Gen Z and millennials influence adoption.

Younger generations of consumers are setting the expectations when it comes to technology.

Gen Z and millennial consumers are helping set the standard for what automation and AI will look like in the future.

When it comes to the beauty space, the two cohorts are the most open to automation in place of live staff, and they prefer (82% and 80%, respectively) automation in at least one area at salons, barber shops, and spas.

That number is even higher for retail businesses: 84% of Gen Z and 83% of millennials would prefer local retailers to use automation technology instead of live staff in at least one area of their business.

And in the restaurant space, 89% of Gen Z and 88% of millennials want to see investment in at least one area of automation to fill critical gaps when shifts aren’t fully staffed.

DID YOU KNOW?

Seventy-four percent of Gen Z consumer respondents and 76% of millennial consumer respondents said they support restaurants using AI-based tools. And 31% of Gen Z and 28% of millennial respondents are more likely to dine at restaurants that use more automation.

The majority of consumers say they are more likely (25%) or as likely (75%) to shop at a business that they’ve noticed using more automation this year. In restaurant, retail, or beauty settings, customers were more likely to shop at a business that used online automations rather than in-store ones.

Disclaimer: Quote from Morag Cumming of Biltong Emporium was sourced from an interview for which they received compensation.