Tips for Preparing Retail Spaces for Smart Technology Implementation

The retail property market continues to reconfigure for a future based around smarter use of technology. As such, new builds and redesigned shopping centers, and multi-tenant buildings down to single-tenant locations must be ready to accept and integrate new technology. 

Despite some overambitious claims and technical hiccups, Amazon Go stores represent the cutting edge potential of retail and technology, with the dream of “Just Walk Out” for no checkouts and minimal staff requirements. 

While that may not be the goal, or even a desire for many retailers who value customer service, even traditional stores are using technology to a greater extent, leveraging powerful cloud services and the smarts of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve facilities for customers.

Redesigning for Smart Retail

Deloitte’s 2025 report on commercial real estate highlights challenges in the US market with the benefits of upcoming tax cuts stymied by retail market uncertainty and rapidly changing demographics. Of more interest, it notes that, “for those who believe that they are further along in their AI-adoption journey, 47% note that their benefits so far have been transformative.”

While realtors are starting to benefit from AI in many ways, the retail segment, from local stores to strip retail centers, need to extract every cent of value to remain competitive, making retail brands, customer experience designers, shop fitters and other stakeholders keen to leverage the latest in smart technology. 

The rash of technologies being tried out in stores include:

• Smarter methods of tracking footfall and store engagement
• Improved point-of-sale experiences 
• Innovative mobile-device experiences including augmented and virtual reality experiences
• The use of commercial security cameras for safety and efficiency monitoring. 

Each of these requires store design to be flexible and modular, so that tills can evolve to meet business needs, aisles or departments can flex to accept new technologies, and customers can access WiFi or their cell networks in dead zones, deep within buildings.

More Robots are Headed to Retail for Stocking and Security

Store operators need to be able to run high-speed networks to deliver data, video and other services to point-of-sale and department booths. And for grocery stores, aisles need to be wide and clear enough to accept the upcoming drone restocking units, that are replacing or supporting human shelf stackers in grocery and high-volume goods stores. Robots are already appearing in Chinese stores, and aisle-cruising bots will soon be mingling safely with customers during opening hours.

More robots, like the Starship fleet, will start doing delivery runs for local retailers, fast food outlets and drugstores, replacing the noisy queues of scooters and delivery bikers outside today’s stores. Retail designers will need to build infrastructure for storage and recharging of these drones, and allow repair or upgrade teams access during store closing times. 

Static security cameras will also be augmented by drones that can move to see better angles of possible shoplifting in action, capture higher-quality evidence and help reduce the massive financial impact of in-store larceny. 

AI will improve the utility of all cameras, automatically watching for suspicious activity, tracking suspects and identifying repeat offenders. For larger stores, using their security team more efficiently will be a bigger benefit, while AI apps will act as the in-store security for smaller businesses or collectives working out of multi-tenant buildings that can’t afford many boots on the ground. 

Linked to the security systems, smart doors can automatically close to prevent major thefts, while access control systems can “paint” burglary or shoplifting suspects with a mist of dye that will show up under black light, helping the police identify them. 

Working Towards a Greener Retail Future

Alongside the sci-fi future, retail designers must also be greener in their approach, going beyond bolting solar panels to the rooftops. Smart LED lighting systems can replace the glare of harsh strip lighting, conserving power and adding atmosphere to stores and departments, especially during special events. 

Ideas for grocery stores include adding miniature vertical farm spaces for common salad and other crops to grow-in store, helping customers understand the farming process. 

Reducing food waste is a key priority for all stores, and Walmart is one example of a smart technology-based approach, all of which requires a more granular business awareness of stock control and sell-in and use-by dates. 

All of Retail Is Changing With AI

Many businesses think AI is only changing how big firms operate, but with AI tools appearing in all types of productivity and business and financial management apps, changing how all sizes and types of firms can work.

Soon, even mom and pop retail stores will have access to AI and they can use it to improve their results and customer experience. That might include using smart shelves, itself expected to be a $30 billion business by 2030, reducing their need to constantly change price tickets and more easily restock.

Conclusion

From the latest mega-mall designs to bringing life back to reinvigorated small town strips, technology in retail will bring huge changes that all designers need to cater for. Changes from the large, such as recharging points for an army of robots, to the small – making stores more welcoming through accessible design and welcoming features through signage and digital store offers.