The National Retail Federation's 2020 Big Show in New York was jam packed full of robots, frictionless store mock-ups, and audacious displays of the latest technology now available to retailers. Dozens of robots, digital signage tools, and more were available for retail representatives to test out, with hundreds of the biggest tech companies in attendance offering a bounty of eye-popping gadgets designed to increase efficiency and bring the wow factor back to brick-and-mortar stores. SEE: Artificial intelligence: A business leader's guide (free PDF) (TechRepublic) Here are some of the biggest takeaways from the annual retail event. With the explosion in popularity of Amazon, Alibaba, and other e-commerce sites ready to deliver goods right to your door within days, many analysts and retailers figured the brick-and-mortar stores of the past were on their last legs. But it turns out billions of customers still want the personal, tailored touch of in-store experiences and are not ready to completely abandon physical retail outlets.

People have become picky eaters. Our ancestors ate whatever they could forage, but modern day Homo Sapiens expect gourmet meals at street food prices on demand. To meet fickle consumer tastes, food and beverage (F&B) companies are looking to artificial intelligence to help them scale new products and stay profitable. Whether they are hacking logistics, human resources, compliance, or customer experience, these smart brands recognize the ways AI can impact how fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) are produced, packaged, stored, distributed, marketed, and consumed. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are fundamentally changing the consumer packaged goods (CPG) and food and beverage industries.

When you go to Fashion Week, the talk is all about what's trending in colors, cuts, hemlines and finishes. When you go to retail seminars, it's about data and how artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and even augmented reality (AR) are moving the needle in transforming the customer experience and the future of the commerce. While these tech-oriented terms might not have the headline appeal of Philipp Plein's cabaret runway show, they are defining the future of retail. Lori Mitchell-Keller, global general manager of consumer industries for software solutions firm SAP, says AI and AR will help retailers provide not only a seamless shopping experience, but convenience in today's fast-paced economy. "With personalized recommendations, consumers get the best of both worlds," Mitchell-Keller says. "Consumers continue to respond well to targeted recommendations through email, text and push notifications, and, according to Accenture, 65 percent are more likely to shop at a retailer that knows their purchase history and offers relevant recommendations."