The next big digital media is the physical store, says Vusion, as company makes aquisition announcement
Vusion, a specialist in AI powered digitalisation solutions for physical commerce, has inked an agreement to acquire In-Store Media (ISM), an in-store retail media company, headquartered in Barcelona, Spain. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
“The next big digital media is the physical store” says Thierry Gadou, Chairman and CEO at Vusion. “Retail media has already transformed the economics of online commerce. The next frontier is in stores, where most shopper traffic remains and decisions of purchase are made. By combining Vusion’s connected store platform with In-Store Media’s track record, execution capabilities, and relationships with retailers and brands, we are helping retailers turn store traffic into measurable media value, new revenue streams, and more engaging shopper experiences in stores.”
“In-Store Media has developed itself by helping retailers and brands activate the full potential of physical stores” comments Fernando de Vicente, CEO at In-Store Media. “Joining Vusion would allow us to accelerate this mission with the technology, scale, and global footprint required to digitise in-store retail media at a new level. Together, our companies will support retailers in generating additional value from their foot traffic while creating better, more relevant experiences for shoppers.”
Completion of the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions and is expected to be financed with debt.
RTS 2026
Earlier this year, Vusion was 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 during April.
The 2026 Innovation Awards were judged by a panel 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.”
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.
