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":"1d4457b74a40af92082421e456ada841","s":"58b84bd4db5a9b77"}
Share your thoughts. Click here