A trip to the Retail Technology Show
The annual Retail Technology Show in London is a spectacular event that connects change-makers in the industry with forward-thinking retailers and leading innovators.
It’s important to note the changes and developments happening across the industry. As technology becomes an integral part of retail, the hiring landscape will also have to adapt to new requirements for businesses.
Retailers across the UK and Europe face many challenges, and this was a definite boost in morale. With over 12,000 senior professionals, over 400 innovative suppliers, and over 100 speakers in attendance, it’s an opportunity retailers cannot and should not miss.
Our Recruitment Consultant, Dijaun, headed down to the event:
I recently attended the Retail Technology Show in London, an event brimming with cutting-edge advancements and insightful discussions about the future of retail technology. Among the highlights was meeting a host of retail artificial intelligence (AI) companies that are revolutionising how retailers engage with shoppers. These companies leverage artificial intelligence to create more personalised, efficient, and engaging shopping experiences.
One company demonstrated AI-powered chatbots that provide instant customer support and product recommendations, significantly enhancing the online shopping experience by offering personalised assistance around the clock. Another showcased their predictive analytics tools, which help retailers anticipate consumer trends and manage inventory more effectively, ensuring that the right products are available at the right time.
AI-driven personalisation platforms were also a significant focus, with several companies presenting technologies that tailor marketing messages and product recommendations to individual shoppers based on their browsing behaviour and purchase history. This level of customisation not only increases customer satisfaction but also drives higher conversion rates and sales.
Overall, I found the Retail Tech Show to be both informative and vibrant. It offered a glimpse into the future of retail, where AI plays a central role. The innovations presented by these AI companies will undoubtedly transform the retail landscape, making shopping more intuitive, personalised, and efficient for consumers.
Major takeaways from the event
It’s no real surprise AI was such a major theme of the day. AI is slowly but surely being injected into our daily lives, from business to social media, so why not retail? The difficulty may be more focused on balancing AI and the increase of technology with consumer demand for personalisation and connection with a brand.
Although AI offers incredible solutions for many challenges within the industry, it isn’t perfect. Self checkouts and chatbots are quick and helpful when they work. But when you have a problem and need further assistance or to speak to someone, they can seem like a long-winded way to fix the issue. Mobile apps are smarter than ever at suggesting what we might like, but with the increase in products it’s not always easy to find what you want and apps glitch.
These are only the customer-facing uses of AI, there are bigger and better advancements happening behind the scenes. From data to operations to finance, technology companies are racing to find the next big solution.
The Retail Technology Show was a glimpse into the future of retail, where technology plays a crucial role in enhancing customer experience, optimising operations, and driving sales. While AI offers a powerful toolset, human touch remains vital for consumers. The most successful retailers will likely be those who can balance and blend innovative technology with a focus on personalisation and customer service.
How will this affect hiring for retail companies in the future?
The future of hiring in retail technology will likely follow the trend of other tech companies:
- Reduced demand for competitive tasks: AI automation could replace repetitive tasks from till workers to data entry.
- Increased demand for tech skills: With AI integration, the requirement for professionals with expertise in data science and AI engineering will grow.
- Focus on human-AI collaboration: It will be about finding the balance between AI and human employees. Human employees will need critical thinning, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence skills to collaborate effectively with AI.
A focus on tech-based roles and expertise means finding the right people with the right experience. Retailers should be evolving recruitment strategies and targeting top tech talent in a strategic way while also upskilling existing employees.
