The tools offered by artificial intelligence for supermarkets transform how these businesses are managed in many parts of the world.
This technology is capable of providing detailed information about consumers. From age, gender, tastes, and mood when visiting the store.
In addition, it automates all processes to reduce the time it takes to be served and make purchases.
Waiting is one of the factors that most impact users in a physical store. But AI detects when lines are longer than usual.
This allows managers to take action in real-time to optimize their operations and improve the customer experience.
As a result, it has become a crucial part of retail strategy and a growing trend that adds value.
It also speaks volumes about what the retail business will be like in the future.
5 Benefits of Artificial Intelligence for Supermarkets
Artificial intelligence-based technology for supermarkets offers many benefits for both the consumer and the retail sector. Here are the main ones:
1. Personalization of offers
Retailers can make personalized promotions by possessing relevant information about consumers walking through the grocery aisles.
They know their food preferences, whether they have food allergies, and what motivates them to buy a particular item.
In addition, analyzing user behavior allows them to organize products more efficiently.
Consumers learn through various channels what the offers are and when it is convenient for them to buy.
This approach creates a pleasant experience and attracts shoppers to the store.
2. Inventory monitoring
Artificial intelligence also helps supermarkets monitor their inventory in real time.
Robots solve problems related to goods, preventing them from running out of stock.
How do they do this? By scanning labeling and prices.
The algorithms they use to capture this information and automatically examine it make it easier to check for missing or incorrectly priced products.
In this way, the retailer ensures the availability of the most in-demand groceries and avoids food waste.
Likewise, intelligent machines help employees with product deliveries so shoppers receive them faster.
3. Reduced theft
Another benefit of AI is reducing shoplifting in retail stores, as it can detect unusual and inappropriate behavior.
Whether among people visiting the establishment or the employees themselves.
As a result, more and more businesses are incorporating computers that help security managers identify theft attempts.
The system records suspicious activity and notifies management when someone hides an item in their wallet or pocket.
Or when a cashier pretends to swipe a bar code through the machine for malicious purposes.
4. People flow control
The future supermarkets will also control the number of people inside the store, thanks to this technology.
Through special tracking sensors, they monitor the flow of people to avoid crowds that might bother shoppers.
Currently, some companies use intelligent traffic lights to direct the passage to certain areas.
A red light goes on when the number of people exceeds the pre-established limit. This is a signal that there is no access until the area is cleared.
The green light indicates that there is sufficient free space or clearance. And it opens the door for other consumers to enter to view the products and make their purchases.
5. Payment optimization
Retailers equipped with these tools offer streamlined checkout processes for all customers.
Artificial intelligence identifies the products placed in the shopping cart and automatically counts the amount to be paid.
It then charges it to the user’s bank card, thus avoiding the need for them to wait in line to be served by a cashier.
This does not necessarily mean depriving the worker of his job since he can take another role within the company.
For example, as a host, so that consumers feel better served.
Adapting the Supermarkets of the Future
Today, many businesses are trying to adapt to this new trend to become more efficient and improve sales.
Although online shopping has become commonplace, most people prefer to look at items and touch them personally.
For this reason, they continue to visit physical grocery stores. Managers are looking to satisfy both types of customers.
And the best way to do that is to provide them with good service and convenience when shopping in person.
U.S. retailers are among those investing the most in this technology model.
According to the IDG Communications spending guide, the investment will reach $120 billion by 2025.
According to the consulting firm, that equates to nearly 20% growth in all 19 economic sectors, including grocery.
Challenges for the sector
Implementing this kind of solution is a massive challenge for the industry because of the cost involved.
The cost varies depending on the type of software, amount of data it processes, quality, level of intelligence, and accuracy of predictions.
On the other hand, you need to hire the right talent and demonstrate that the data collected by AI will not be compromised.
Abuse or lack of transparency regarding the use of customer data could affect your relationship with customers.
In addition, many employees still fear being replaced by machines.
Despite these challenges, it is a fact that artificial intelligence for supermarkets is here to stay. The supermarkets of the future will be more innovative.
Well-known grocery stores and grocery chains have already successfully integrated this technology.