1、Retail and consumer products industries in the AI eraHow AI is enabling brands to capture a competitive edgeIBM Institute for Business Value|Research BriefForewordArtificial intelligence is upending the retail and consumer products industries,pushing companies to urgently reimagine customer engageme

2、nt and seize new paths to growth.And many industry executives are realizing a critical truth:the AI race isnt just about beating competitorsits about meeting and exceeding ever-rising customer expectations.Todays consumers rely on AI for personalized recommendations,frictionless shopping,and smarter

3、 decisions.To meet these rising expectations,retail and consumer products companies are ramping up AI investmentsnot just through enterprise IT budgets,but with direct action from business domain leaders who see AI as key to competitive advantage.While AI is already enhancing customer experiences an

4、d optimizing operations,the next leap forward lies in empowering AI to act,not just advise.AI now enables brands to make decisions,automate processes,and adapt instantly to market shifts and customer behaviors.This isnt about isolated,task-specific toolsits about reimagining customer experiences acr

5、oss channels and ecosystem partners and innovating products from the ground up.Its also about creating new ways for employees and AI to work together so the operational capability of AI is monitored,safeguarded,and continuously improved by the people who understand the brand and know what customers

6、expect.Winning in this AI-driven landscape starts with earning customer trust.To succeed,companies must put the customer experience at the center of their AI strategies.Hyper-personalized recommendations,immersive shopping journeys,and real-time service solutions arent optionaltheyre essential.Every