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    Threekit + AI: 
    Building a Next Generation Product Experience

    AI Takes on the Product Experience

    AI has already made its mark in the commerce landscape.

    From personalized product recommendations to streamlined pricing optimization, customer segmentation, smart logistics, and accurate sales forecasting, it has altered how brands go to market, talk to their potential customers and even get them available products. 

    And now data is having its say: according to Gartner,

    80 %

    of all customer interactions will be managed by AI by 2025.

    There’s no way around it, and what’s more, embracing its potential could set your business up to make a major leap in the very near future. 

     

    Our perspective?

    With AI comes the untapped potential to completely transform the product shopping experience. 

    Let’s be clear, we’re not talking simple product presentation or marketing, like managing which items you highlight to a returning site customer or identifying popular styles to use in a mass email. 

    We’re talking about completely changing the way that shoppers create and customize your products in real time.  Enabling them to explain what they’re looking for and receiving just the right number of options to achieve that. Giving them a client advisor at the ready. And getting them to the “buy” button having made select choices with as little friction as possible. 

    A smarter, naturally intuitive and truly “wow”-worthy product experience is on the horizon. 

    Solving the Product Personalization Puzzle

    The Challenge:

    Digital Shopping & Decision Fatigue Creep 

    There is a long-standing notion that "time on site" is a great indicator of how much shoppers appreciate and want to spend time with your brand. But if more time spent browsing doesn't result in higher cart values, are you really forging a stronger bond with the customer? 

    They could just be getting increasingly frustrated as they search and are forced to make decisions that they hope gets them something they want. Perhaps "speed to purchase" should be a better metric: getting the customer to what they want as fast as possible. 

    Or say you’re a brand that’s created a unique, customizable product.  And perhaps you’ve enabled 3D configuration on your eCommerce or retailer site so shoppers can customize and see their product in real time.  

    You’ve already been extremely thoughtful in your approach, and the good news is that you’re offering a leading-edge experience.  

    But there’s still a problem. 

    If it’s a complex product, your buyers are likely to navigate innumerable options. Keep in mind, they are grappling with pre-set forms, fields and buttons. They’re going through the experience choice by choice. Some choices they care about, some leave them feeling ambivalent. And in the  worst case, they may not even feel educated enough to make other critical product decisions.   

    While choice is nice, it must be a careful balance. 

    One study shows that nearly half of customers (46%) fail to complete a purchase online due to overwhelming choices.

    Too many choices and too much time spent can lead to overwhelm and decision fatigue (not to mention post-purchase hangovers like buyer’s remorse). These are all emotions that you naturally want to spare shoppers and that you most definitely don’t want associated with your brand. 

     

    The Key to Transformation:

    AI Interprets Customer Preferences

    So yes, customers want options. But they don’t want unlimited options - they want them within the confines of their unique preferences and the specific products they’re pursuing. 

    Some may prefer an exhaustive list, but many would prefer a tool to assess their needs and present back a curated configuration experience that’s “just enough” or a product visual to respond to. And still others may want a completely different experience depending on the product. 

    Enter Threekit AI. 

     

    Where We're Going: 

    Getting Shoppers to the Exact Custom Product they Want, Faster Than Ever

    Here’s the thing: the power of Threekit AI is in both its ability to address the broad challenges of traditional shopping experiences and cater to unique customer preferences.

    At Threekit, we see a future where no two customers will have the exact same product experience. Instead, we'll orchestrate real-time streamlined shopping journey that avoid common pitfalls, while inspiring confidence with hyper-personalization.

    By engaging with Threekit's AI layer, customers can refine their choices, and receive suggestions based on uploaded images or desired upgrades. 

    Some shoppers may want a few choices - but not all. In this case, the customer can provide prompts and Threekit will present a curated configuration experience that allows the shopper to explore the most relevant key features. 

    No matter the individual experience, the promise remains the same: 

    Threekit AI removes undesired complexity and presents the perfect product fast, so the shopper presses “buy.” 

    How it Works: Put Shoppers in Control…Comfortably

    Now, to get shoppers on board with the benefits of AI for product experience. 

    We’re human, and resistance to change is inherent. That said, when it comes to AI,  the appetite is there. 

    52 %

    of consumers are interested in AI that helps them through a product, website, and feature experience.*

    * Source: 25 stats about AI in customer experience that show how consumers really feel

    We’ve identified a couple of “ways in” to kick off the experience. Natural prompts are inviting gateways, welcoming shoppers to AI on their own terms.

    1. Text/Voice Input or Visual Quiz:  Introducing AI as a shopping assistant, inviting buyers to explore the environment with questions and teasers is effective.

      Let them dictate what they're looking for based on the prompt or give them simple visuals with categories to provide direction. 
    2. Image Upload: Shoppers often want to see a wholesale transformation, and the best way to communicate is with an existing image of a space or collection of items. In this case, she would upload an image and AI would leverage computer vision to recommend products while taking into account space constraints, complementary colors and other ambient factors.  

    Be cognizant that shoppers have varying communication preferences. You can even let AI build rapport with customers in a ‘choose your adventure’ format, be it verbal, text, or visuals. 

    Threekit AI in Action: Applications That Redefine How We Buy

    Meet Visual Discovery

    Why can't the online experience mimic that of a personal shopper, presenting relevant items rather than relying on the customer to go searching? 

     

    ai-visual_discovery

    The Problem:  Traditional eCommerce search is reliant on basic filtering, category browsing, and keyword searches and fails to showcase the full potential of a store's product catalog. 68% of shoppers abandon their searches altogether due to an inability to find items that speak to them.

    How AI Solves It:  Visual Discovery goes beyond simple search functionalities, fostering a personalized shopping journey via two key components: 

    • Discovery Inputs: An intelligent system that uses interactive elements like multiple-choice questions about usage or occasions and also leaves a text box available for shoppers to describe what they want. 
    • Inspiration Gallery:  This dynamic interface showcases a curated selection of products that complement each other, allowing customers to discover complete looks and add multiple items to their cart. 

    The Result:  Reduced clicks, faster time to cart and increased average order value (AOV) as customers are more likely to discover complementary products.

    Meet the Conversational Configurator 

    Sometimes the best way to suss out preferences is to just let someone talk…or type. 

    Here are two scenarios where the Conversational Configurator hits the mark. 

    Scenario 1: Tell, Then Show   

    The Problem: He has a definite idea in mind and  wants to personalize but the more steps they take to configure the product, the more likely he is  to abandon the purchase. 

    How AI Solves It: Rather than providing a set configuration experience that relies on forms, fields, and inputs, a conversational configurator prompts the shopper with short inquiries to uncover his  specific purchase requirements. AI then renders the product in real time and allows for feedback. This short exchange enables the buyer to accept the product aspects they like and direct the configurator to update what does not work. 

    The Result: The conversational configurator simplifies product complexity and significantly reduces the time buyers spend scrolling through the product catalogs. Rather, what he’d envisioned is almost “magically” presented to him in short order. 

    ai scenario

    Scenario 2: Am I Making the Right Decisions? Give Me Expert Guidance

    The Problem: When shopping high-value products, buyers want to receive recommendations and expert guidance during the configuration process. They expect a “clienteling” experience that reinforces their decisions. 

    How AI Solves It: It’s all about expert guidance and affirmation. “A luxury client advisor” provides support by answering questions, offering product information, and making recommendations. They can also move her from interest to purchase with pricing, order updates and inventory information. 

    The Result: The benefits are twofold. Customers enjoy a higher-value service experience, similar to the personalized assistance provided in luxury stores. Second, the incorporation of AI-driven assistance provides 24/7 service support at lower costs.

    Meet Instant Update

    Sometimes the shopper has a broad end goal in mind (like, “I want to re-design my living room” or “i want to upgrade this outfit”) but isn’t set on what that will look like yet. 

    ai-chair-engage

    Scenario: Show Me all the Possibilities 

    The Problem: The shopper often wants to update a space but doesn’t know what the brand has to offer and really doesn’t want to scroll through the site to pick out options piecemeal.

    How AI Solves It: The buyer uploads an image as a reference and AI leverages image processing, catalog and visualization to create an accurate suggested visual. An AI design consultant can then work with the shopper to customize individual pieces and place them within the buyer’s environment, providing a collective view of their space. 

    The Result: This AI-driven approach has a ripple effect. First, this detailed visualization puts products in the shopper’s own space, making it immediately personal.  It also means lower service costs as it streamlines the design and visualization process. Ultimately, it can entice the shopper to make several purchases at once rather than individual pieces. 

    So Much More on the AI Horizon 

    We’ve touched on unique ways that AI will impact and streamline individual shopping experiences, but this is really just the beginning. These tools are going to have major implications for both the front-end consumer facing experience and backend platform functionality. 

    More transformative ideas: 

    Background Image Generation

    Imagine, you have a beautiful configurable product like a luxury car or handbag. You want to put all its possible configurations in multiple  different contexts–various backgrounds inside and outside, in different parts of the world, day and night. That adds up to an almost impossible budget if you attempt to achieve this with traditional photography.  But add AI to Threekit’s hi-res Virtual Photographer and you could render these lifestyle images in minutes. 

    icon23-data_validation

    Personalized Presets

    Those outfitting highly technical environments (think a lab or a dentist’s office) are often buying all the necessary pieces to create a functional space at one time. And if you’re the manufacturer, you understand the various pre-set configurations that are most utilized. So with a little information from them (say, the space size and how it will be used) AI can present them with a preset option that gets them 80% to their purchase quickly. 

    icons23-inspiration

    Data Insights

    Imagine all the ways AI can garner data from each customer’s shopping experience. From tracking customer language prompts to understanding how best to organize product assets for maximum speed and efficiency. AI can also be trained to simply enact changes to better optimize the customer interactions in real-time. The ultimate promise is really useful intelligence that will make your product experience better and better.  

    Sell More, Lead the Pack

    If you’re still skittish about exploring AI, consider the bottom-line incentives: 

    Drive High Conversion Rates

    With Threekit AI, customers are presented with products that better align with their needs and interests, creating a more relevant shopping experience that converts. 

    Open Avenues for Upselling

    Personalized experiences driven by AI algorithms create the opportunity for strategic upselling, suggesting complementary items or upgrades based on specific behaviors. 

    Be an Innovation Leader

    Threekit AI presents the opportunity for your company to set itself apart in the   category. Demonstrating a commitment to technology shows customers that you’re forward-thinking and dedicated to providing them with the best shopping experience. They’ll likely thank you with their loyalty. 

     

    References: 
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYX7PAr-QnQ
    https://www.threekit.com/blog/3-takeaways-from-the-threekit-ai-and-threekitgpt-beta-launch
    https://www.threekit.com/chatgpt
    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/impact-ai-ecommerce-revolutionizing-online-shopping-experience#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20main%20benefits,behavior%2C%20and%20other%20data%20points.
    https://www.sellerapp.com/blog/artificial-intelligence-ai-e-commerce/

    Accelerate Your Commerce Journey with Threekit AI

    If AI-enhanced commerce is on your radar, take note of who is leading the charge. This is just the beginning of our own exploration and we’re looking for like-minded partners to discover what’s possible with us. Not just to “talk about future opportunities” but to go build them. 

    In fact, we’re building them right now. Interested? Let’s talk.