{"id":10786,"date":"2024-12-16T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=10786"},"modified":"2024-12-17T18:09:53","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T18:09:53","slug":"christmas-holiday-sales-predictions-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/in\/news\/stories\/christmas-holiday-sales-predictions-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"As Holiday Sales Surge, Retailers Embrace AI Agents, In-Store Pick Up to Close Out 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Global online holiday sales are up 4%, with AI and agents on track to influence $200 billion in sales<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Salesforce today reported that global online sales for the 2024 holiday season (Nov. 1 – Dec 15) have reached $849 billion, a strong 4% year-over-year (YoY) increase. With just nine days left until Christmas, the data shows retailers are deploying a host of new strategies, including AI agents<\/a> and Buy Online Pick Up In-Store<\/a> (BOPIS), to make the most of consumer spending momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“As retailers work to cash in on the final spending frenzy, AI agents are a lifeline,” said Caila Schwartz, Director of Consumer Insights and Strategy for Salesforce. “Retailers like Saks \u2014 which have tapped Agentforce<\/a> to augment their customer support teams \u2014 are showing up for shoppers without driving up their costs. By handling questions, order issues, and recommendations with a personalized touch, they are making last-minute gifting feel effortless. These retailers will win a bigger slice of the holiday pie.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Retailers like Saks \u2014 who have tapped Agentforce<\/a> to augment their customer support teams \u2014 are showing up for shoppers without driving up their costs.<\/p>\nCaila Schwartz, Director of Consumer Insights and Strategy for Salesforce<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In the final push to Christmas, Salesforce predicts that agents \u2014 powered by trusted customer data \u2014 will help drive shoppers to the buy button with personalized engagements and support. Since Cyber Week, retailers have increased their use of AI<\/a> and agents by 23%, and AI is on track to influence more than $200 billion in holiday sales. Salesforce also predicts that BOPIS, where shoppers buy gifts online and pick them up either in-store or curbside, will double the week before Christmas as shoppers race to get last-minute gifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Salesforce Shopping Index<\/a> analyzes data from over 1.5 billion consumers on retail sites on the Salesforce Platform<\/a>, including 29 of the top 30 U.S. online retailers. This data encompasses commerce, marketing, and customer service insights, providing a comprehensive view of holiday spending trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early indicators: Five predictions based on 2024 holiday data<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n