The brick-and-mortar retail sector in Germany is undergoing a comprehensive transformation: the industry is using innovative technologies to redesign traditional stores and counter the labor shortage. Process automation helps to remain efficient and competitive. Online shopping as an alternative to bricks-and-mortar shopping has become the norm for many consumers.
Autonome Ladenlokale
In rural regions, retailers are increasingly relying on an innovative concept for local supply: autonomous stores that rely partly or even exclusively on automated systems for the shopping process are a modern, technology-based alternative to traditional stores. Artificial intelligence is used to advise and assist customers: AI-based systems analyse the preferences and behaviour of customers in real time and offer personalized product recommendations and assistance.
For the current edition of the Consumer Barometer, we examined both the technological and consumer-related challenges and opportunities of these innovative shopping concepts. A particular focus is on the question of how barriers to acceptance can be overcome - in order to establish autonomous stores not just as a supplement, but as a sustainable long-term solution for local supply and to meet the requirements of customers.
Stephan Fetsch
Partner, Deal Advisory, EMA and German Head of Retail & Consumer Goods
KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
Insight into the results:
- 80% with a very high online orientation in their shopping behavior can imagine using an autonomous store.
- 75% in urban areas consider the use of an autonomous store to be conceivable, while this figure drops to 56% in very rural residential areas.
- 75% of those who visit bricks-and-mortar retail outlets on a daily basis can imagine using an autonomous store.
- 54% can generally imagine preferring an autonomous store to a traditional store in the future.
- 15 percent have already used an autonomous store.
All results as well as detailed graphics and evaluations can be found in the current Consumer Barometer. Download the issue now and find out more about the advantages and disadvantages of autonomous stores as well as the potential and challenges.
For this edition of the Consumer Barometer, the EHI Retail Institute Cologne surveyed 1,000 consumers in a short study and analyzed this data for KPMG.
About the Consumer Barometer
KPMG's Consumer Barometer examines current developments, trends and drivers in the retail and consumer goods market three times a year. For this issue, the EHI Retail Institute Cologne conducted a short online survey of 500 representative consumers on their opinion of retail real estate and analyzed this data for KPMG.
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