Retail Technology Selection

During my decades in retail, I’ve seen how yesterday’s innovations become today’s customer expectations. Which means I’m always on the lookout for the latest breakthroughs that are poised to become tomorrow’s “table stakes.” Things like omnichannel retailing, price matching, curbside pickup and self-checkout have quickly gone from unique selling points for retailers to baseline expectations for consumers. Here are some emerging technologies I’m watching: 𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿-𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 According to Sender.net, 80% of self-identified frequent shoppers say they only buy from businesses that tailor their experiences. Hyper-personalization, driven by advanced data analytics and AI, allows us to offer customized recommendations, promotions, and services. This level of personalization will soon be a fundamental aspect of customer engagement, ensuring each interaction feels unique and relevant. 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 (𝗔𝗜) AI is revolutionizing retail, from predictive analytics and inventory management to customer service and personalized marketing. AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants enhance the shopping experience by providing instant, accurate responses and recommendations. As AI continues to evolve, it will become integral to retail operations as a way of optimizing operations and boosting customer satisfaction. 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 (𝗩𝗥/𝗔𝗥) VR and AR technologies are opening new dimensions in customer engagement. Virtual try-ons, immersive product displays, and interactive store experiences are reshaping how customers interact with brands. These technologies provide a rich, engaging shopping experience that transcends traditional boundaries. Soon, they will be critical elements of the retail landscape. 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 I recently checked out at my local Whole Foods using just the palm of my hand. Contactless biometric payments like this are becoming more prevalent. So are digital wallets including cryptocurrencies. These advanced payment methods offer greater convenience, security, and speed, aligning with the expectations of today’s tech-savvy consumers. Adopting these technologies will soon be essential for our customers. 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 The future of retail is unfolding before our eyes, with rapid innovation and ever-evolving customer expectations. As a retail leader, my role has always been to ensure my teams not only adapt to these changes but anticipate them. By integrating today’s breakthroughs and preparing for tomorrow’s advancements, we can continue to deliver exceptional value and experiences to our customers. The key to success lies in our ability to remain agile, innovative, and customer-centric. The future of retail is now, and it’s an exciting journey we’re all embarking on together.

The retail media tech landscape has exploded. Where there was once just Criteo handling everything, now there are specialized solutions for every piece of the value chain—DSPs, SSPs, ad servers, optimization layers. The opportunity: Retailers can now build truly differentiated tech stacks instead of cookie-cutter solutions. The challenge: Brands need to understand what they're actually buying, because technology fundamentally determines campaign outcomes. A few examples of how tech choices impact your performance: 🔍 Ad server load time affects user experience (100ms delay = 1% conversion drop, per Amazon's 2006 study) 🔍 How organic and paid results load together determines visibility and customer engagement (impacting CTR and more) 🔍 Workflow efficiency from reporting interfaces belongs in your media ROI calculation—even when it never shows up in dashboards I spent time mapping out the components of a retailer's core media capabilities and created 10 questions media buyers should ask retailers before committing budget. As the retail media landscape fragments, understanding the tech infrastructure behind your investment is essential for making smart decisions. Full breakdown in my latest newsletter 👇 or listen on today's RETAIL MEDIA BREAKFAST CLUB podcast.

The latest research from Gartner underscores the pivotal role of modern point of sale (POS) applications in driving unified commerce platforms, revolutionizing the customer journey across all touchpoints. 🔄 Retail CIOs must stay abreast of market dynamics and vendor capabilities to navigate this evolving landscape effectively. Key insights from recent research reveal: 🔍 Tier 2/midsize retailers are leveraging POS solutions within unified commerce platforms to deliver seamless customer experiences. 💻 Vendors prioritize modern POS development, embracing native cloud, composable, and headless architectures. 📱 Mobile-native solutions empower store associates with versatile capabilities. ☁️ Cloud-based solutions dominate, offering scalability and flexibility. For retail CIOs, actionable recommendations include: 1️⃣ Assessing current POS functionality against unified commerce needs. 2️⃣ Prioritizing modular, flexible POS solutions for enhanced agility. 3️⃣ Ensuring associates have seamless access to integrated data and insights. 4️⃣ Verifying vendor capabilities for cloud-native solutions and robust data security. Understanding the market definition: 📊 Tier 2 retail encompasses multichannel retailers with annual revenue ranging from $500M to $2.99B. 🛍️ POS applications serve as the backbone of unified commerce platforms, enabling diverse functionalities beyond transactions. Leverage the power of POS applications to elevate your retail strategy and deliver exceptional customer experiences! 🚀💳 #RetailTech #UnifiedCommerce #POSApplications #RetailInnovation #tier2 Tier 2 POS: Cegid comerzzia E3 Retail Extenda Retail Jumpmind LS Retail, an Aptos Company Manhattan Associates Microsoft NewStore, Inc. Orisha | Openbravo Planet Sitoo Tata Technologies