The products retailers make, how manufacturers make them, and the way marketers sell them are changing. This transformation is introducing technological and futuristic innovations to the marketing landscape. In this week’s video, Matthew Griffin, founder and CEO of 311 Institute, discusses the future of e-commerce and retail. He explores topics like Robo Customers, aww realistic product renders, body checking, products printed on demand, dark warehouses, the metaverse, phydigital, and AI assistants
Retailers and marketers must be especially conscious of a new type of customer: Robo Customers. These are the technological devices in consumers’ homes that keep track of their products and automatically purchase new items when stocks run low. Robo Customers remove the need to visit stores or e-commerce sites and will affect the way products are advertised. Body checking is another recent marketing tactic. Companies would scan consumers’ bodies through cameras, televisions, and other household devices, providing exact body dimensions. These measurements would ensure consumers always purchase the correct clothing sizes and reduce return rates.
For years, retailers and marketers have used experiences to lure customers off their couches and into stores. This truth has not changed. Technological advancements are just rewriting the way these “experiences” look.