In-Store Technology

We’ve all seen the headlines. Retailers across the board are shuttering stores or going out of business — Sears, Sports Authority, Kmart, Office Depot. The numbers are staggering. According to data from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, retailers have laid off approximately 44,000 workers in 2016 alone — all while Amazon.com boasts 31 percent year-over-year second quarter revenues. The discrepancy in retailer…

With smartphones enabling today’s consumers to be connected at all times — including when shopping in brick-and-mortar stores — retailers have been forced to cater to shoppers wandering store aisles staring at their phones. From beacons to dressing rooms equipped with iPads to virtual reality installations, today’s retail stores bear little resemblance to the mom-and-pop…

These days, retailers are involved in an arms race for convenience and value. While they're all constantly trying to adapt to survive, not all stores are keeping up with new technological developments. More than two-thirds of U.S. consumers have a smartphone, and amongst younger consumers that number is even higher at nearly 75 percent. Apps and…

Lowe's is about to debut its latest addition to its store associate team. This fall, the home improvement retailer will introduce LoweBot, a NAVii autonomous retail service robot. LoweBot make its debut in 11 stores throughout the San Francisco Bay area. According to CNBC, "the robots, made by Fellow Robots, use a 3-D scanner to…

Rising interest in advanced retail technology is evolving the day-to-day role of in-store employees with every new available device. For example, automated assistants, such as the Lowe’s or SoftBank robots, can help consumers find specific products, offer customized promotions, provide inventory updates and ensure secure payments more efficiently than most human associates. Innovative technology can…

Last month, Total Retail presented its annual Total Retail Virtual Conference & Expo (TRV), a virtual event for retailers that combined educational content and networking opportunities. It was a day-long conference that brought the latest retail trends, ideas and technologies right to your computer — for FREE. (If you missed the live date, don't worry. You can access all…

Retailers have been conditioned by consumers to constantly seek out “what’s next,” trying to stay ahead of trends in shopping preferences and behaviors. A driving force behind changes in shopping trends over the past year has been mobile. Consumers are growing more comfortable using their mobile devices to fulfill their shopping needs, whether they're buying…

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City has been attracting visitors since it opened in 1929. The museum's evolving collection includes almost 200,000 pieces from the around the world. To support the museum’s mission of making good design accessible to the public, the MoMA…

Macy’s is testing artificial intelligence (AI) in 10 stores across the country. The department store chain is partnering with Satisfi for the “Macy’s On Call” app. Shoppers will be able to type in questions like, “Where are shoes located?” or “What floor is the bathroom?” and the bot will be able to respond. Macy's claims…

The rise of online shopping has brought many benefits with it — convenience, an expanded selection of products and competitive prices. One of the most dramatic side effects of the online shopping phenomenon, however, is that it's forced us to re-examine the traditional brick-and-mortar shopping experience. We’ve learned that the in-store shopping experience isn’t easily…