Personalization

Trend - Retailers are deploying in-store kiosks powered by artificial intelligence (AI). These AI kiosks interpret and make recommendations for consumers interacting with them, thus streamlining the retail process. The advent of AI kiosks also reduces the required staff and, thus, costs for retailers.

Insight - Smart technologies are arguably the largest contributor to the ever-increasing number of retailers with seamless, stress-free in-store experiences. Consumers who shop in-stores enjoy the benefits of assistance from employees, as well as the ability to demo items that they may not have known about prior to entering the store. To further improve these experiences for consumers, brands are launching smart kiosks that use AI to assist, make recommendations to, and process payments from, consumers.

Trend - As GLP-1 gains popularity in the western world as a weight management solution, brands are launching apps and services designed to support the GLP-1 community. These apps offer support through social forums, fitness and diet planning, and enable direct connections to healthcare providers if needed.

Insight - The number of adult consumers in North America and Europe that use GLP-1 supplements continues to grow at a rapid rate each month. These consumers are drawn to GLP-1 for its easy-to-use, ingestible format and its high efficacy rate. However, some GLP-1 users become complacent, relying on the supplement instead of balancing it with a healthy lifestyle, while others run into unforeseen medical side effects. Businesses are now launching apps and websites to support the needs of GLP-1 users.

Trend - Postcard-making workshops are becoming a popular feature at pop-up events, offering guests a creative, hands-on way to connect with the brand. These interactive sessions allow participants to create a tangible, personalized product that delivers a message and introduces a new brand to the recipient.

Insight - Consumers seeking unique shopping experiences are increasingly drawn to events that facilitate personal connections with brands and encourage sharing the experience with loved ones. In response, brands are designing pop-ups that allow consumers to create personalized keepsakes for those in their lives and invite these individuals to experience the brand. By focusing on consumers' desire for shareable moments, brands can attract an audience that values community throughout the product journey.

Trend - Artificial Intelligence (AI) companies are launching tools that 'humanize' content generated by AI. These tools make writing sound more natural and fluid by using authentic writers to train the models, rather than the repetitive or robotic writing style of many writing tools

Insight - AI-powered tools continue to gain popularity in both professional and personal lives. One of the moat commonly used segments of AI includes generative tools that produce images, videos, or various forms of written content, such as emails or essays. However, one common complaint for many of these tools, particularly for written content, is the predictable, robotic tone. In order to make these tools more appealing to consumers with such complaints, companies are launching 'humanizing' services.

Trend - Computer hardware brands are releasing power supplies with modular designs that enable users to use only the necessary connectors. This saves space and improves aesthetics in custom builds by reducing clutter. Previously exclusive to higher-end PSUs, even budget devices are adopting modularity.

Insight - Consumer technology enthusiasts frequently build their own custom devices, whether as a hobby or as a cost-saving measure compared to buying prebuilt units. When building their own devices, consumers on a budget often prioritize high-performance components, while on the higher-end of the cost spectrum, aesthetics also become an important factor. Hardware brands are trying to appeal to both consumer segments by launching affordable devices with aesthetic benefits.

Trend - Artificial intelligence has been adapted to enable barcode-less product scanning, facilitated by algorithms that analyze images and videos of objects to identify unique features. This technology accurately accounts for retail items in real time, providing shoppers with seamless checkout experiences.

Insight - As artificial intelligence shapes consumer shopping experiences, brands increasingly rely on automation to address friction points and ensure high rates of fulfilled purchases. Adopting automation technologies minimizes wait times and maximizes throughput, allowing customers to complete shopping trips in shorter amounts of time. This approach helps businesses prioritize seamless experiences and reduce errors, aligning with consumer preferences for convenience.

Trend - Health & beauty companies that make melatonin-based sleep supplements are releasing these supplements in new hard candy or mint formats. These mints appeal to consumers who do not enjoy the traditional melatonin gummies, offering more variety for consumers who struggle with regular sleep habits.

Insight - Adults face countless avenues of stress in their lives, whether related to professional or personal lives, or habits such as using smartphones or computers before bed. Many such adults find themselves unable to fall asleep quickly or regularly, and as such they turn to sleep-focused supplements, such as CBD, magnesium, or melatonin. In response to the growing desire for these supplements, brands are releasing new supplement formats, namely mints, to appeal to more consumers' preferences.

Trend - Electronic Bank Transfer (EBT) is becoming a standard payment method as consumers seek convenient and secure ways to pay for grocery deliveries. This payment method aims to help individuals relying on government assistance programs access essential food items with ease and dignity.

Insight - Food insecurities and rising living costs have driven many consumers to enroll in government assistance programs. As a response, grocery delivery platforms have increasingly begun to accommodate low-income consumers by adding support for SNAP/EBT payments, making it easier for these consumers to access essential goods. By prioritizing affordability and accessibility, businesses can demonstrate their dedication to supporting this demographic, fostering trust and building lasting relationships.

Trend - Phonecore, the latest style trend, is taking social media by storm with nearly 130 million TikTok posts. This trend features over-the-top accessories inspired by smartphones such as HMD's Phonecore range, as well as smartphones adapting to become accessories themselves, like Hailey Bieber's lip gloss-holding phone case, blending tech and fashion in innovative ways.

Insight - The rise of the "smartphone as an aesthetic" reflects a growing consumer desire for fashion that integrates cutting-edge technology in visually impactful ways. In an era where personal devices are central to daily life, accessories inspired by smartphones, as well as smartphones functioning as accessories, resonate deeply with tech-savvy, fashion-forward individuals. This trend taps into the intersection of nostalgia and futurism, appealing to those who appreciate both retro design elements and modern innovation.

Trend - Personal care companies are creating haircare products with a larger focus on unique, strong fragrances. The companies aim to increase fragrance customization and variety without compromising on function or price, thus further enabling personal expression through scent

Insight - Consumers that participate in daily health and beauty routines, particularly across the Asia-Pacific regions, are increasingly prioritizing unique fragrances in products. These consumers desire strong fragrances that last throughout the day and complement their personality, as prolonged exposure to the fragrances improves their moods and makes regular tasks more enjoyable. The ideal product for these consumers features a strong fragrance and does not compromise on function or affordability.