Apply Digital found that nearly roughly eight-in-10 (79%) consumers in the United States said personalization is important to them.
As consumers desire more personalization, retailers are delivering.
According to a survey of 400 senior retail leaders from digital transformation partner Apply Digital, 95% of businesses are either already using or planning to adopt real-time product recommendations in the near term (71% currently and 24% within 12 months), while under two percent have no plans currently.
A similar number (93%) say they are already using or plan to use AI to enhance search capabilities. A further 89% are investing in AI to personalize product descriptions, which Apply Digital says signals a broad push toward relevance and real-time adaptation.
An overwhelming 82% of leaders said they will spend more on personalization in 2025 than they did in 2024, with 62% planning to invest more than $1 million on personalization over the next 12 months. In terms of projected AI spend, more than half (52%) say they will invest more than $1 million on AI-enhanced personalization this year.
Nearly all business leaders surveyed said they currently enhance at least one of their personalization tactics with AI. The top three areas they referenced include AI-powered search (67%), enhanced user experiences including AR and VR (66%), and real-time product recommendations and offers (65%). Among those who are not currently using AI for personalization, a majority are planning to do so in 2025, with a focus on seasonal adjustments (41%) and leveraging AI to improve personalized discounting.
Despite the growing adoption, 72% of business leaders are concerned that competitors leveraging AI will erode their market share.
https://chainstoreage.com/survey-retailers-continue-investing-personalization-ai-tools