The future of retail is in the hands of ‘extreme digital’. Virtual reality and 3D printers will enable the fusing of perception, personalisation and on-the-spot production. Intelligent systems will take the place of cashiers and more and more smart products will independently find their way to the consumer.
Offline and online shopping will merge into a captivating world of immersive experiences.
Please contact us to arrange an introduction.
AI, the beating heart of tomorrow, touches every retail organisation. Self-learning systems analyse, connect, and create anything imaginable. This presents opportunities as well as threats. How do we prepare for this technological revolution that demands new skills and a proactive approach to ethics and safety?
What will the store of the future look like? Will we only buy online and cause physical stores to disappear altogether? Or will shops turn into multi-purpose, multi-experiential spaces that use VR/AR to wow customers into buying their products? Most likely, the shopping experience of the future will be a combination of all of the above – and more.
Shopping will become increasingly personalised. Think in-store VR/AR promotions, interactive displays, smart mirrors in fitting rooms, and AR-overlaid product information. Smart systems will recognise and greet you by name as you enter the store, guiding you to all the things they know you will like. A 3D-printer will print your perfect, tailor-made product while you wait.
Online, you will likely come across interactive, conversational chatbots that know all your likes and dislikes and make spot-on suggestions. Browsing will become increasingly voice-empowered. You’ll be able to visit virtual showrooms, where VR/AR tech will enable you to try and experience whatever you’re interested in buying. Hologram prototypes will show you the progress of your product being created.
Marketing will become increasingly personalised and immersive, reaching potential customers in mind-blowing ways. Think VR, AR, interactive signage, and chatbots. You’ll receive tailor-made offers via an app, smart TV, e-mail, or your smartwatch. ERA – Emotion Response Analysis – will use EEG tech to measure your emotional response to online products or digital advertising.
In the future, we will pay with a swipe or a smile. In the background, business systems will automatically carry out all kinds of processes. We will also be able to pay with our self-driving cars or personal wearables. Smart contracts will be finalised as soon as a job is marked ‘complete’ on the blockchain.
In the world of tomorrow, drones deliver within hours and if you want, 3D printers provide real-time delivery. Blockchain-driven platforms provide insight into the origin of products and the authenticity of luxury items. Warehouses are increasingly automated. Packages are equipped with sensor technology and GPS so that their location is known at all times.
In many ways, people are no longer separate from technology. It is, therefore, important to keep an eye on the moral side of technological developments, consider the implications for the world of tomorrow, and ensure we take important ethical considerations into account. We need to determine our boundaries and voice our opinions about how people and machines should work together.
The merging of technology and retail is changing existing roles and skills. Many cash register and store employees are replaced by a digital colleague. Retailers hire people as brand ambassadors, marketing analysts and AI and VR/AR specialists, social media experts. But also people who develop engaging interactive content for real-time digital stores and online shopping platforms.
The future of work requires a new type of manager, who challenges the status quo and is willing to abandon entrenched ‘best practices’. There will be a move to flatter hierarchies as millennials are great team players and see traditional hierarchies as outdated. The managers of the future will offer employees opportunities to develop new skills and explore new positions.
The company of the future is hyper connected. It closely monitors new developments and collaborates with startups, scientists, and universities. It uses smart algorithms to analyse the world and employs a flexible workforce capable of rapidly developing new products and services. The company of the future requires accessible, inspiring leaders who are not afraid to veer off the beaten track.
For over 10 years, Richard has been a highly sought-after speaker for renowned global organizations and is among the top international speakers. He is also the founder of the future intelligence agency, Trendforce.one
His passion is to inject a fresh new mindset that helps individuals and organizations understand, embrace, and explore the world of tomorrow.
Through his future intelligence blog, he shares new insights weekly about the future, inspiring trends, and the latest developments. There are over 2000 articles and more than 60 books and e-books available.
As a futurist, keynotespeaker and trendwatcher, Richard van Hooijdonk is an authority on new technology. He has several Chip-implants, because he wants to physically experience the future. His inspiration sessions have been attended by over 600,000 people. Richard is a regular guest at radio and television programs.
With his international research team, he researches many trends in the field of artificial intelligence & generative AI, robotics, drones, self-driving systems, 3D & 4D printing, sensors, blockchain, quantum computing, neurotech, biotech, platforms and augmented & virtual reality. Combined with artificial intelligence, these technologies offer groundbreaking opportunities, but also lead to challenges and threats for people, organisations and governments.
