Retail
January 23, 2020
AI can free up sales associates' time to better serve consumers. Image credit: Printemps
By Sarah Jones
Almost three-quarters of consumers say that personalized service from frontline staff plays an integral role in shaping their decisions of which retailer to do business with, pointing to the continued importance of human help amid an increasingly independent retail environment.
{"ct":"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","iv":"2d8de8bf17d813eb44125f05c9a9fdf1","s":"1972eacc91124223"}
Share your thoughts. Click here