When one hears “artificial intelligence,” images from movies like Steven Spielberg’s A. Artificial Intelligence, Ex Machina, and Blade Runner might come to mind. However, with regards to the ecommerce sector, it is more focused on the learning technologies and algorithms that support it. A.I. can help modern online retailers enhance the customer experience on and off their websites by utilizing collected data to make wiser business decisions and forecasts. In this article, we will explore the numerous methods in which ecommerce A.I. and its related technologies are pushing the ecommerce industry ahead, from enhancing customer interactions to streamlining business processes.
Advances in Technology and Ecommerce
As technology advances, the possibilities for ecommerce grow exponentially. With new options such as digital transformation, software-as-a-service, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence emerging daily, it can be challenging to decide which of these opportunities is best suited to the needs of your business. There is never a lack of something new and exciting to try, but the challenge lies in choosing the best ones.
A.I. is Transforming the Ecommerce Industry
Artificial intelligence has become an integral technology in many organizations, potentially drastically improving operations across numerous business functions. To better comprehend this, it helps to understand the various components that A.I. encompasses, such as data mining, natural language processing, and machine learning. By understanding these components, we can appreciate the different applications and implications of A.I.
- Data mining is the collection of current and historical data to form predictions.
- Natural language processing deals with computers interpreting human language.
- Machine learning uses algorithms to solve problems based on previous experience or examples.
- Deep learning involves stacking algorithms to gain a greater understanding of data.
In recent years, A.I. technology has developed significantly and become a powerful asset to increase sales and optimize operations. Even small ecommerce businesses are using tech with some form of A.I. capability.
When someone says “artificial intelligence,” the first thing that comes to mind might be a vision from movies like Steven Spielberg’s 2001 film A.I. Artificial Intelligence, the sci-fi thriller Ex Machina, or the 1982 cult classic Blade Runner.
But in the ecommerce sector, it’s about more than just human-like robotics and the learning technologies and algorithms that provide the foundation.
A.I. can help today’s online retailers deliver an optimized customer experience on and off their ecommerce websites by using collected business and customer data to make better business decisions and more accurately predict the future.
Let’s look at how A.I. and associated technologies are moving the ecommerce industry forward, from improving customer interactions to streamlining business processes.
Get expert insights on the go with our biweekly audio series, where global thought leaders discuss all things ecommerce — from industry news and trends to growth strategies and success stories.
Advances in Technology and Ecommerce
From digital transformation and software-as-a-service to virtual reality and artificial intelligence, technology keeps pushing the limits of what ecommerce can do.
With compounding technological advancements, something new competes daily for online retailers’ attention. You’ll never find yourself at a loss for something new and different to try — the actual task is identifying the best opportunities for your ecommerce business.
A.I. is Bringing Change to the Ecommerce Industry
Artificial intelligence isn’t just a novel technology implemented for its “cool factor.” Implementing A.I. can impact any number of business functions across your organization.
To understand how it could impact your business, it helps to have an understanding of the components of artificial intelligence.
The definition of A.I. is broad and encompasses data mining, natural language processing, and machine learning.
- Data mining refers to gathering current and historical data to inform predictions.
- Natural language processing focuses on human-computer interaction and how computers interpret natural human language.
- Machine learning concerns using a collection of algorithms to apply experience or provide examples to solve a problem. Deep learning “involves layering algorithms to understand the data better.”
Over the past few years, A.I. technology has matured and become a powerful tool to boost sales and optimize operations. Even many small ecommerce businesses are using technology with some A.I. capability.
Benefits of Applying Artificial Intelligence in Ecommerce Companies
Amazon has long been harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and related technologies to enhance its ecommerce business. Machine learning is used to refine product selection, improve user experience, and optimize logistics. Recently, McKinsey & Company and the Retail Industry Leaders Association unveiled seven imperatives for rethinking retail in 2021 — all of which could be supported by AI-based technologies.
-
More Targeted Marketing And Advertising
Personalization is seen as a critical priority by surveyed retailers. However, only 15% have successfully implemented it across channels. Differentiate yourself from the competition by creating personal conversations with your customers. New technologies such as A.I. and machine learning can provide deeper customer insights, allowing for more tailored content that speaks directly to the user’s needs and desires. Collecting and analyzing customer data enables you to craft messages that engage with potential customers.
-
Increased Customer Retention
Delivering tailored marketing and advertising messages specifically designed for their audience can lead to more customer loyalty. According to a McKinsey study on omnichannel personalization, businesses have the potential to increase revenue and retain customers by up to 10-15% when utilizing personalization strategies. The report states that having detailed customer data and insights is essential for personalization and that its ROI is much greater than traditional mass marketing.
-
Seamless Automation
Automation aims to complete a task using as little manual labor as possible. This could range from scheduling emails via a CRM or marketing tool, relying on Zapier for automated tasks, or using cutting-edge technology for recruitment. Regarding upcoming ecommerce trends, some of the most oft-discussed are robotics and machine learning. A.I. can be an excellent tool for automating repetitive jobs that keep your online store running smoothly, such as product recommendations, loyalty discounts, and essential customer support.
-
Efficient Sales Process
A.I. can be utilized to optimize sales processes by collecting data about customers, automating follow-up conversations for abandoned carts, etc. Customers can also interact with chatbots for basic queries to facilitate the movement through the sales funnel.
A.I. Use Cases in Ecommerce
There are many applications for A.I. in ecommerce, many of which you may already be familiar with without being aware that they utilize A.I. technology. Here are six of the most prevalent examples:
- Personalized product recommendations.
- Pricing optimization.
- Enhanced customer service.
- Customer segmentation.
- Smart logistics.
- Sales and demand forecasting.
-
Personalized Product Recommendations
Ecommerce companies can now gather and process customer data more efficiently than ever. Artificial intelligence gives tailored product suggestions based on past buyer conduct and similar customers. Sites that recommend items based on prior purchases use machine learning to assess your buying history. Retailers depend on A.I. to capture, analyze, and utilize data to provide a personalized encounter, execute a marketing effort, optimize costs, and produce customer insights. Eventually, machine learning will require less and less input from data scientists for routine applications within ecommerce companies.
-
Pricing Optimization
AI-driven dynamic pricing involves adjusting the price of a product based on available inventory and consumer demand. With access to the correct information, modern technology can forecast when it is best to offer discounts and how much incentive should be offered for sales to go through.
-
Enhanced Customer Service
Virtual assistants and chatbot technology can create the impression of more personal customer service. Although these bots lack complete autonomy, they can handle straightforward transactions, freeing up live support agents to handle complicated matters. Additionally, virtual agents are available 24/7, so customers don’t have to wait for their concerns to be addressed–whether day or night.
-
Customer Segmentation
Ecommerce operators can now use increased access to customer and business data and enhanced computational capabilities to understand their customers better and identify emerging trends. According to Accenture, A.I. systems can rapidly analyze various options for engaging clients while continuously refining performance as more data becomes available. This allows marketers to set parameters and relies on A.I. to optimize results for more precise outcomes.
-
Smart Logistics
According to Emerging Tech Brew, machine learning can be used in logistics to help predict transit times, future demand, and potential shipment delays. This type of technology is known as “smart logistics” or “intelligent logistics,” which uses real-time data from sensors, RFID tags, etc., for inventory management and more accurate forecasting. Over time, machine learning systems have become more sophisticated in making better supply chain and logistics predictions.
-
Sales And Demand Forecasting
Particularly in the new reality of post-COVID-19, it is essential to base your inventory management plans on current and past data. Artificial Intelligence can aid you in this regard. As noted in a recent McKinsey study, investing in real-time customer analytics will be pivotal for keeping up with changing consumer demand trends to adjust prices effectively or focus marketing campaigns.
How To Implement Artificial Intelligence Into Ecommerce
It can be very appealing to try out new technologies. But before taking the plunge and incorporating them into your business, planning and avoiding wasting precious resources on wasted attempts is essential.
-
Create A Strategy
You don’t want to leave the task of creating an A.I. strategy up to someone else; you need to think about what you’re trying to achieve. Take a practical approach and start small – that way, you can always build on your successes as you go. Creating somewhere is the key: your strategy will be the roadmap to A.I.’s success.
-
Find Narrow Use Cases That Are Relevant To The Overall Corporate Strategy
Successful A.I. Use cases come from combining business objectives, unique data sets, and existing A.I. models. To make the most of these opportunities, businesses should focus on areas where they have an edge in data and where the appropriate A.I. technology is already available to generate revenue.
-
Leverage Third-Party Expertise
If you need to learn more about A.I., get assistance from experts. Form a team of professionals to help build a practical A.I. roadmap and bring your MVP (minimum viable product) to fruition. With their expertise, they can assist in making the project successful.
-
Build A Full-Scale Solution
Once you and your team are satisfied with the outcome of your work, it’s time to create a full-fledged A.I. solution. Be prepared for a few adjustments to achieve the desired results. With plenty of practice and experience, you can maximize the advantages of utilizing A.I. technology.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: What Are The Benefits Of Implementing Artificial Intelligence Into Ecommerce?
A: The benefits of incorporating artificial intelligence into ecommerce include increased customer satisfaction and engagement, improved sales forecasts, better inventory management, more accurate demand forecasting, streamlined operations, and enhanced marketing campaigns. Additionally, A.I. can help create a more effortless shopping experience for customers by providing personalized recommendations, reducing checkout times, and optimizing product performance.
Q: How Can I Start Incorporating Artificial Intelligence Into My Ecommerce Store?
A: To begin implementing A.I. into your ecommerce store, start by creating an A.I. strategy tailored to the overall corporate strategy. Then find narrow use cases relevant to the strategy and leverage third-party expertise to get the MVP (minimum viable product) off the ground. Shopiroller is a comprehensive ecommerce store builder with powerful tools to help businesses maximize the advantages of using A.I. technology. Try Shopiroller today to take your ecommerce business to the next level. Sign up now!
Q: What Features Does Shopiroller Offer?
A: Shopiroller is a comprehensive ecommerce store builder with powerful tools to help businesses maximize the advantages of using A.I. technology. Features include data-driven product performance optimization, customer segmentation targeting, sales forecasts, intelligent marketing campaigns, and more.
Q: How Can Shopiroller Help My Ecommerce Business?
A: Shopiroller is a comprehensive ecommerce store builder with powerful tools to help businesses improve their online presence and reach more customers. It enables users to leverage data faster and more efficiently to optimize product performance, target customer segmentation, create sales forecasts, build intelligent marketing campaigns, and more.
Q: What Is The Best Way To Get Started Using A.I. Technology?
A: The best way to get started using A.I. technology is by creating an A.I. strategy tailored to the overall corporate strategy. Then find narrow use cases relevant to the system, and leverage third-party expertise to get a minimum viable product (MVP) off the ground. Finally, build a full-scale A.I. solution to be adjusted for maximum scalability.
CONCLUSION
If you’re looking to provide customers with a great shopping experience in your ecommerce Store, exploring the advantages of artificial intelligence and machine learning may be beneficial. Shopiroller is a comprehensive ecommerce store builder that offers powerful tools to help businesses improve their online presence and reach more customers. Enabling users to leverage data faster and more efficiently to optimize product performance, target customer segmentation, create sales forecasts, build intelligent marketing campaigns, and more. With Shopiroller, businesses can streamline their operations and stay ahead of the competition with a customizable platform that maximizes scalability. Try Shopiroller today to grow your e-commerce business. Sign up Now!
