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Seven Key Technologies For Retailers In 2022 

Retail marketing has never been the same, especially with the changes brought about by the pandemic. These significant changes in the digital and marketing spaces altered customer expectations, shopping processes, and online experiences. For instance, digital marketing has adapted in terms of web design and search engine optimization (SEO) to respond to the increase in mobile searches. 

With changes in digital marketing, technological trends have emerged and have proven to be beneficial in helping retailers thrive.  

Retail marketing isn’t easy. So, you might need the help of a reliable technological innovation that streamlines your workload and eases your marketing processes.  

For starters, you must know which retail technology trends are worth the hype. Which could benefit your business and help you pursue stability? By relying on data and closely monitoring the ever-changing trends in every market, you can effectively choose the right technology for your business.    

Here’s a list of the top retail technologies you must look out for in 2022: 

Customer Service Robots 

When it comes to knowing the best technological trends that could help retailers in 2022, one of the most ideal alternatives businesses can consider is the use of customer service robots. Many people believe that the creation of these robots has been one of the major turning points in the business industry, as they allow faster services and less human error. 

Apart from that, customer chatbots have been beneficial in speeding up data dissemination between retailers and consumers, as well as creating better communication channels. In most cases, clients prefer messaging as a primary service channel. Hence, the creation of customer chatbots to promote better communication with customers.  

Although they originally belong to the realm of robotics and science, customer chatbots prove to be relevant in 2021. Since many customers prefer businesses that connect with them and address their concerns, customer service robots could help improve the pre-and post-sales experiences of clients. They could also minimize cart abandonment, prevent poor customer ratings, and resolve customers’ issues without human intervention.      

Facial Recognition 

Aside from customer service robots, a notable technological trend in retail marketing is facial recognition. This technological trend allows retailers and marketers to scan thousands of reference points across a person’s face to determine their faceprint.  

With the advent of the technological innovation, store owners and retailers don’t have to identify their customers manually, so they could deliver a personalized shopping experience. Instead, they can just use facial recognition apps and software to know the types of products customers might purchase and how much their budget is. With this knowledge, they can provide quality services to high-value shoppers. 

Moreover, facial recognition allows shoppers to use their smartphones to perform facial scans before purchasing certain products or services.     

Voice Commerce  

Aside from augmented reality systems and customer service robots, a notable technology to look for in 2022 is voice commerce. With the creation of numerous voice assistant technologies in the previous years, these technological advances gained considerable popularity all over the world, even spreading into other devices. 

In recent surveys, it’s been shown that approximately 60 million people have at least one smart speaker system at home. Some of the most common reasons behind the fast-rising popularity of these technological advances are product research, product purchases, and price comparison. Some companies have developed voice ordering services too, which customers can use to add products to their carts in online shopping and process their orders.  

To operate voice commerce, clients only need to use any device powered by certain providers and say the keywords, mention their preferred products, and specify the command. Then the items will be packed and delivered depending on their client’s approved method. Besides that, customers can make purchases and order goods from grocery stores and marts that offer voice commerce as a method of transaction.  

With similar methods of command, shoppers can place goods into their basket through voice commands. Once the purchase is paid, the goods will be delivered to the customer within a specific time.   

Autonomous Delivery Robots 

Robots can now be used to help increase lead generation, attract more customers, and advance faster services to customers. In terms of managing the retail supply chain, an autonomous delivery robot may help retailers to check and monitor stocks, determine errors in pricing, and locate misplaced items. 

They may also help improve customer experiences by maximizing store layouts and optimizing retail processes. Lastly, they can aid retailers in delivering parcels, groceries, and food to customers.  

Predictive Analytics 

Running a retail business may appear easy, but it’s not. There are plenty of things you need to consider and go through, including collecting and analyzing big data, solving financial and technical problems, and creating new solutions to existing issues. With that, various technological developers and IT companies developed technological advances to ease such tasks. 

Particularly, predictive analytics are designed to promote proactive retailing methods through in-depth analysis of customer behavior and previous market trends. Through these, retailers could efficiently evaluate data about their businesses, understand the important factors that could bolster customer purchasing behavior, upgrade the shopping experience of clients, and address their needs.  

Aside from that, predictive analytics allows retailers to minimize costs of supply chains, operation costs, improve productivity rates, and reduce the risks of fluctuating markets. Most importantly, predictive analytics helps retailers to be more efficient in their marketing strategies, manage expenses, and become smarter in their decision-making.      

Cashierless Stores 

Many businesses have turned their stores into cashierless ones to encourage people to practice social distancing. It’s been shown that approximately 87% of customers prefer contactless transactions or self-checkout options when shopping. 

Cashierless stores enable retailers to sell products and services without having to hire additional personnel. Customers can purchase items that are scanned automatically and pay using their cards. They may scan barcodes and QR codes, as well as pay for products, receive information, and process other transactions by just using their smartphones.      

Augmented Shopping 

Augmented shopping refers to the practice of improving the in-store customer experience by allowing customers to try products virtually and ask the opinions of friends on social media. Intrinsically, augmented shopping is among the top retail technologies developed after the surge brought by the pandemic. This alternative is said to play a significant role in enhancing the demand for augmented reality (AR) systems, promoting a ‘try-before-you-buy’ approach for clients, and bolstering the in-store experience online. 

For starters, augmented shopping uses smart mirrors, which customers can use when trying several products. While giving off the feeling of being in a dressing room, these mirrors may give recommendations of other items and pairs of products to customers, assisting them with their mix-and-match activities, and providing convenience in their online shopping.  

Not only can the mirrors show conversion rates for specific items but also modify the products range depending on the client’s preferences and needs.   

Apart from that, it may help people to superimpose certain products and outfits on their bodies by using virtual changing rooms and sharing images with their loved ones on social media platforms. It even seeks to offer the comfort of online shopping in stores.    

Final Thoughts 

As easy as it may seem, retail marketing can be a challenging task to accomplish, especially for people who have less knowledge about how to do it properly. So, it’d be better to use various technological innovations to ensure retail marketing success. With all these key technologies, managing your retail processes will be easier. 


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