‘The next big thing’ is an overused term, yet highlighted in our report are five genuinely world-changing innovations that will redefine retail.

Spot quiz

What conducts electricity better than copper; is stronger but lighter than steel; and is impermeable to gases? 

Answer: Graphene, the so-called ‘wonder molecule’ that is composed entirely of carbon atoms. The substance is so strong, it has been proven it could turn spider silk into a net strong enough to catch a falling plane.

How will graphene change retail? Find out here.

Did you know…

Robots are turbocharging the art of the possible in a range of industries. Verily – Google’s life sciences research organisation – is using them to release millions of antibacterial, sterile mosquitoes treated with substances designed to kill off the Zika-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

See how Amazon and Ocado have already started using robotic assistants, click here.

What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a shared digital ledger, giving everyone involved a view of a complete list of steps in a process.

Every person in the network can enter information, with the technology using complex codes to validate and link bits of information.

This verification process makes it nearly impossible to change an entry after recording it. 

How will blockchain change retail? Find out here.

Cool or creepy

Mood-sensing artificial intelligence technology in stores will be able to pick up on whether or not someone is annoyed, knowing exactly when to lower the price or offer a deal, and predicting when someone’s about to walk out.

Companies like Facebook will have a huge say in how AI affects retail. Find out what they are planning, here.

Better together

Virtual reality has traditionally been seen as a solo activity, but its future is resolutely communal.

In a few years, two people or more will be able to ‘hang out’ in a virtual environment, with avatars based on each person visible within the virtual world. 

Watch future-gazing videos from Ebay and Nike here.

Read the full report

For more information on these world-changing technologies, read our interactive guide here.