Rainbow Department Store among first retailers to deploy Hanshow xPilot solution in live environment
Hanshow has announced the launch of xPilot, a real-time store execution AI assistant powered by the company’s digital twin technology, in collaboration with Microsoft.
Built on Microsoft Azure, xPilot uses Microsoft Fabric to unify in-store sensing data with retailer business data, creating a connected data foundation for real-time retail operations. On top of that foundation, AI agents powered by Microsoft Foundry help translate live store signals into faster decisions and more consistent execution across store environments.
Designed as native AI agent for retail and intelligent execution assistant, xPilot combines real-time store sensing, AI-driven decision-making, and automated workflows, integrating to a store digital twin by continuously integrating data from smart shelves, smart carts, in-store robotics, operational systems and other IoT touchpoints.
Store teams gain real-time visibility into shelf availability, planogram compliance and operational alerts, with the ability to trigger staff tasks or automated actions instantly with priority. Retailers benefit from live heatmaps covering sales, traffic, conversion, labour and energy usage, helping standardise execution, reduce lost sales, and improve operational efficiency across store networks. xPilot's open architecture also supports integration with ecosystem partner's applications across merchandising, supply chain, store operations and customer engagement.
Rainbow Department Store in China is among the first retailers to deploy xPilot in live store environments. It is using the solution to validate how digital twin technology can translate real-time store intelligence into consistent in-store execution at scale.
"Our collaboration with Microsoft and many partners established the foundation for store digital twin," says Relvin Sun, Dean of Hanshow Retail Research Institute. "xPilot is where that vision becomes a reality, turning insights into actions in real-time and enabling retailers and suppliers to move from reactive operations to proactive, intelligence-led execution."
"Retailers don't need more tools in the store - they need more intelligence. A real-time store digital twin, paired with unified data and AI agents, helps teams move from seeing what's happening to acting on it in the moment - raising Store IQ and accelerating the journey toward a frontier store," says Christian O'Donohue, Sr. Industry Advisor, Retail and Consumer Goods, Microsoft.
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
Physical stores 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.
