Reasons to Read

Explore how AI is reshaping retail at the AI Playbook: Content & Cocktails event at NRF 2026, with key insights into the future of agentic commerce and its transformative potential. This report provides answers to critical questions such as:

• How can retailers implement AI in layers, starting with foundational improvements like forecasting and replenishment before moving to more complex applications like hyper-personalization and autonomous decision-making?
• What organizational and cultural shifts are necessary to successfully scale AI initiatives, and how do these changes drive measurable business outcomes, such as reducing returns by 10% without even using AI?
• How are leading brands and retailers like Nike, Tesco, and Dollar General leveraging AI to improve operations, enhance customer experiences, and optimize inventory management across channels?
• What challenges are retailers facing when transitioning from traditional e-commerce to AI-driven, agent-first commerce models, and how can they optimize product discoverability for AI agents rather than search engines?
• How does AI amplify human expertise in physical stores, transforming them into service hubs rather than just transactional spaces, and why is customer experience more important than margin protection in building long-term loyalty?

Data in this research report include/are: Insights from leading retail executives, case studies of AI adoption in retail, and practical recommendations for overcoming organizational and technological barriers to successful AI deployment.

Companies mentioned in this report include/are: Alvanon, Bridgestone, Coresight Research, Dollar General, Nike, PacSun, Tesco and Ubi.