2022 Innovation Outlook: Latest Tech Trends for Retail

Retailers around the world are still trying to adjust to their ‘new’ normal after the drastic changes wrought by COVID-19. Interestingly, many retailer giants have developed customized tech tools to facilitate their clients during the deadly pandemic. For example, most of them added exclusive services like online shopping, feasible pick-up and takeaways, and even contactless deliveries, etc. to promote social distancing to the fullest.

However, as most of the pandemic restrictions have been lifted now, the retailers have observed that these online shopping trends have slightly decreased and buyers are once again preferring in-store shopping over e-shopping.

According to National Retail Federation, eighty percent of purchases are still being made in-store. This is one of the major reasons why we can expect 2022 to be more technologically equipped and advanced in the retail sector. As life slowly gets back to normal, retailers are trying to adapt the use of the latest tech tools and gadgets to upgrade the in-store shopping experience for their customers.

Below are some of the top tech innovations and trends that will shape the retail industry in 2022. Let’s take a look!

Increased Application of IoT-Enabled Devices

Undoubtedly, the Internet of Things has a big contribution to revolutionizing the buyers’ experience across the globe, which majorly includes retail. While the price rates of connected tools and gadgets have decreased, their adoption has certainly gone up. Its major effects are not only seen in traditional shopping procedures, such as checkout, but also in the latest technologies like smart shopping shelves and carts – the tech trends that once seemed too far-fetched in shopping are now being adopted in retail stores all over the world.

Although the online shopping trends are becoming more convenient than ever due to the 24/7 access of various retail apps and websites, still you need a stable internet connection to enjoy e-shopping. Therefore, always make sure that you are connected to a high-speed, and reliable internet service like CenturyLink internet while shopping, so that your products do not take much time to load.

The best part is that CenturyLink offers extremely affordable internet packages to all its users, starting from $50 per month only. Isn’t that wonderful?

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Retail giants all over the world have been exploring new applications and uses of Artificial Intelligence that can be used to manage huge databases and information. Some of the major examples include stock and inventory management, product forecasting, and predictions about the effectiveness of promotional strategies.

Other AI applications rely on various equipment for food safety, machinery maintenance, and loss prevention, etc. For instance, AI devices allotted for different frozen sections, shelves, or storage areas help retailers to reduce labor costs and gather required information comparatively much faster than other methods.

AI has surely helped retail businesses to streamline things even more for enhanced productivity and effectiveness of their work operations. This is the major reason why we can expect AI to prosper even more in the retail sector in 2022.

Simplified and Advanced Checkout Experiences

Undoubtedly, the latest tech trends in retail during the pandemic have transformed consumers’ definition of achieving ultimate shopping feasibility. Whether that’s online purchase orders or contactless deliveries, buyers are now looking forward to the same shopping advancements in walk-in stores as well, especially when it comes to checkout. This is probably one of the major reasons why 2022 is sure to bring in some more modernized and advanced checkout patterns for shoppers across the globe.

However, implementing these new tech trends requires a more advanced approach.  For example, retail stores might consider contactless options that incorporate a modernized approach to integrating connectivity and implementation together. Retail businesses might require to adopt advanced tech tools and gadgets that can promote easy checkouts for customers.

Enhanced Data Privacy

If there is any one particular area of Information Technology that has received more attention during the past few years, it’s cybersecurity, without a doubt. It is not uncommon for retail businesses to encounter multiple scams, cyber-threats, or viruses on regular basis. Intruders try to steal their confidential information such as passwords, financial history, stock details, etc., and use them up to their advantage. These harmful attacks always put businesses on high-security alert. As a result, retail outlets tend to focus more on enhanced scrutiny of their overall operating procedures.

In the upcoming year, the government has passed new guidelines to help retail businesses minimize their cybersecurity issues. The new measures include powerful solutions like multifactor authentication, Artificial Intelligence alert tools, and updated software systems to prevent identity thefts, etc. The careful implementation of these security measures will definitely help to reduce the risk of retail system hacking, and information leakage, etc.

Final Word

As it did with numerous other areas of retail, the pandemic has given a good boost to contactless tech applications — and implementation for these trends will continue even after COVID-19 ends. Just as the Founder and President of IHL Group, Buzek puts in, “The desire is still there to do touchless, but for different reasons than COVID safety.” During a presentation at the 2021 retailX conference in Chicago, he stated, “Retailers had wanted to do this before as a way to save on labor costs.”

Finally, the key point here is that most of these AI security systems, updated retail apps and software rely on a high-coverage internet connection to perform effectively. Therefore, don’t forget to reach out to a fast, reliable internet service provider like CenturyLink internet so that you get to enjoy an amazing shopping time. For more details, please feel free to call at CenturyLink customer service helpline and connect with their customer services representative.