Sales Strategy
2025 Retail Trends: Unified Commerce and AI Agents Reshape Shopping December 21, 2024 (0 comments)
San Francisco, CA--In 2025, retail will prioritize shopper engagement over transactions. According to a report by Salesforce, 28% of shoppers visit stores for the experience, highlighting the need for unified commerce—integrating online and offline channels into a seamless journey.
[Image via istockphoto.com]
Unified commerce consolidates data from every touchpoint, such as sales, inventory, and marketing, into a single platform. This enables AI agents to deliver personalized recommendations, optimize inventory, and automate customer support. The report notes that 84% of shoppers demand seamless online-to-offline experiences, but 29% feel retailers fail to meet this expectation.
AI shopping agents enhance these capabilities, analyzing customer behavior to refine promotions and reduce return rates. This streamlines operations while improving customer satisfaction, giving retailers a competitive edge.
Gamification and Gen Z’s Buying Power
Gamified loyalty programs will dominate in 2025, turning transactions into interactive experiences. The report states that 73% of shoppers plan to engage with gamified loyalty programs, while 69% say such features motivate them to shop more frequently.
Gen Z is a key target, with a projected $12 trillion in spending power by 2030. The article highlights their preference for gamified experiences, with 79% more likely to buy from retailers offering such programs. Gaming platforms like Roblox are increasingly used to connect with Gen Z through virtual fitting rooms, branded games, and exclusive rewards.
Additionally, 43% of Gen Z follow influencers to discover products and 29% use AI tools for personalized shopping recommendations. Retailers can tap into these behaviors by aligning with credible influencers and integrating AI-driven personalization.
In-Store Media: Untapped Potential
Despite 84% of retail sales occurring in physical stores, less than 1% of retail media budgets target in-store opportunities, per Salesforce. This is expected to shift, with U.S. in-store retail media spending projected to exceed $1 billion by 2028.
Digital displays, smart carts, and point-of-sale screens can drive purchasing decisions and gather valuable consumer data. These tools enhance the shopping experience and allow brands to measure ad performance in real-time.
Learn more in this Salesforce article.