Retail Goes High Tech

Shopping in person is making a comeback, but don’t expect the sameold same-old experience when you head back to the store. New technology is set to begin revolutionizing the brick-andmortar experience in 2023. Forget tight dressing rooms, unflattering fluorescent lights and dozens of trial-and-error fittings. Instead, increasingly, “smart” mirrors outfitted with augmented reality (AR) will allow for virtual try-ons and personalized recommendations, and long checkout lines will be replaced with mobile payment systems. Glimpses of that future are already out there. H&M recently unveiled its first “smart” outpost in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a year-long experiment featuring the latest retail tech, while Nike is adding AR components to physical stores around the world. BMW, Burberry, JD Sports, Pacsun and Starbucks have also added an AR component at some locations and other retailers are expected to follow suit.