What happens in the digital afterlife? Do you even need to be alive to be a consumer? Should retailers and brands be thinking about a post-death strategy?

VML's Naji El-Arifi and Hugh Fletcher join Natalie on the podcast to discuss all of this and more:

• Digital avatars and virtual goods – what are the opportunities for brands?
• Why retailers need to be paying more attention to gaming.
• The evolution of AI and delegation of purchasing tasks.
• Grocery e-commerce – addressing perennial challenges with AI.
• Digital immortality – just how ethical is this?

Links:

VML Future Shopper Report

OpenAI/Instacart news mentioned by Naji

Connect with Naji on LinkedIn

Connect with Hugh on LinkedIn

Bios:

Naji El-Arifi: As the Head of Innovation at VML Enterprise Solutions, Naji spearheads transformative solutions for businesses navigating the digital landscape. With a robust background in Product Management and Innovation, he has collaborated with an impressive array of companies and start-ups, including DFS, Lego, Domestic & General, Sainsbury's, Shop Direct Group, Audi, Lloyds Bank, Kobalt, and BP. Naji consistently demonstrates how cutting-edge technology can address and overcome industry challenges. Hugh Fletcher: Hugh is an internationally sought after digital commerce futurologist, heading up the Demand Content Thought Leadership team at VML. As an ex-Audi digital guru, Hugh uses his client-side experience and unique take on the future of commerce to help organisations set up for, and implement, digital change in the constantly evolving commerce market. His work focuses on helping ambitious Clients to transact more digitally through strategic consultancy, covering digital business transformation, the future of ecommerce and conversion. He is a go-to spokesperson in press and TV for tech trends impacting ecommerce, and author of reports, white papers and articles covering future shoppers, Generation Alpha, Digital Commerce Leaders, space commerce and peak selling.