Click, scroll, purchase: How AI shopping assistants are reinventing Me-commerce
Picture this: You walk into a fully virtual shopping mall through a VR headset to buy some sneakers. Upon entering, your AI avatar—a digital version of you, crafted from data about your preferences, measurements, and past purchases—greets you and guides your experience.
Then, you try on virtual sneakers that are perfectly scaled to your feet, viewing them from every angle. AI also considers your running habits (from your smartwatch data) to recommend shoes with the right cushioning and durability. This is the future – a hyper-personalized AI-powered e-commerce.
This blog will help you recognize the technologies and trends enabling e-commerce personalization in 2025.
1. Aisle be back with AI: A personal shopper in your pocket
Ecommerce personalization is like having a breakfast buffet with all (and only) your favorite foods. That’s what Artificial Intelligence (AI) is doing for online shopping—but on steroids.
AI uses predictive analytics and machine learning to study your every digital move, from the products you browse to the time you spend scrolling. It’s like Hercule Poirot, but instead of solving crimes, it’s solving your wardrobe dilemmas, finding your ideal skincare routine, or discovering that perfect birthday gift.
Netflix’s “Because you watched…” feature is a great example of AI in action. By analyzing real-time data, AI crafts individualized entertainment journeys with content tailored just for you. It’s like the internet reads your mind even if your boyfriend doesn’t (don’t worry, it doesn’t—yet).
Read more: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in sentiment analysis and industry use cases
2. Virtual try-ons: Could shopping get any better
Remember the days of returning three pairs of shoes because none of them fit quite right? Augmented reality (AR) is changing that with virtual try-ons for e-commerce personalization. It is turning your shopping fantasies to life.
Take IKEA’s Place app, for instance. It lets you visualize that chic couch in your living room before you commit. No more “oops, it’s too big” moments. AR doesn’t just enhance convenience, it adds a touch of fun to the shopping experience, making it both practical and delightful.
3. Voice commerce: Lets play AI whispers
You’re whipping up pancakes on a Sunday morning, and Alexa reminds you that you’re out of maple syrup. With just a quick, “Order syrup,” you’ve restocked your pantry. That’s voice commerce for you.
Voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant are becoming your new shopping BFFs, using your purchase history and preferences to personalize product suggestions. It’s hands-free, hassle-free shopping—perfect for multitaskers and busy bees.
And voice personalization doesn’t stop at reorders. Imagine asking, “What’s the best eco-friendly shampoo?” and getting a curated list tailored to your needs. It’s like having a concierge service for your daily life, making shopping conversational and intuitive i.e. ecommerce personalization.
4. Personalization meets protection: Guardians of data
Ecommerce personalization is great, but it comes with a risk: How much is too much? No one wants to feel like their favorite brand is secretly stalking them.
The future of e-commerce will rely heavily on how customer trust and privacy is maintained while harnessing data-driven insights. Transparent data practices, robust encryption, and empowering customers to control their data will define personalization’s next chapter. Brands that get it right—like Apple with its privacy-first approach—will win both hearts and wallets.
5. Sustainability: Because the future is green, not greedy
Beyond e-commerce personalization, consumers today want their shopping choices to reflect their values. As eco-consciousness grows, personalized recommendations will increasingly feature sustainable and ethical products.
For example, imagine an AI recommending a dress from a brand that plants a tree for every purchase. Or a sneaker that tells the story of its recycled origins. Patagonia has long championed this, combining personalization with purpose, and it’s no surprise that shoppers love them for it.
The message is clear: the next generation of shoppers want their carts to feel as good as their hearts.
2025 and beyond: The dawn of ‘Me-commerce’
J. Crew has mastered ecommerce personalization. The retailer uses purchase and product page history to provide clothing recommendations tailored to their customers’ choices. Old Navy does something similar by using product page history and identifying the products abandoned at checkout to create a personalized wishlist of products.
This is just the beginning of e-commerce personalization. For every little hurdle, AI is coming up with a highly potent solution. Seeing too many unwanted products? AI is ensuring you see what you want by remembering what you like. Want to save time wasted in returns? Consumers can use virtual trials instead. The possibilities are endless.
Are you ready to personalize?
Explore our e-commerce solutions today.