Autonomous bots acting as virtual shoppers for consumers and businesses are likely to be common by within the next two to three years — but online retailers are nowhere near ready for what’s coming.
The arrival of bot shoppers is going to force a change in how retail sales are conducted at all stages of the buying process, from how products are displayed, promoted, priced and sold. And even when online sites are optimized for all those digital shoppers, nagging issues are almost certain to arise.
Think of it this way: given that bot shoppers will likely represent a large number of clients during a single shopping “trip,” how would returns work? Many retailers today limit how many returns any one shopper can make to try and thwart a type of fraud called “renting” or “wardrobing.”
Autonomous bots acting as virtual shoppers for consumers and businesses are likely to be common by within the next two to three years — but online retailers are nowhere near ready for what’s coming.
The arrival of bot shoppers is going to force a change in how retail sales are conducted at all stages of the buying process, from how products are displayed, promoted, priced and sold.
And even when online sites are optimized for all those digital shoppers, nagging issues are almost certain to arise.
Think of it this way: given that bot shoppers will likely represent a large number of clients during a single shopping “trip,” how would returns work?
Many retailers today limit how many returns any one shopper can make to try and thwart a type of fraud called “renting” or “wardrobing.”
Autonomous bots acting as virtual shoppers for consumers and businesses are likely to be common by within the next two to three years — but online retailers are nowhere near ready for what’s coming.
The arrival of bot shoppers is going to force a change in how retail sales are conducted at all stages of the buying process, from how products are displayed, promoted, priced and sold. And even when online sites are optimized for all those digital shoppers, nagging issues are almost certain to arise.
Think of it this way: given that bot shoppers will likely represent a large number of clients during a single shopping “trip,” how would returns work? Many retailers today limit how many returns any one shopper can make to try and thwart a type of fraud called “renting” or “wardrobing.”
