CBRE research Identifies…| 40 Trends by 2040

Enhanced interaction will drive engagement through virtual and augmented reality, holograms and haptic.

City centres, such as Chester, will be vehicle-free.

Open-air retail centres will grow in popularity.

3D printing will serve as invisible inventory.

The circular economy will become part of the way people interact with business.

Specialised stores will re-emerge as a force in retail.

There will be a resurgence of local markets and experiences – focus on wellness and health and focus on organic, handcrafted goods.

A dynamic shift will occur in how goods are produced, with automation and new manufacturing processes coming on stream.

Trust and transparency will become objective –and measurable.

Physical stores will be reimagined through digital technology and retailers will cater to digitally driven shopping habits.

Retailers will focus on understanding customer emotions – emotionally connected customers will become more valuable than highly satisfied ones.

Customers will expect their loyalty to be rewarded – this will be facilitated through customer loyalty programs and members clubs, and partnerships between retailers and non-retailers.

Storefronts will become virtual stores after hours – windows will be used in conjunction with smartphone/ similar deliveries to create animated and visual output, tailored to the user.

Health-focused offers and products will be more prominent –veganisim will be more popular and artificial “meat” will result in more people following a plant-based diet.

Personal enhancement services will require more space and may be demonstrated via virtual and augmented reality technology.

Delivery will be when and where you want it – without you even realising. Core items will be reordered automatically and dispatched each week. Logistics companies will use data to plan more accurately.

Landlords will welcome emerging brands that are experience-driven and connected with the local community. Lease contracts may become shorter and more flexible and demand for local concepts may require changes to credit risk models.

Customisation will become the new loyalty – this will allow greater creative freedom and choice which will drive brand loyalty.

The sharing economy will be commonplace, extending beyond accommodation, transport and workspace. Being able to access as opposed to own.

Curating the offer will be a basic expectation; retailers which tailor products and services to a customer’s needs, supported by tech and use of data, will win.

Returns will be made simpler – through use of predefined return solutions (predetermined dates/ locations), use of autonomous vehicles/ drop off points, and potential for refund at point of return.

Delivery tracking information will be precise – certainty around delivery time, with accurate estimates given at time of purchase. Logistics firms will use data to plot ever more efficient delivery routes.

Flexible lease structures will be more common and some will be automated – with renewals and negotiations carried out via tech. Blockchain registry of leases, land registry, previous tenants etc. will also be in place.

Smartphones will no longer exist, but mobile commerce will increase. Augmented and VR will decrease overall dependency on smartphones and other real screens. Smaller, wearable gadgets will connect people to the IoT.

Independent stores and F&B operators will become more prevalent. Retail destinations will feature unique offerings curated towards the local catchment. Chains will develop “local” concepts and brand names giving the appearance of independents.

The traditional instore physical point of purchase will disappear. In-store data collection from browsing to choosing an item will be captured and available for analysis.

Fitting rooms help as opposed to hinder the shopping experience.

Technology will allow users to request a different size or style via touchscreen or voice control and lighting tech will allow different settings to be created.

Wellness establishments will grow in number. Fitness centres will become commonplace and lifestyle stores will become more popular as people look to buy clothes and products to support their healthy-living aspirations.

Consumers will be able to experience a purchase before making payment. Temporary access to products will become more commonplace. VR and haptic technology will facilitate this.

The focus of petrol stations globally will shift as they become important minilogistics hubs and as fuelling needs change.

Shopping centres will become simply “centres” evolving into mixed-use destinations with a focus on delivering what people want, where they want it.

Retail will be leisure; the divide will become increasingly blurred with brands addressing the need for experience in their stores. Stores will become as much showrooms as a place to make a purchase with in-store leisure elements integrated.

The power of prediction has enabled decisionmaking to be outsourced to machines. A large proportion of basic goods will be ordered and delivered without the need for “shopping” in the traditional sense.

Personal ownership of cars has dramatically reduced. Car fleets will own and operate driverless vehicles. Governments will legislate to create “autonomous vehicleonly” lanes and routes.

Customer experiences are specific not generis. There will be more focus on niche centres capturing a larger portion of spending from a smaller targeted group and successful brands will predict and react to consumers.

Buying what you want, where and how you want is the norm; technological advances will allow products to be purchased simply by capturing an image. Photos are “shoppable” online.

Stores have become showrooms and experiential brand centres. Customers test/try/play in store and purchased items are delivered the store the same day or to their homes the next day.

Pure play is no longer an important part of retail. Pure-play retailers will reimagine the physical store.

They have fewer preconceived views of how a store should operate.

Robotics and automation will replace many jobs in the retail sector. Repetitive, mundane tasks are likely to be automated allowing customers to enter stores, purchase goods and exit

Competition for people’s disposable income has increased; to survive, retailers have to think creatively and incorporate experiences that make consumers want to return.