Annika Jungmann

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Amazon is known to put the customer first in whatever it does. In September 2019, it launched its new feature of “Show and Tell” to help the worldwide 1.3 billion people who live with a type of vision impairment.

The ML-enabled technology has been rolled out onto Alexa devices within the US. All customers need to do is say “Alexa, what am I holding?”, after which Alexa replies with whatever the customer is holding in her hands. This step has been considered revolutionary as the people targeted have these kind of identification problems extremely frequently – be it unpacking their grocery bag or trying to figure out what kind of herb or spice is left on the counter.

Of course Amazon is not the first company within this space. Microsoft launched Soundscape, which uses audio-based technology and is supposed to give blind people more confidence in their everyday-life. It literally describes anything the user turns towards, including its distance and whether it is a building, a park or whatever. The technology tracks movement via the phone and uses 3D audio cues to share street names, stores, building sites – literally anything one can see on a mobile phone map.

In fact, even though these applications have Machine Learning embedded, they mostly make us of technology already on our phones anyway. 3D audio leads to the phone making sounds in a way that it comes from the destination’s direction. Especially as visually impaired people are extremely strong when it comes to imagining things in their head, this helps them see a map in their mind.

As cheesy as it may sound but I think it’s crazy what has happened in recent years with regards to helping people with limited eyesight, movement, hearing or any other disabilities alike. No matter how creatively I try to think – I cannot even imagine what will be next if technological advancement continues to evolve so rapidly, even if it is simply using current technology more wisely. Can you?

References:

Microsoft Soundscape

Slashgear – Microsoft Soundscape

Venturebeat – Alexa Show & Tell

About Amazon – Alexa Show & Tell

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A lot of talk has been around the typical stationary trade and brick-and-mortar stores losing more and more relevance in our increasingly digital lives. Not only has online retail, including giants like Amazon and Alibaba, made our day-to-day living easier and more convenient but today’s generation’s preferences are so fast-paced that it is said to be a challenge for companies to keep up and to constantly satisfy our needs.

Still, innovative store concepts are on the rise, potentially proving these thoughts wrong. How can in-store shopping still be a success, even though it is thought to be much more time consuming for all the oh-so-busy customers? The answer is: Experiential Retail.
Nike realised this and went to market quickly. In line with its young and dynamic brand appearance, it opened its House of Innovation 000. First in Shanghai, then in NYC – 68,000 square feet of real-time store evolution. Nike found that 80% of their customers still want a physical experience: to go in store, feel and see the product in live. What this basically means nowadays is flawless integration, customisation and synched profiles. Nike uses technology to build the most seamless, high-speed customer experience.
Ever went to a store to try on something you saw online that was not available in store? Reserve your Nike outfit from home via the App and try it on in the store.
Do you also often wonder what the mannequin is wearing and where to find it? ‘Shop The Look’ lets you scan a QR-code next to the mannequin, shows what it is wearing, what sizes are available and also enables you to have it sent to your fitting room.
Sick of the mainstream sneaker? Fully customise your shoe from start to finish at their ‘Customisation Lab’.
Can’t be bothered to stand in line to pay? ‘Nike Instant Checkout’ let’s you scan the products with your phone and pay online.
Looking to run a marathon? Visit the ‘Nike Expert Studio’ and get an in-depth consultation session.

Nike is attempting to convert its store to more of an offline platform (in so far possible) and so, to soften the distinction between digital and physical retail. This leads to full connection over all of its five floors which means Nike can give new visitors direct live insights into what is trending and what customers are trying on most right now. Doing so, it can still target potential customers who are rather short on time due to their busy lives and who do not come to the store with an entertainment purpose to fully exploit all its opportunities offered – which could literally cost you hours.
Will retail be able to completely integrate both digital and physical in the future? Gartner predicts that, by 2020, more than 40% of data analytics projects will relate to customer experience. Looking at companies like Farfetch, Vans, Ikea, Space Ninety 8, there is no doubt that there is a real change in retail happening – and by saying that I do not mean the retail apocalypse.