Capable of exploiting data from “big data” and garnering each contact of knowledge on the customer (purchase history, reviews, clicks, visits …), these software know how to make recommendations perfectly targeted and in real time . This model of machine learning makes it possible to analyze and cross each data to render intelligent and reliable information. Result: e-merchants fly by offering the right products and promotions to the right people, through their recommendation engines, while generating maximum customer satisfaction.
Assist the customer and support the seller in store
But could we go even further and use artificial intelligence to advise customers directly at the point of sale? To a certain extent, yes, on relatively simple and repetitive tasks, using robots or smartphone apps acting as a personal shopping assistant.
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As in the sales outlets of Nescafe, Kiabi, Carrefour, Macy’s or KFC, these technologies already inform the customer about the products and push, in real time, offers, recommendations and targeted promotions. They also help the customer to check if a reference is available in the store and reduce the waiting time at the cash desk by offering digital payment solutions.
While returning a modern image of the brand, these digital assistants make customers more independent. The automation, in real time, of sometimes tedious procedures thanks to software packages (order management, inventory management, procurement, etc.) also relieves the sales force, which makes itself more available to its customers and realizes more qualitative consulting missions. But robots have a cost: between 16 000 and 18 000 euros for the acquisition of a basic model like Pepper, an autonomy of 12 hours and currently used at Nescafe. A significant investment whose current ROI is not known, as the solutions are still recent.
Robots in search of emotion
Do not forget, because of their complexity or their subjectivity, some sales tips always require an indispensable human touch, as in the field of beauty or luxury. It is at this point that the added value of the salesman and his persuasive power take on their full dimension. Especially since, despite all their sophistication, robots still have great difficulty in understanding the cultural and social differences (level of politeness, language register, etc.) that are mastered by all humans, as demonstrated by an experiment of Doha University.
And even though many research and development projects are emerging, like Microsoft’s “AI” prototype, designed to help blind people in their social interactions by detecting age, gender, and certain emotions. their interlocutors, their daily applications, and in particular in a commercial context, remain very limited and are still to be tested. The human touch generates an emotion, a user-friendliness and a link of proximity with the customer, that no machine is at the moment actually able to bring. Indeed, according to a study conducted by Accenture Strategy, 58% of French people believe that the store is the best channel for personalized service. This emotional dimension is thus an integral part of the customer experience with a brand. It is also one of the reasons why consumers still like to go shopping for shopping.
