How Artificial Intelligence Is Redefining Efficiency in Brick-and-Mortar Retail

The new urgency in brick-and-mortar retail

In a landscape where tight margins and demanding consumers place pressure on the sector, retail leaders face the challenge of modernizing operations without losing the rhythm of in-store performance. According to Gartner, by 2028, 60% of customer service interactions will be automated using AI, reducing operational costs and increasing customer satisfaction. However, this digital transformation cannot be limited to e-commerce — it must reach the shop floor, inventory, and physical point of sale.

The upside is that AI-based solutions are already driving a new era of operational efficiency, data predictability, and integration between physical and digital channels.

Real-time Supply Chain: from data to decision

Fashion giant ASOS implemented a new supply chain platform based on operational intelligence using Celonis technology. As a result, the company has been able to identify bottlenecks, optimize logistics, and accelerate decision-making based on trends.

This global example signals a growing movement among retailers who are connecting data from physical operations — such as store movement, queues, and customer behavior — with management systems.

Store Data-Driven Marketing: from window display to conversion

Target, in the U.S., increased the effectiveness of its external campaigns by cross-referencing audience data with AI-generated insights through the Roundel platform. This allows for investment optimization based on consumer behavior at the point of sale. In the Brazilian context, the challenge remains: marketing campaigns suffer from low traceability in stores due to the lack of customer information in the physical environment.

AI-Powered Customer Service: efficiency without losing humanity

According to Gartner, customer service automation is among the strategic priorities for CMOs and COOs. But for brick-and-mortar retailers, the real competitive edge lies in anticipating problems and avoiding friction in face-to-face service.

Access to data has never been easier for strategic decision-making. The focus of leading executives is to accelerate technological initiatives that streamline the customer journey without losing the human touch.

From data to action — the new imperative of physical retail

The retail businesses that thrive are those that connect data and transform disconnected operations into an integrated system. AI has the potential to bridge the gaps between marketing, operations, expansion, and service — when implemented with a growth-driven mindset.

Companies that adopt artificial intelligence as part of their core operations (rather than isolated projects) gain real competitive advantages in efficiency, service, and marketing.

AlterVision and the power of data Leading the AI movement in Latin America

AlterVision is leading the AI movement in Latin America by unifying previously scattered data and delivering objective, actionable management dashboards tailored to the realities of physical retail. This is done through the integration of foot traffic counting via security cameras with ERP systems and market intelligence:

• Operationally, it enables real-time monitoring of customer flow, demand peak forecasting, and agile team redistribution.
• In marketing, it provides metrics such as conversion rate, the impact of in-store promotional campaigns, and tracks sales staff performance.
• In customer service and experience, continuous image analysis identifies drops in foot traffic and operational bottlenecks — automatically.

Want to know how to apply AI in your brick-and-mortar retail with security and measurable ROI?

Visit https://www.altervision.com.br and find out more.