ChatBots

Staples is using IBM's Watson cognitive computing technology to help its online shoppers with "low-end tasks" such as customer service inquiries. In this interview with Staples’ Chief Technology Officer Faisal Masud at the National Retail Federation's Big Show, he explains that Watson also helps influence sales by making the buying process easier and quicker for…

In 2016, we saw retailers begin to experiment with chatbots. Customers could place orders or contact customer service through the use of this technology. The rise in chatbot popularity became clear when Facebook Messenger announced it would be integrating with retailers to allow consumers to make purchases right in the platform. Now Narvar, a software-as-a-service…

The retail industry has never been as competitive — or as fragmented — as it is today. With consumers’ attention increasingly being split between multiple channels, retailers are in need of new ways to reach shoppers wherever they are. However, it’s not enough to reach a shopper in the right channel with any message. Retailers…

Nordstrom is expanding on its efforts to engage with mobile shoppers, using the holiday gift-giving season as an opportunity to launch its first-ever chatbot. If you can’t decide on the perfect gift for your mom this holiday season, for example, the bot is a click away on Facebook Messenger as well as Kik. Nordstrom teamed with New…

Starbucks is making news … again. Yesterday, the coffee Goliath announced it will join the growing wave of companies using artificial intelligence (AI) and chatbots to supplement employees, planning to unveil what it calls an “innovative conversational ordering system.” GeekWire reports that the ordering system will be available via the Starbucks app and titled “My Starbucks Barista.”…

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, which are already widely used in industries such as finance and healthcare, offer enormous potential for the retail sector. Previous Total Retail articles have referenced the power of AI to revolutionize the way people shop online, but instead of dreaming of the future potential, let's focus on three practical applications of…