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":"00eb722f9452816622ea5e8657bc3261","s":"c0c50c6f72e3d6de"}
Share your thoughts. Click here