Retail Customer Experience

AI Assistant Use Doubles as More Shoppers Tap AI to Handle Buying Process

U.S. shoppers are rapidly embracing AI assistants, with usage climbing to 35% in 2026—more than double the 12% share recorded in 2024. Over half of consumers now say they would let an AI handle the entire purchase journey, moving the...

Swipe Fees Could Cost Consumers $683M on Valentine’s Day

Nift Taps John McNerney as GM APAC

Star Micronics Leader Demos SDK for Web Capability

Star Micronics showcased its new Star Expand SDK for web at NRF 2026, with product director Jon Levin leading the demo. The SDK, co‑engineered with Google’s Chrome team, lets developers control Star printers directly from web applications using standard JavaScript...

Aldi Marks a Big Anniversary with Lots of Store Openings

Aldi celebrates its 50th U.S. anniversary by unveiling an aggressive expansion plan, targeting more than 180 new stores across 31 states in 2026. The retailer aims to reach nearly 2,800 locations by year‑end and has a five‑year Colorado strategy that...

ATEC America VP Details C3L Cash Recycler Capabilities

ATEC America’s Vice President Ryan Loebs showcased the C3L Compact Cash Recycler at NRF 2026, emphasizing its multi‑function capabilities beyond a traditional ATM. Despite its small footprint, the device delivers high‑speed cash dispensing, deposit, and recycling, positioning it as a...

Retail’s Big Reset: Why 2026 Will Separate Brands that Execute From Brands that Just Plan

The article argues that retail success in 2026 will be defined by flawless execution rather than elaborate planning. Tight budgets, leaner teams and faster‑moving customer expectations force brands to gain real‑time visibility into store‑level actions. Companies that close the gap...

Crypto Going Mainstream Among US Merchants

According to a PayPal and National Cryptocurrency Association survey, 39% of U.S. merchants now accept cryptocurrency at checkout, and 84% anticipate it becoming commonplace within five years. Customer demand is a primary driver, with 88% of merchants reporting inquiries about...

Marketing Email Campaigns Reflected Tariffs, TikTok Trends in 2025

Omnisend’s 2025 analysis shows that three‑quarters of marketing email campaigns referenced tariffs or broader trade‑policy news, underscoring how supply‑chain costs dominate brand messaging. Thirteen percent of those emails highlighted “Made in USA” to reassure shoppers about product origin and pricing...

Plustek eScan Scanner Speeds Auto Dealership's Digital Transformation.

Plustek’s eScan document scanner is accelerating the digital transformation of Lynch Family auto dealerships. The hardware’s plug‑and‑play design eliminated the need for employee training, while built‑in remote management cut IT installation and support costs. Integrated directly with the dealership’s Docuware...

Self-Service Reshaping Retail in Australia

A recent IDC study, sponsored by Diebold Nixdorf, shows that over two‑thirds of Australian shoppers prefer self‑checkout, especially when alone or in a hurry. However, checkout delays, trust concerns, and rigid systems frustrate many consumers. Retailers are responding by investing in...

URway Holdings Details AI Connect Bar Capabilities

URway Holdings introduced its AI Connect Bar, a unified communications platform that harnesses conversational voice AI. The solution was demonstrated at the NRF 2026 Retail’s Big Show, highlighting its potential for contact centers. Chief engagement officer Ed Crowley and CRO...

Why Small Retailers Are Ditching Tablets for Dedicated POS Terminals

Small retailers are replacing consumer tablets with purpose‑built POS terminals due to frequent downtime, durability issues, hidden costs, and security challenges. Internal analysis of over 10,000 merchants shows staff satisfaction rising, hardware replacements falling 41 %, and transaction completion improving after...

The Potential Impact of Walmart's ChatGPT Shopping Strategy

Walmart has teamed with OpenAI to let Sam’s Club members shop and checkout directly inside ChatGPT, extending its Sparky AI assistant to a conversational platform. The move follows similar AI‑shopping collaborations by Shopify, Etsy, Amazon and Target, signaling a broader...

Valentine’s Day Spending Projected to Be Record-Setting

The National Retail Federation forecasts Valentine’s Day spending to hit a record $29.1 billion, surpassing the 2025 high of $27.5 billion. Average shoppers plan to spend $199.78 on gifts, up from $188.81 last year. The holiday’s reach is widening, with 55% of...

Custom Channels Intros In-Store Engagement Platform

Custom Channels has launched a unified in‑store engagement platform that links audio promotions with digital signage and loyalty applications, aiming to influence purchase decisions at the point of sale. The solution moves music from background ambience to a data‑driven communication...

Creative Realities Shares Insight on Drive-Thru Tech, Acquisition, Adtech Stack Innovation

Creative Realities announced several strategic moves at NRF 2026, including the launch of its Digital Drive‑Thru 2.0 modular menu‑board system. The company also revealed details of its AI‑powered adtech stack that unifies content management across digital signage. Additionally, Creative Realities confirmed...

Creative Realities Acquires Cineplex Digital Media

Creative Realities, a digital marketing technology firm, announced the acquisition of Cineplex Digital Media during NRF 2026. The deal expands Creative Realities' adtech capabilities and supports its new Digital Drive‑Thru 2.0 offering. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Amazon Slicing 16K Jobs in Re-Organizational Strategy

Amazon announced it will eliminate approximately 16,000 positions worldwide as part of a re‑organizational effort that began in October 2025. The cuts aim to reduce hierarchical layers, increase ownership, and cut bureaucracy across the company. Affected U.S. employees receive up to...

Levi Strauss, Walmart, Amazon Lead Brand Keys Loyalty Index

The 28th annual Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index (CLEI) identifies Levi Strauss, Walmart and Amazon as the top loyalty leaders for 2026, alongside sector champions such as Dick’s, Costco and Whole Foods. The study highlights a rapid rise in...

NICE Strategy Leader Talks Agentic AI, Retail Industry Trends

At NRF 2026, Tom Yang, head of sales strategy and transformation at NICE, highlighted the rise of agentic AI in retail customer experience. He explained how NICE’s purpose‑built, AI‑powered platforms turn engagements into proactive, safe, and intelligent actions, enabling retailers...

Most Consumers Can Identify AI Videos

According to Animoto’s 2026 State of Video Report, 83% of consumers say they can identify AI‑generated videos, and they perceive such content as diminishing brand trust. The study found that robotic gestures, unnatural voices, and lack of emotional tone are...

Shenzhen Shares Product Details, Technology Vision

At NRF 2026, Shenzhen’s sales director Tiffany Tian unveiled a suite of technology solutions aimed at modernizing retail and restaurant experiences. The portfolio includes AI‑powered kiosks, modular hardware, and immersive AR/VR tools designed for the North American market. Tian highlighted...

5 Trends Impacting the In-Store Experience

Retailers are reshaping physical stores by integrating natural, biomorphic elements and eliminating digital screens. The Look Company’s 2026 report highlights a shift toward modular backdrops, personalized experiences, and smarter space utilization. Major chains such as Walmart and Lululemon are piloting...

Amazon Chief: Tariff Costs Creeping Into Prices

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told CNBC that tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump since early 2025 are beginning to show up in Amazon’s product prices. The retailer had urged third‑party sellers to stock up on inventory ahead of the duties,...

What Recession Pop Reveals About the Psychology of Nostalgia

The resurgence of “recession pop” sees millennials and older Gen Z gravitating toward late‑2000s music, fashion and media as a comfort amid economic volatility. Marketers are recognizing nostalgia not just as a creative hook but as a measurable audience signal that...

Walmart Connect Mexico Taps Advertima for In-Store Retail Media Strategy

Walmart Connect Mexico has teamed with Advertima to deploy Audience AI sensors across hundreds of Walmart Supercenters, creating a large‑scale in‑store audience intelligence network. The 3D sensors capture shop‑floor activity over 30 meters and support multi‑zone zoning, feeding data to both digital...

Gap Growing Between Retail AI, Consumer Trust

A new VoCoVo report finds a widening gap between retail AI deployments and consumer trust. While 250 U.S. retail leaders are accelerating AI to combat labor shortages, rising costs and shrinkage, 500 recent shoppers remain focused on speed, service quality...

Global Trade Shifts Show Why Retailers Need Agile Tech Stacks

New tariffs and shifting trade routes are compelling retailers to treat technical agility as a competitive advantage. Companies that can integrate ERP, logistics, or e‑commerce systems in days rather than months gain resilience against supply‑chain disruptions. Integration platforms such as...

9 Self-Service Tech Trends to Watch

At the Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show, Blue Sky Robotics CEO Steven King outlined nine AI‑driven self‑service trends reshaping retail and hospitality. While fully autonomous robots remain years away, computer vision, digital agents, edge computing, cobots, biometrics, predictive modeling,...

HiStone Refreshes Flagship Portfolio

HiStone unveiled a refreshed flagship POS portfolio at NRF 2026, featuring five models powered by Intel’s 12th‑ and 13th‑Gen Core processors. The new devices—HK568A, HK578A, HK600A, HS330A and HK968A—offer clock speeds up to 4.6 GHz, expanded Smart Cache, DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 4...

Birdzi Launches Journey for Grocers, Retailers Aiming to Drive Personalization

Birdzi introduced Journey, a platform that lets grocers and retailers push real‑time, behavior‑driven offers to shoppers. The solution fuses retailer shopper data with Birdzi’s personalization engine, automating promotion delivery and enabling rapid implementation. It also opens a data‑sharing channel for...

OptConnect Acquires DPL Wireless to Boost AI-Driven ATM Connectivity

OptConnect, a wireless connectivity solutions provider, announced the acquisition of DPL Wireless, a cellular connectivity and IoT company for ATMs. The deal will merge OptConnect's ConnectIQ platform with DPL's Hercules AI platform, creating an AI connectivity platform for ATMs and...