New Retail Express whitepaper offers retailers a roadmap toward AI powered merchandising

The new whitepaper, titled Retail’s Journey to AI, aims to help retailers keep apace with emerging AI technologies. 

Published by AI merchandising provider, Retail Express, the guide provides retailers with a strategic roadmap toward the future of data driven, AI powered merchandising. It provides a guide to AI integration in retail, presenting the tech as a way to gain critical advantages in efficiency, customer service and competitiveness.

The paper, available to download free, argues that adoption is not optional for retailers but essential for their survival and insists that they must take the first steps toward using AI today.

Barry Grange, CEO and Co-founder at Retail Express, says: “It is impossible to imagine a future in which retailers do not use AI. Without the pinpoint algorithmic insights and advanced data processing techniques offered by machine learning, retailers will be unable to face up to their competitors or provide the level of service that customers will come to expect. Retailers must simply keep up with technological evolution.”

The paper explores how AI is shaping retail and highlights its increasing role in merchandising, pricing, and supplier management, particularly for medium-sized retailers with larger rivals already using AI. It suggests retailer success will depend on high quality data and secure, scalable cloud infrastructure.  

The paper also considers emerging technologies and concerns around ethical use and governance as AI becomes more powerful. 

Edward Betts, COO at Retail Express, says: “Getting started is about establishing an AI mindset and preparing for scalable AI solutions. Retailers that embrace the process position themselves for long-term success in a future which will be driven by AI and bring themselves closer to those that are already part way down the road. But every retail business is different and the options can be daunting, so we hope our new guide helps retailers make a start on that process sooner rather than later.”

RTIH AI in Retail Awards

RTIH, organiser of the industry leading RTIH Innovation Awards, proudly brings you the first edition of the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, which is now open for entries. 

As we witness a digital transformation revolution across all channels, AI tools are reshaping the omnichannel game, from personalising customer experiences to optimising inventory, uncovering insights into consumer behaviour, and enhancing the human element of retailers' businesses.

With 2025 set to be the year when AI and especially gen AI shake off the ‘heavily hyped’ tag and become embedded in retail business processes, our newly launched awards celebrate global technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and the resulting benefits for retailers, shoppers and employees.

Our 2025 winners will be those companies who not only recognise the potential of AI, but also make it usable in everyday work - resulting in more efficiency and innovation in all areas.

Winners will be announced at an evening event at The Barbican in Central London on Wednesday, 3rd September.