A striking 77% of Indian shoppers prefer retailers that offer personalised recommendations, highlighting a growing demand for AI-driven shopping experiences, according to Zebra Technologies’ 17th Annual Global Shopper Study. Retailers are taking note, with 52% in India and the broader Asia-Pacific (APAC) region planning to adopt AI for loss prevention in the next few years.
Retailers are increasingly turning to AI-powered tools such as computer vision, self-checkout cameras, and RFID tags to combat rising theft and improve inventory tracking. Currently, only 38% of global and APAC retailers utilise AI-based prescriptive analytics for loss prevention, but this figure is expected to surpass 50% within the next three years. Additionally, 78% of shoppers express frustration over locked-up products, and 70% struggle to find in-store assistance, making efficient retail technology solutions even more crucial.
Despite a steady level of global consumer spending, customer satisfaction has seen a slight dip, with APAC in-store satisfaction falling from 81% to 78% and online satisfaction dropping from 80% to 75%. Many shoppers cite the lack of available store associates as a major issue, with 22% in APAC leaving stores empty-handed due to insufficient staff support.
To address these concerns, 79% of retailers in APAC plan to ramp up investments in mobile technology, ensuring better inventory visibility and streamlining associate workflows. Retailers aiming to regain customer trust must focus on personalised shopping experiences, efficient checkout systems, and real-time inventory management.