A hefty variety of retail associates, 84%, are involved about loss prevention and the shortage of expertise to identify security threats or felony exercise.
That is a first-rate findings from Zebra Applied sciences Corp.’s seventeenth annual Annual International Shopper Examine.
On the consumer facet, the shortage of affiliate assist, self-checkout lanes and shelf stock are high considerations, in accordance with a press launch on the research’s findings.
Synthetic intelligence applied sciences are considered as probably the most useful with loss prevention, intently adopted by cameras, sensors and RFID.
Whereas solely 38% of outlets use AI-based prescriptive analytics for loss prevention, 50% plan to make use of it within the subsequent one to a few years for this objective, in accordance with the information. Over 4 in 10 retailers say in addition they plan to make use of self-checkout cameras and sensors (45%), pc imaginative and prescient (46%), and RFID tags and readers (42%) throughout the subsequent three years, particularly for loss prevention.
Though customers are nonetheless typically happy with their procuring expertise, fewer customers total are happy with procuring experiences this yr. In 2023, 85% have been happy with each the in-store and on-line experiences. This yr, solely 81% are happy with the in-store expertise and 79% with on-line procuring.
A majority, 78%, of customers mentioned self-checkout choices enhance the procuring expertise, but 68% of customers say self-checkout lanes are missing.
Extra findings embody:
- 71% of customers are involved in regards to the lack of assist associates can provide, whereas 82% of associates say it is even tough for them to search out assist or ask for well timed help when wanted.
- Almost 90% of retail associates imagine they’ll present a greater buyer expertise after they have cell expertise instruments to assist simplify real-time communication and prioritize duties in addition to verify costs and stock. Most retailers agree expertise permits associates to do their jobs higher, and consequently, 75% of outlets say they plan to extend their expertise investments in 2025.
- A couple of-third of outlets (39%) imagine GenAI can have a particularly vital impression on stock administration and demand forecasting.
“Many retailers are laying the groundwork to construct a contemporary retailer expertise,” Matt Guiste, international retail expertise strategist, Zebra Applied sciences, mentioned within the launch. “They’re investing in cell and clever automation applied sciences to assist inform operational choices and allow associates to do the issues that preserve customers pleased.”
