Third wave of shopping tech to boost UK retail by £2.4bn
THE LATEST developments in shopping technology could deliver a £2.4bn sales boost to the UK’s retail sector by 2014, according to eBay.
Developments such as augmented reality, which overlays digital information onto physical products, could indirectly generate an additional £9.1bn of sales within the next two years.
The report predicts interactive TV will be the most influential new technology for retail, with 25 per cent of people regularly shopping via this medium by the end of 2014.
Dubbed the third wave of shopping technology – following online and then mobile developments – the latest creations include smart devices, such as a fridge putting in an order for food, and augmented reality, which could see consumers use virtual imagery to try on clothes.
Ebay said these technologies could boost sales by four per cent.