Robots are increasingly being deployed in retail environments. The reasons for this include: to relieve staff from the performance of repetitive and mundane tasks; to reallocate staff to more value-added, customer-facing activities; to realize operational improvements; and, to utilize real-time in-store generated data. Due to the impact of the 2020 Coronavirus outbreak, we can now add a new reason to use robots in retail: to assist with customer and employee safety. In this Research Article, the Retail Analytics Council at NWU presents information on the benefits associated with deploying robots in stores. Estimates of the size of the global retail robot market are advanced.

Robots are increasingly being deployed in retail environments. The reasons for this include: to relieve staff from the performance of repetitive and mundane tasks; to reallocate staff to more value-added, customer-facing activities; to realize operational improvements; and, to utilize real-time in-store generated data. Due to the impact of the 2020 Coronavirus outbreak, we can now add a new reason to use robots in retail: to assist with customer and employee safety. In this Research Article, the Retail Analytics Council at NWU presents information on the benefits associated with deploying robots in stores. Estimates of the size of the global retail robot market are advanced.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the way forward for the retail industry in terms of technology but at the moment, baring a few countries not all are ready for this change in retail and the retailers are also unsure about the introducing AI in their stores like a self-checkout platform is still better than a service robot asking for details. Stressing on the same and to better understand the standing of AI in retail, Retail Analytics Council (RAC) – the leading body focussed on the study of consumer buying behaviour across retail platforms and the impact of technology – held the first-ever Retail Robotics and AI Conference recently in San Francisco, USA. Retail and technology industry leaders, C-level executives along with academic leaders discussed various key topics at the event, including the use of AI in retail, understanding of consumer buying patterns, growing execution of robotic applications in retail and the current retail industry trends, at the conference. At the event, Don Schultz, Director of RAC warned that with the increasing reliance on technology, the retail industry will soon become'retail singularity'. Referring to the data released by market intelligence and advisory firm International Data Corporation (IDC), Schultz told that before 2020, 40 per cent digital retail transformation steps will get an AI support.