You have probably noticed that over the last few years, the way you shop has become an easy and entertaining task. You get more suggestions than ever; your search seems to be tracked because no matter what website you visit, you see ads with products you researched and looked for online. It seems like now you don’t have to spend hours looking for the exact thing you want. Simply type in your request, and the Internet will do the hard work for you.

For brands to adopt AI is no longer a question. It is a must-feature. Statistics say that more than half of e-commerce businesses have penetrated AI technologies to boost their sales. Personalized adverts contribute to a 20% increase in clicks and actions. The integration of AI technologies continues to expand with a 14.60% annual growth rate.

How Does AI Contribute to Customers’ Positive Online Shopping Experience?

In this part of the review, we would like to introduce our readers to artificial intelligence tools that transform clients’ experience and assist businesses in their sales boost. 

Personalization

AI has a massive workload tracking users’ search requests and analyzing their behavior and past purchases, likes, and interests. Having this data, AI products are tailored to your individual needs and tastes, personalizing ads and showing them to you on social media or websites that are not always related to online shopping. Personalized recommendations indeed increase customers’ engagement and enable a positive online shopping experience. 

Virtual Try-Ons

As of 2023, 43% of people in the US and 50% of people in the UK preferred to shop online. When we talk about clothing and cosmetics, virtual try-ons come in handy. To try this feature and make your shopping experience more entertaining as well as help you make a better decision, you will only need to upload your photo. AI scans an image and allows you to see how one or another piece of cloth, mascara, lipstick, or even a certain hair color will look on you. This feature works well both ways: you are more likely to be satisfied with your purchase, and the brand will likely have a regular customer. 

Chatbots

When you shop online, you may have questions about the product that you couldn’t find in the description/characteristics. Shopping websites and apps first-time visitors may have additional queries about creating an order, making a payment, using a promo code, return policy, etc. Businesses don’t have to hire that many agents to ask such questions and this is where chatbots come in handy. This clever feature is predicted to be integrated by the majority of businesses soon, reducing costs and providing clients with fast and efficient information. 

Recent statistics inform that in the next 5 years, artificial intelligence technologies will handle a whopping 80% of all customer interactions. The advantages of chatbots are quick and real-time responses as well as suggestions based on customers’ previous likes and purchases. 

The Impact of AI Technologies on In-Store Shopping Experience 

It is not only shopping websites and applications that actively use artificial intelligence to bring in new customers, retain existing ones, and boost their sales. Land-based shops have already integrated AI features to make customers’ experiences more fun.

Smart Mirrors

Smart mirrors are common in clothing and cosmetics stores where you can see yourself wearing a desired product. This significantly reduces time spent shopping and making the right choice. You no longer have to take a pile of clothing to a changing room. Smart mirrors will help you complete your look based on the latest trends. Just imagine you want to try a pair of jeans. Stand in front of an AR mirror and check how a pair like this will look in various colors and sizes. You will be advised to buy a T-shirt and a pair of sneakers to go with it. This will allow you to see a complete look without changing your clothes. 

A good example would be Sephora, where standing in front of a smart mirror, you can try dozens of lipsticks and match them with eyeshadows or mascara for the best look. The name of the products will instantly appear on the screen, so you can pick them up in-store and proceed to the cashier. 

Another example is Nike which is now actively using AR mirrors for creating a perfect look in a speedy manner. Likely, such a feature will not leave clients indifferent, so they would recommend it to others. 

Real-Time Assistance

Real-time assistance based on AI can significantly improve your shopping experience. You have probably spotted kiosks with interactive maps that help visitors navigate shopping center. Instead of looking around the whole store, you can choose the category of product you are interested in, and you will be instantly shown the store and its exact location with directions where you can find what you are looking for. 

AI-kiosks located in particular shops help customers check the availability of desired items. You can check the sizes available, and if the item you are interested in is not available in the particular store, you will be provided with the addresses of nearby stores and the number of items left there. This increases the probability of leaving the shop with a purchase and feeling satisfied. At the same time, it helps brands retain their clients as they no longer have to search for alternatives in other stores.  

Voice assistants also fall under real-time assistance since they simplify the search and allow you to get all the necessary information on brands, their new collections, prices, and discounts in voice format, not text. So, you can walk around the shopping center and get hints/advice from a voice assistant while looking around.

Final Thoughts

Nowadays, online and offline shopping has become more personalized. We all love to be taken care of, and this is what businesses that vigorously use artificial intelligence offer us. For some people, shopping will now take less time, while others may likely be entertained by clever technologies and enjoy their online or in-store experience by taking advantage of modern services.