AI has been making waves across industries, with retail brands integrating it mainly in their back-end operations. It has become a driving force in improving consumer interface, personalization, mapping consumer preferences and making trend forecasts, along with making operations easier.  

At the front-end too, brands are using AI to boost customer experience. Lenskartfor example uses AI for virtual try-ons at both the stores and the app, while footwear retailer Bata implemented AI-powered video solutions to boost in-store sales.  

But what does AI mean to retail designers who play a crucial role in crafting the right store experience? 

RajanVernekar, Founder of Rave Designs, says he sees a greater usage of AI in store design projects in the future. He adds that AI is able to provide them with multiple options for creative possibilities.  

“We use AI rendering tools to get quick visualization of layouts & 3Ds. Usually in layout, AI helps us optimize store layouts, providing data-driven recommendations for traffic flow, product placement, and customer navigation. I agree that some of the AI options are impractical, but they do help us think out of the box. Otherwise, we would be investing more time in developing some ideas,” says Rajan.   

While it’s a given that AI will influence the design industry, thereis a big question mark over its impact on the overall eco-system. 

When asked about this, Rajansays, “As the technology advances, AI will likely become a standard part of the design toolkit for us. We’ll see more integration with digital tech, personalized design strategies, and even predictive models that anticipate changes in shopper behavior.”  

He comments that he sees a definitive increase in spending on AI, mainly because of AI’s ability to fine-tune store layouts, adapt in real time, and create highly tailored environments. It’s also obvious that AI will dominate data analytics, bringing the solution of efficiency to the retail industry and offering a streamlined shopping experience which in turn will boost sales.   

But in the context specifically of retail design and store experience, it seems to be transition phase for AI, with mixed reviews and reports. A recent survey by EY says 80% of organizations express low-to-moderate readiness, citing unclear use cases and a skills gap, but the same report also says 71% of Indian retailers plan to adopt Gen AI in the next 12 months. So,what’s the wayhow do we determine which direction AI is headed towards in the market? 

Rajan does agree that brands and clients are not as AI-driven when outsourcing projects, but he is confident that as AI advances, its role in creating dynamic, personalized, and efficient retail environments will only grow. Summing up the role of AI in the retail design process, Rajansays, “As of now in design, AI is mostly used as another tool for us like CAD (Computer Aided Design). AI is still in an exploratory mode, something that helps us in visualization and brainstorming. The time saved is helpful because we can develop and present our ideas faster.”