3 Ways AI and Chatbots Will Transform Retail in 2019

The idea that automation is going to be a key driver of transformation in the retail industry in 2019 isn't a prediction, it's a certainty. From FedEx automating its sorting and distribution facilities, to Amazon Go putting pressure on retailers to reinvent the shopping experience by, as the New York Times reported, "testing robots that help keep shelves stocked, apps that let shoppers ring up items with a smartphone, and high-tech systems [that] completely automate the checkout process," automation will be a fact of life that retailers simply can't afford to ignore any longer. Particularly when it comes to customer service. Here are three ways AI and bots will fundamentally transform retail in the next year. In 2019, rapid adoption of messaging-based bots will be the number one trend in customer service -- in retail and across industries.