Major US retailers Amazon and Walmart have introduced virtual and AI-powered shopping experiences to cater to customers’ needs during the 2024 holiday season.
Amazon has introduced the Virtual Holiday Shop, a shopping experience that leverages immersive 3D technology powered by Amazon Beyond.
This virtual space showcases more than 100 top gifts, stocking premium products and stocking fillers from brands such as Beats x Kim Kardashian and Kate Spade.
It also includes a range of items across categories such as fashion, home, and electronics.
The Virtual Holiday Shop by Amazon also introduces a Virtual Toy Shop featuring toys, games and activity kits from brands such as LEGO and Disney, as well as offerings from small businesses.
Customers can easily add products to their cart and proceed to checkout with just a few clicks.
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Amazon North America marketing and prime tech vice-president Carmen Nestares Pleguezuelo said: “We’re always innovating to enhance the shopping experience and empower customers to discover products in easy and fun ways.
“With the Virtual Holiday Shop, we are excited to transport shoppers into a new immersive experience where they can browse over 300 of the most coveted gifts and toys of the season.”
Walmart is also employing AI and genAI tools to streamline the holiday shopping journey.
The company’s website now offers personalised experiences based on customer preferences using AI technologies, while genAI predicts content that shoppers are likely to be interested in.
In the US, customers who have previously searched for board games might see related deals or gift ideas.
Internationally, Walmart has implemented genAI-based personalisation features in Mexico, providing customers with a wider array of personalised product recommendations for the holiday season.
It is using AI to identify influencers and share their content on Walmart.com, allowing customers to discover trending items recommended by their favourite creators.
Walmart has also upgraded its new genAI-powered customer support assistant to provide a more personalised experience.
Recognising customers from the start, the assistant now goes beyond simply comprehending their intentions by carrying out tasks such as locating orders and managing returns.
Sam’s Club, the warehouse store company owned by Walmart, has rolled out its exit technology to all locations.
Equipped with AI and computer vision, the technology was designed to significantly reduce wait times and provide a frictionless exit experience for members.
In October 2024, Amazon revealed plans to deploy a new AI-powered solution, vision-assisted package retrieval (VAPR), on 1,000 electric delivery vans by early 2025.
