scale and needs a large investment in technology and data analytics. Only 15% of the businesses or goods, according to McKinsey & Company, have fully adopted customization techniques. More than 80% have started pilot projects or are still in the process of defining a personalization strategy.
Challenges for consumers and companies
AI-driven personalization can cause a number of challenges for both consumers and companies. For instance, high-quality data is needed for AI-driven personalization, and if the data is erroneous or lacking, it may produce subpar recommendations and offers. Customers can also feel uneasy about how much personal information is being gathered and exploited by merchants, so businesses aiming to scale up personalization must take consumer data privacy into account. Last but not least, excessive personalization can overwhelm clients and ruin their experience.
Benefits of AI-driven personalization for retailers
Despite the challenges Artificial Intelligence in online retail is a game-changing technology that is transforming the way retailers do business. In order to grow their business, 54% of retail marketers use AI-driven personalization across channels, according to a global survey carried out by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Emarsys. The majority use it to manage real-time customer interactions across channels and touchpoints and to understand customer behavior. Here are some ways that AI is revolutionizing online retail:
- Increase Average Order Value (AOV): First and foremost, personalization increases the total purchase amount in a single order;
- Raise conversion rates and revenue: Personalized shopping experiences drive more conversions and increase revenues for e-commerce;
- Personalized recommendations: AI algorithms analyze data from customer interactions to generate personalized recommendations with higher accuracy. This results in a more personalized experience for the customer and increases the chances of the customer making a purchase;
- Product development: AI algorithms can analyze customer reviews and feedback to identify product improvements and areas for new product development. This helps retailers to stay ahead of the competition and provide a better customer experience;
- Improve inventory performance: AI algorithms can predict demand, optimize inventory levels, and manage the supply chain more efficiently. This helps retailers to reduce inventory costs and increase customer satisfaction by ensuring that the products are available when the customer needs them;
- Drive customer satisfaction and brand loyalty;
- Chatbots and Virtual Assistants: AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are becoming popular in online retail. These assistants can help customers navigate through the website, answer their queries, and even suggest products that they might be interested in purchasing.
Retail experiences can be dynamically modified based on situational information thanks to AI and machine learning. Messages and content will change based to where a customer is in their user journey. The retail consumer experience will get a completely new, highly individualized dimension as a result.
Retail brands that leverage AI-driven personalization
AI is being used by businesses like Nikeplus The HumanRace 10K, Amazon, and Under Armour to offer tailored product recommendations and exercise guidance to their customers. While Hilton Hotels & Resorts uses an AI robot to welcome guests and offer tailored recommendations, Sesame Street uses AI to customize early learning experiences for kids. With the aid of AI, Rare Carat assists customers in purchasing diamonds by making tailored recommendations depending on their tastes. While Levis’Store employs AI to create virtual stylists that offer individualized fashion advice, Macy’s On Call uses AI to guide clients in-store and offer unique recommendations. In my most recent piece, I go into further detail on how these companies are employing AI-powered personalization.
In conclusion, AI-powered personalization is revolutionizing the online retail industry, providing customers with a more personalized shopping experience than ever before. With the ability to analyze vast amounts of data and provide tailored recommendations, AI-powered personalization is changing the way we shop online. As retailers continue to invest in this technology, we can expect to see even more exciting developments in the future.