The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into our daily lives is profoundly transforming the way we purchase products, enabling mobile shopping in a simpler, more efficient, and more personalized way. By leveraging AI capabilities—from virtual assistants to real-time data analysis—consumers are finding new ways to save time, optimize decision-making, and tailor purchases to their specific needs. This technological revolution affects both e-commerce and in-person shopping in supermarkets and physical stores., opening up a range of possibilities that were unthinkable just a few years ago.
In this article, we'll explore in-depth how AI facilitates mobile shopping, what solutions and assistants currently exist in Spain, and what advantages its incorporation offers in the purchasing process, both for the end user and for businesses. We'll review the most notable examples, analyze the key benefits, and provide an overview of how you can leverage this technology to enhance your shopping experience., whether you are an individual, a professional or a company.
The new era of smart shopping with AI on mobile
The arrival of artificial intelligence has marked a turning point in the retail sector and in the way we interact with shopping apps on our smartphones. We're not just talking about automatic suggestions or basic chatbots: AI is capable of understanding our preferences, analyzing habits, comparing products in real time, and even helping us plan efficient purchases and save money..
For example, Amazon has taken a significant step in Spain with the launch of Rufus, an AI-powered virtual assistant designed to assist users throughout the entire purchasing process from its mobile app. Rufus can answer questions about products, suggest comparisons, offer recommendations, and even serve as support for those unsure of what to buy on a particular occasion. This is a clear example of how AI is revolutionizing the sector and improving the consumer experience.
How do AI shopping assistants work on mobile?
New AI-based tools are integrated into mobile apps and use machine learning algorithms to understand and anticipate user needs. The typical process involves analyzing purchase history, tracking consumer habits, interpreting natural language questions, and searching for relevant information about products and offers.
For example, when accessing the Amazon app, users can update the app and, if they've been selected for the Rufus trial, they'll find a distinctive icon from which to start a direct chat with the assistant. Rufus answers questions about product categories, compares different options, provides reviews from other customers, and suggests alternatives tailored to the purchasing context.It even allows you to resolve technical questions, such as whether a particular item is machine-washable or whether an appliance is easy to operate.
- Smart search by categories: You can ask about product types, such as "headphones" or "coffee makers," and get useful information to guide your purchasing decision.
- Advice according to the occasion: AI can suggest products suitable for a specific event or need, helping those searching for options without being sure what to choose.
- Automatic comparisons: If you're unsure between several items, the assistant can list differences, advantages, and disadvantages based on real data and opinions.
- Custom recommendations: Analyze your profile and behaviors to offer you suggestions aligned with your preferences and needs.
- Answers to technical or usage questions: From whether a garment is machine washable to the technical details of a gadget, AI provides you with relevant information in seconds.
Examples of apps and AI assistants for mobile shopping
Beyond the case of Rufus on Amazon, there are other AI-powered apps and assistants that are changing the mobile shopping landscape in Spain:
MercadonIA: personalized shopping in supermarkets
MercadonIA is an independent project—not officially owned by Mercadona supermarket—that uses AI through the ChatGPT platform to help users organize and optimize their purchases. It allows you to analyze consumption patterns, anticipate needs, create smart lists and even compare supermarket prices and offers.Additionally, its integration with indoor maps helps plan the most efficient route within the physical store, saving time on each visit.
Its main uses include:
- Creating automatic shopping lists according to your previous habits and needs.
- Price comparison and updated offers to maximize savings.
- Product recommendations and healthy habits, helping to maintain a balanced diet.
- Reminders and alerts for expiration or replenishment so as not to forget any important products.
- Estimating total purchases and controlling spending to avoid surprises at the checkout.
This solution demonstrates how artificial intelligence can adapt to very specific contexts—such as a Spanish supermarket—offering added value even if it's not an official app from the chain.
Gemini: Google's AI assistant
Gemini, Google's new assistant, is here to enrich the shopping and personal organization experience on mobile devices. Although still in its early stages, Gemini already allows you to update shopping lists, compose messages, and perform complex tasks using natural language. Thanks to the integration of advanced models like Gemini 1.5 Flash, the speed and accuracy of responses is constantly improving, facilitating processes such as creating purchase reminders, searching for products, or managing personal budgets directly from your mobile device.
Key advantages of AI in mobile shopping
Artificial intelligence applications not only seek to streamline the purchasing process, but also provide added value at every stage, from planning to execution. The main advantages of AI applied to mobile shopping include:
- Extreme customization: Each user receives recommendations, offers, and reminders tailored to their tastes and habits.
- Save of time and money: By automating product search, price comparisons, and list organization, you minimize unnecessary scrolling, re-purchases, and unnecessary purchases.
- Recommendations based on real data: AI analyzes historical patterns and trends to recommend relevant products and anticipate needs.
- Easy to use: Interfaces are increasingly intuitive, allowing use by voice or text and eliminating technical barriers.
- Reducing error and impulse buying: By controlling spending and suggesting alternatives, poorly planned improvisation is avoided.
- Improved security: Some AI helps detect fraud, errors, or inconsistencies during the purchasing process.
These advantages benefit both customers and companies, which can optimize their supply chains and improve competitiveness in an increasingly digital environment. Learn how to use AI to make mobile purchases integrating solutions that add value at every stage.
Other AI applications in purchasing: businesses and individuals
The adoption of AI isn't limited to individuals who shop from their mobile devices; companies are also leveraging this technology to transform their purchasing and logistics departments.
Some advanced applications are:
- Smart purchasing planning: AI allows for more accurate demand forecasting, considering internal and external variables, to avoid both stockouts and excess inventory.
- Cost analysis and optimization: Algorithms analyze all aspects of spending, from purchase price to indirect costs, helping to identify opportunities for savings and optimization.
- Order and order automation: The software can automatically trigger new purchases when inventory falls below a certain level, or prioritize orders based on the urgency and criticality of the product.
- Intelligent contract analysis: Using natural language processing, AI can analyze contracts and supplier agreements, detecting clauses, risks, and opportunities that would otherwise go unnoticed through manual review.
- Risk management and compliance: Monitor supplier behavior and solvency in real time to mitigate financial, legal, and supply chain risks.
Companies like Valerdat are developing platforms that apply these principles to transform end-to-end purchasing management, providing agility and precision in data-driven decision-making.
Integrating AI into mobile shopping apps: steps and strategies
For developers and businesses looking to incorporate AI into their own mobile apps, there are several clear approaches and benefits:
On the one hand, they can be integrated cloud-based AI services (such as Google Cloud AI or AWS AI) that allow you to access powerful predictive and analytical models without having to develop your own solutions from scratch. Another option is AI on the device itself, which provides greater control over data and privacy, although it requires more technical capacity and resources.
The integration process usually involves:
- Identify challenges or areas for improvement in the shopping experience where AI can bring value, whether it's personalization, automation, or intelligent analytics.
- Selecting the most appropriate AI technology (image recognition, natural language processing, machine learning, etc.).
- Collect and structure the necessary data to train intelligent models.
- Develop or integrate the models within the app, testing and optimizing results under real-life conditions.
- Establish data security and privacy protocols, especially with regard to personal information and transactions.
- Monitor performance and update models periodically to maintain maximum accuracy and usefulness.
Future impact of AI on mobile shopping
Everything indicates that artificial intelligence will continue to gain ground in our everyday lives and in the way we approach shopping, both online and in physical stores. The trend towards personalization, automation and predictive analysis will be consolidated, allowing users to anticipate their needs and companies to optimize their service and profitability..
In addition to the solutions already mentioned, mobile apps are expected to soon integrate more advanced conversational assistants, AI-powered augmented reality tools, voice and image recognition to instantly find and evaluate products, and smart payment systems that simplify every step of the process.
It's essential for users and businesses to stay up-to-date, explore new features coming to market, and understand the possibilities AI offers to transform an everyday experience like mobile shopping, making it more convenient, productive, and personalized.
Artificial intelligence is not just a fad or a promise of the future, but a tangible reality that is already changing the way we shop every day. Those who learn to leverage these technologies will be better equipped to make informed decisions, save time and money, and enjoy a shopping experience tailored to their expectations and lifestyle. Share the information so more users can learn how to use this tool..