AI assistants can now take shoppers from search to checkout and breeze right past a merchant’s website. The traditional product discovery and purchasing journey are now happening inside AI channels, and major platforms are all aligning on this new shopping protocol.

Learn key strategies for managing your Amazon seller account in 2026, including listing optimization, account health management, inventory control, and advertising.

For retailers building or scaling retail media and broader commerce marketing programs, this shift reshapes how audiences should be built and forces a more disciplined approach to transparency and cross-channel accountability.

It also revealed that another 35% expect to deploy personalized AI recommendations in the next year, as AI moves from pilots into the heart of omnichannel journeys, search and merchandising.

Companies across various sectors are leveraging automation to enhance in-store experiences and improve customer satisfaction, including within BOPIS systems. It is shown to bolster productivity and decision-making, too.

To achieve the benefits of retail automation, you must find the right partner. Consider the following tips to make an informed decision.

Keeping business transactions above board is especially important for business owners who have integrated their family into the company. Transparent communication and documentation will help to protect yourself and your business from accusations of nepotism.

The danger of seasonal hires is magnified not just by who is accessing the network, but when they are doing it. Sophisticated threat actors possess a deep understanding of the retail operational calendar.

One of the most telling shifts is how shoppers approach decision-making. Where convenience once dominated, consciousness now plays a larger role. People are researching more before making a purchase, comparing prices across multiple platforms, and questioning whether they really need the product in the first place.

Balancing the return to physical retail and the development of new technologies to enhance customer experience and drive operational efficiency for long-term success.