Retail AI, web assistant: Beyond browsing /
Direct to decision

Position

For many large retail businesses, conversion rates are mediocre. Over time, many pages become bloated with too many features, verbiage and too many things vying for one’s attention. Perhaps there’s a better way of interacting with the web, one that can afford ‘everyone’ the same benefits with the same amount of effort

Problems

Older users and those with a variety of disabilities clearly do not experience the web the same way as everyone else. Many digital touchpoints are learnt on a trial-by-error basis. Discovery and task-based scenarios are often difficult and time-consuming, resulting in incorrect decisions being made due to interpretation and location issues, resulting in confusion and poor brand experiences.

  • High complexity = high cognitive load

  • Late renewal messaging

  • Lots of users prefer contacting Call Centres, thinking they’ll get a better deal

  • Navigation is either hard or complex

  • Specific content is hard to find

  • Chatbots are perceived to be good for basic written communications

  • Half of all users utilise web chat

  • No loyalty incentive

Possibilities.

Identify a typical user-issue and explore how an AI/VA might improve
matters for all users.

  • Create an experience that can work for all users, is potentially a faster route to success and conversion rates

  • Finding the right content becomes natural/requires little effort (creating ‘dashboard mental model’, raising awareness of e.g. renewal dates)

  • VA will learn about user and present relevant and timely content

  • Improve emotional reactions and engagement with brand

  • Agent will be helpful rather than cross-sell/provide irrelevant information

  • Agent to be more like ‘call centre’ associates (listening/intelligent)

  • Responsive and attentive

  • Agent finds genuine best deals, creating trust and alleviating call pressure on Call Centres

  • Create a better VA than current examples

  • People with previously reduced access to our content and services would finally have unbridled access

  • Anyone with an accent or speech impediment would not have an issue using this system which would provide subtitles for each word spoken asked or given

  • VA could even be international, acting as a translation device if needed

  • Technology is out there, needs adapting to a high-level AI paradigm

  • Inclusivity is the right thing to do

What’s a better solution, UX, AI or, both?

Exploration document: AI proposal hypothesis / Why AI? / Current AI usage / AI development agencies / Chatbots / Concepts / Conversational retail experience / AI architecture

Concept 1.
Virtual assistant as a Digital Lifeform

  • AI represented at top of screen as digital lifeform

  • Actionable options appear underneath - User can speak-select an option or click with their mouse

  • Chosen option appears in speech bubble below, with voice detection icon active/or not

  • User account details below

Concept 2.
Virtual assistant as an animated CGI Character

  • AI represented at top of screen as an animated CGI character

  • AI audibly asks a question, user speaks or click-selects an answer in response

  • Users response activates navigation, confirming choice

  • Stage area is where content is presented by AI for User to choose, browse or ignore

Conclusion + Results

The implications of an AI-powered virtual assistant was seen as groundbreaking for all users and the business. It also suggested a new interaction paradigm.

However, back in 2021, AI technology was still in its infancy. It would take another five years before anything like an AI retail assistant would be possible.

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