2026
9
US Role of Tech in Online Shopping: 2026
2026-06-24T10:02:20+00:00
REP2530D0FC_5F1E_488F_B0D0_FC5F1E988FC4
3695
194328
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Report
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For many consumers (63%), online shopping is a pleasure, not a chore. Full automation, therefore, isn't the right goal. Instead of removing shoppers from the process, technology should build their…
US
Technology
eCommerce
simple

US Role of Tech in Online Shopping: 2026

"The future of online shopping won't be defined by who has the smartest AI, but by who leverages technology to create seamless, confident, and enjoyable customer experiences."

Haley Ferrini, Research Analyst, US Reports

Haley Ferrini, Research Analyst, US Reports

For many consumers (63%), online shopping is a pleasure, not a chore. Full automation, therefore, isn’t the right goal. Instead of removing shoppers from the process, technology should build their confidence and help them make informed decisions. The best tools facilitate discovery and choice by being helpful yet unobtrusive, proving their value through clarity, not complexity.

This distinction is crucial, as shoppers quickly notice when an experience falls short. Persistent friction in comparing products, evaluating items, managing returns, and accessing customer service remain the biggest barriers to better online shopping.

The solution isn’t to slow innovation, but to focus it. Consumers reward brands that use technology to reduce effort, minimize risk, and inspire confidence, not those that chase novelty for its own sake. The winners will be those who treat simplicity as innovation, deploying tools that address real consumer pain points, rather than pursuing abstract visions of what ecommerce could be.

This Report Looks at the Following Areas:

  • The foundational gaps that limit the impact of new shopping technologies
  • The role of technology in reinforcing shopper confidence and reassurance
  • The growing tension between innovation and simplicity in decision-making
  • The missed opportunity to compete on discovery and enjoyment
  • The challenge of supporting non-linear, fragmented shopping journeys

The future of online shopping won’t be defined by who has the smartest AI, but by who leverages technology to create seamless, confident, and enjoyable customer experiences.

Haley Ferrini, Research Analyst, US Reports

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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for the role of tech in online shopping
    • Opportunities
    • Use technology to invite exploration, not rush decisions
    • Turn trust signals into a competitive advantage
    • Segment-smart experience design
  2. THE MARKET

    • Consumers and the economic outlook
    • State laws may rein in dynamic pricing practices
    • Agentic commerce tests the boundaries of platform control
    • Purchases continue to blend across channels
    • Graph 1: products purchased in the last 12 months, by channel, 2026
    • Consumer comfort with AI raises the stakes for digital innovation
    • Graph 2: comfort using AI, 2025
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Get the fundamentals right before rolling out new tools
    • Bad digital experiences kill conversion faster than new tech can save it
    • Build consumer confidence, then use innovation to streamline the journey
    • Graph 3: factors that give consumers the confidence to make a purchase online, by age, 2026
    • Align technology investments to the friction points that matter most
    • Graph 4: parts of the online shopping process that could be improved, by age, 2026
    • Tailor improvements to location-driven needs
    • Graph 5: parts of the online shopping process that could be improved (select), by area lived, 2026
    • Be selective about when and how chat features are used
    • Invest in tech that builds shopper confidence
    • Reduce noise for older consumers and amplify fun for younger ones
    • Graph 6: consumer interest in online shopping tools, by age, 2026
    • Shopping tools should respond to distinct consumer realities
    • When shoppers doubt the platform, amplify people like them
    • Graph 7: major retailer attitudes (% any agree), overall vs those who want to see what other people like them are purchasing , 2026
    • Consumers want proof behind the praise
    • Use tech that simplifies decisions instead of complicating them
    • Make online shopping feel tailored
    • Personalize with purpose, not excess
    • Who wants the tech matters as much as the tech itself
    • Use smart assistants to support dads in gifting moments
    • Graph 8: interest in smart assistants that provide gift recommendations based on a friend or family member’s preferences, moms vs dads, 2026
    • Lean into what digital does better
    • Graph 9: online compared to in-store shopping attitudes (% any agree), by age, 2026
    • Compete on enjoyment and discovery, not just convenience
    • Online shopping is more than convenience
    • Graph 10: online shopping experience attitudes (% any agree), by age, 2026
    • Immersive retail only pays off when it earns its keep
    • Building a virtual store is often the wrong shortcut to what consumers actually want
    • Digital wins by capturing the best of in-store without the downsides
    • Graph 11: in-store shopping attitudes (% any agree), overall vs those who wish online shopping could replicate the experience of browsing in a physical store, 2026
    • Support fragmented shopping journeys
    • AI is becoming a discovery layer, not the point of sale
    • Design AI agents to support, not override, humans
    • Social platforms are replacing traditional purchase journeys for younger consumers
    • As social media pushes shopping in-feed, retailers must adapt their role
    • Tech features that ignore in-store use leave value on the table
    • Graph 12: in-store mobile activities, 2025
  4. INNOVATION AND MARKETING

    • Reviews matter more than ever
    • Ulta bets on AI to simplify beauty discovery
    • Agentic strategies diverge on control vs reach
    • Target turns gift uncertainty into guided decisions
    • Google bets on virtual try-on to fix fit concerns
    • Lowe’s makes big projects feel doable
  5. APPENDIX

    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Generations
    • Abbreviations

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