AI tech can make retail storefronts relevant and engaging to the modern consumer. With the continued dominance of artificial intelligence in business applications, we've started to see a dramatic shift in how people shop for and purchase products. At least 60% of the U.S. population have made mobile purchases; 82% of mobile phone users use their devices while in-store to help them make a product decision. As mobile commerce continues to grow, retail stores will need to adopt new technologies to stay afloat. Consumer reliance on smart devices will only become greater, so brick-and-mortar stores must act quickly if they don't want to become outdated.

Pushing more ads is not the answer; marketers need to get smarter about their approach to deliver personalized experiences at scale. The right AI technology can make the difference, but what should marketers be looking for in solutions aimed to optimize customer experience? Content produced in association with [24]7.ai With an increasing percentage of the global population online and mobile devices bringing connectivity to evermore contexts, marketers have ample opportunity to reach their target audience. Moreover, the data created by consumers can be captured and processed to fuel sophisticated targeting technologies, creating the possibility of tailoring our message to each individual.

Is there a more data-driven consumer company than Spotify? The company keeps customers coming back daily by delivering custom playlists based on a user's listening data. The strategy has resulted in Spotify turning tens of millions of listeners into paying subscribers. Mayur Gupta, Global VP, Growth & Marketing at Spotify will open Data Marketing Toronto with a keynote address on Nov. 20 describing how the Swedish company went from also-ran to industry leader. Now in its fifth year, Data Marketing Toronto brings together the most data-focused businesses in Canada and beyond for two days of learning and networking in downtown Toronto.

Traditionally, marketing has been about broadcasting your generic message to as many people as possible with the hopes that someone will listen. But this approach is about as persuasive as the guy on the street corner dancing to Kanye West tunes and spinning around the discounted tax prep promotion sign. But for most of us, it's not going to drive action. So instead of a flashing sign with a broad message, it's a well-crafted, personalized message that works to remind you that yes, you did buy a house this year and yes, you can save $3,500 if you prepay your interest. Modern brands like Netflix, Uber, and Airbnb are already taking this personalized approach to marketing.