Walmart veteran Crystal Chang takes on new AI powered in-store and in-club shopping experiences position

Crystal Chang has stepped into a new role leading AI powered in-store and in-club shopping experiences across Walmart’s operations.

A Walmart veteran, she has been with the US retail giant for the past 17 years.

In a LinkedIn post, she said: “Over the past several years at Sam’s Club, we focused on transforming e-commerce and building digital experiences that members love. But the reality is the majority of shopping still happens in physical stores and clubs and today and that experience can be disconnected to the power of AI and the app. The next chapter is about changing that.”

She added: “One thing I’ve learned over the years: customers and members don’t engage with features just because they exist. They engage when the value exceeds the effort. We have an opportunity to evolve the in-store/in-club journey end to end from planning, to navigation, to discovery, to checkout and become more helpful to customers and members in the moments that matter.”

2026 RTIH Innovation Awards

AI will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.

Check out our 2025 winners here.

Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”

“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”

He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”

Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.