Automation is changing the retail experience, and architects are guiding retail tenants and developers toward more innovative and tech-forward retail concepts. David Sheldon, VP of engagement at Retail Design Collaborative, sat down with us to talk about why automation is becoming the leading trend in retail, how it is impacting the market today and how he expects automation will have a lasting effect on the retail market.

GlobeSt.com: You have named automation has one of the dominant trends impacting the retail market today. Why?

David Sheldon: Automation is headlined with a statement that we have learned from our research with our clients: 'Everything inconvenient will change.' It is about making things simpler and more convenient and readily accessible for consumers to engage with brands. That is affecting how we design for our clients.