Artificial intelligence set to soar

By 2019, about 40% of retailers will develop a customer experience architecture supported by artificial intelligence, with such platforms providing up to a 30% conversion increase and a 25% revenue bump due to hyper-micro personalization, according to IDC Retail Insights' list of 10 retail predictions. Among other predictions, IDC speculated that by 2021 10% of chain retail sales will be created and managed via voice-enabled digital assistants, which will accelerate the predominance of marketplaces for buying everyday goods. Also, in the midst of rapidly evolving cyberthreats, 75% of retailers are expected to adopt AI-based cyber-defense technologies by 2020, according to IDC. AI is mentioned repeatedly in IDC's predictions, and for good reason. AI and voice-driven virtual assistants have already shaken up the retail scene in a number of ways, so the notion that they will now redefine things like customer experience and cybersecurity isn't coming out of left field.