Shopping Trends: Consumers Want Real-Time Delivery & Product Info

Oracle recently revealed a survey of 700 consumers by Oracle Retail presented at the recent Oracle Industry Connect that provides insights in to how consumers might shop using technology. The survey data reveals some interesting shopping futures. Consumers are open to using new technologies to shop faster and smarter. That includes delivery by drones and predictive behavior based on consumer’s shopping behaviors to help them shop in the future.

How about getting apparel recommendations from robots based our your social media profile? Or making up your grocery list based on previous purchases (that might work if you buy the same items all the time.)  The survey reveals consumers are open to using technology to help them make shopping choices, so long as the technology is not invasive (ie: spyware.)

Key survey findings include:

• 64 percent of respondents liked the option of using virtual reality to navigate a personalized in-store experience and having a hand-picked wardrobe to try on in-store
• 58 percent of consumers indicated a positive attitude toward the idea of having their grocer suggest a shopping list for their approval based on purchase history, social and environmental data
• 54 percent of respondents indicated that having a grocer automatically charge and ship items based on purchase history, social and environmental data was invasive
• 67 percent of consumers like the option of near real-time delivery to their doorstep by drones
• 64 percent of consumers responded favorably to the concept having a retailer suggest a custom-made accessory for them produced with 3D printing
• 57 percent of consumers find apparel recommendations from robots based on their social media profile invasive
• 54 percent of respondents viewed the concept of linking their wearable activity tracker to their pharmacy so they can suggest products to meet specific health and wellness needs as favorable
• 78 percent favor the option of having detailed information about product components (e.g., cotton, spandex, etc) and their origin prior to purchase
• 46 percent of respondents indicated that receiving real-time alerts on current product recalls, and time since last recall by a manufacturer, based on previous purchase history would improve their experience

“Consumers clearly indicated that they have a conservative appetite for retail technologies that requires deep personal data and make decisions on their behalf,” Mike Webster, SVP and GM at Oracle Retail and Oracle Hospitality. “This signals brands to focus on building a strong foundation to win trust. Warm attitudes toward utilizing virtual reality and receiving recommendations for custom-made accessories produced with 3-D printing points to consumers’ willingness to adopt new technologies if they are in control of their experience.”

That’s the key, consumers want to feel that they are using technology to help them, not that the technology companies  will use their data and breach their privacy.