AI technology has led to some major changes in the retail industry. According to one analysis, global retailers will spend over $9 billion on AI in 2024 and that figure will rise to $85.07 billion by 2032.
There are a number of ways that AI is changing the future of the retail industry. One of the biggest advantages is that it has led to the inception of new mobile apps that can help customers shop online and find great product recommendations.
We talked about some of the ways that AI can help with mobile app development. However, AI features can also improve the quality of the apps themselves. Keep reading to learn more about some of the best AI features in retail apps.
Great AI Features for Retail Apps
With today’s consumers spending over five hours a day on mobile devices, retailers need to invest in retail apps to gain the upper hand in the battle for market share. Retail apps provide a convenient place for consumers to find inspiration, plan their in-store shopping trips, and make purchases.
However, you don’t just need any retail app, you need an AI-driven app that will provide your customers with the ultimate shopping experience and contributes to e-commerce scalability. Discussed below are six crucial AI features that your retail app should have.
1. Strong security features
Online security is a major concern for online shoppers. Your retail app should prioritize customer safety with strong security features, including:
- Secure payment gateway: Be sure to integrate a secure payment gateway that encrypts customer data and has fraud detection capabilities
- ID scanning capabilities: With ID scanning, retailers can detect and prevent fraud and stay compliant with age verification regulations. The good news is that you just need an OCR SDK to integrate ID and document scanning capabilities on your retail app
- Regular updates: This will ensure that emerging vulnerabilities are patched up
2. A short onboarding process
Your retail app should have an easily accessible and simple registration process. Users want convenience, and you don’t want to put them off with a lengthy, time-consuming registration process.
3. Push notification
Push notifications will help you double your retail app engagement. They help to notify users about flash promotions, saved products returning to stock, and new product updates. Push notifications use location and the user’s behavior to send messages.
4. Personalized shopping experience
Providing personalized shopping experiences will increase engagement and sales. Your retail app can leverage user data to personalize users’ shopping experiences and increase engagement. Here are a few ways to provide personalized shopping experiences:
- Product recommendations: Your retail can recommend products to customers based on their past purchases and browsing history
- Wishlist and saved items: This feature allows customers to save products they want for later. This makes it easier for users to revisit them for future purchases
- Personalized offers and discounts
5. User-friendly navigation
Your retail app should have user-friendly navigation, allowing users to find what they need quickly, and make their purchases effortlessly. Here’s how:
- Clear product categorization: Your products should be organized into well-defined categories and sub-categories
- Smart search and filtering: Your retail app’s search feature should be fast and flexible, allowing customers to effortlessly find the products they need. The filter feature allows users to filter their products based on parameters such as brand, price, color, size, and shape, among others
6. Seamless checkout process
You don’t want to do all the hard work of generating leads and then end up killing lead conversion with a clunky checkout process. Ensure your checkout process allows customers to quickly and securely make their purchases. Here are the key features of a streamlined checkout process:
- Multiple payment options: Ensuring your app supports multiple payment gateways and currencies ensures that no customer will abandon their shopping cart at the last step
- Guest checkout option: This feature allows customers who are not willing to create accounts to make their purchases
Endnote
Mobile apps are becoming more common in the retail industry. If you want your retail business to remain competitive, you should invest in a retail app. Be sure to develop an app with the above-mentioned features. A great retail app will help your business gain a competitive advantage.
