For decades, brick-and-mortar stores, loyalty programs and flashy eCommerce sites were sufficient to engage consumers.
However, for rising generations like Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) and Generation Alpha (born in 2013 and beyond), traditional models no longer resonate. These digital natives are not just tech-savvy; they are tech-native. Raised with smartphones, streaming and algorithm-driven content, they expect seamless, hyper-personalized and self-directed experiences in every aspect of life — particularly when it comes to payments and commerce.
“These are people who live their lives on the smartphone,” Cantaloupe CEO Ravi Venkatesan told PYMNTS. “That is their point of sale, that is their shopping cart … and that’s where they want to transact.”
As Gen Z and Gen Alpha come of age, they won’t just gravitate to platforms that let them swipe, tap or scan. They’ll choose partners who see them, know them and protect them.
To their benefit, unattended retail that uses mobile technology, artificial intelligence, biometrics and …