As the digital transformation of retail accelerates around the world, the expectations of consumers at each stage of the customer journey – be it prepurchase research or browsing, the shopping experience itself or post-purchase experience sharing – are changing. The adoption of breakthrough technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain can help brands and retailers address these changing consumer expectations in a timely and effective manner, thereby deepening their engagement with customers.

In an increasingly competitive environment, digital transformation is, indeed, fast becoming a matter of survival for retailers and brands which, in turn, are increasingly willing to invest more in cutting-edge technologies. According to Gartner, the global spending on technology in the retail sector is estimated to grow by 3.6% year-on-year (yoy) to reach US$203.6 billion in 2019, and this growth is expected to continue over the next two years1 .