Digital transformation specialist Vusion among TIME’s top ten most influential retail companies of 2026

Vusion, a specialist in AI powered digitalisation solutions for physical commerce, has been named to TIME’s Top 10 Most Influential Retail Companies of 2026 and the inaugural TIME100 Companies Industry Leaders list.

This highlights companies making an extraordinary impact across industries and serves as a precursor to the annual TIME100 Most Influential Companies list. The top ten also includes Back Market, Whatnot, DoorDash, Shopify, and Jellycat.

Vusion was recognised for its role in accelerating the digital transformation of physical commerce, helping retailers turn stores into connected, data driven and more efficient environments. It delivers an AI and IoT powered platform that integrates smart electronic shelf labels, computer vision, data analytics, and in-store retail media.

“We are honoured to be recognised by TIME as a company helping shape the future of retail,” says Philippe Bottine, Deputy CEO and EVP Americas at Vusion. “Retailers across America and around the world are rethinking the role of the physical store, not only as a place to sell, but as a connected, intelligent and data-powered platform. This recognition highlights the impact of our solutions in helping retailers improve store execution, empower associates, engage shoppers and unlock new value from their physical networks.”

To assemble the list, TIME solicited nominations across sectors and polled its global network of contributors and correspondents, as well as outside experts. Its editors then evaluated each company on key factors including impact, innovation, ambition and success.

RTS 2026

Vusion was last week announced as the winner of Retail Technology Show’s 2026 Innovation Awards.

The annual programme recognises standout solutions from across RTS 2026, which took place in London.

The 2026 Innovation Awards were judged by a panel of retail experts, including influencer Andrew Busby, Retail Disrupted podcast host Natalie Berg, consultant Oliver Banks and IGD analyst Toby Pickard. The judges were impressed with Vusion’s scalability, and commented on its multi-use benefits, inter-connectivity to power store wide tech eco systems, and how it helps retailers digitalise and improve store performance.   

Busby commented: "Physical retail is where brands connect with their customers, which is why we're witnessing rapid digital transformation.  Vusion is at the forefront of this and is reshaping the store experience for both store colleagues and customers, making them very worthy winners of the RTS Innovation Awards."

“In today’s retail landscape, innovation lies at the heart of unlocking competitive advantage, and shows like Retail Technology Show sit at the forefront of that strategy, making this award the more meaningful,” said Roy Horgan, Group SEVP, Strategy, Marketing & Communications at Vusion.   

“With operational costs continuing to rise, technology remains one of the last bastions of productivity – and innovation sits undeniably at the intersection of unlocking greater effectiveness and business performance.  As digital transformation evolves, the RTS’ judging panel has recognised that EdgeSense is where data and physical retail converge.”

The award was presented to Vusion by RTS Founder & Event Director, Matt Bradley, at the BIG Retail Party, which took place at the end of day one of RTS 2026 at the Champagne Bar, sponsored by PMC.   

“Every year the hotly contested Innovation Awards celebrate tech that tracks ahead of the hype curve, and Vusion is a worthy winner,” said Bradley. “With its vision of a truly connected store tech ecosystem, Vusion is pushing the boundaries of how effective and interoperable innovation can unlock layers of new intelligence within bricks and mortar operations.”