RETHINK Retail’s 2025 AI in Retail Report:
Artificial Intelligence in the Everyday Store
The retail floor is no longer just a place to shop; it’s where real-time data, smart systems, and empowered associates come together to shape the shopper journey. As AI shifts from experimentation to execution, retailers face a new imperative: to orchestrate responsive, explainable, and deeply human experiences at scale.
RETHINK Retail’s 2025 AI in Retail Report, developed in collaboration with Diebold Nixdorf, YOOBIC, VusionGroup, Mars, and other leading voices, is your guide to this next evolution. From personalized pricing and frictionless checkout to shelf-edge sensors and closed-loop planning, artificial intelligence is transforming every layer of the store. But success requires more than automation. It demands transparency, trust, and alignment between systems, shelves, and staff.
Download the Report
The AI Playbook for the Modern Store
AI is no longer a future concept—it’s active infrastructure in today’s most adaptive retail environments. This report reveals how retailers are turning data into action, from real-time shelf management to predictive promotions and associate enablement. With exclusive perspectives from leaders at Allume Group, The Vitamin Shoppe, Mars, and more, you’ll uncover what it really takes to scale AI responsibly and successfully.
Key Takeaways
AI-Powered Pricing and Shopper Trust
AI-driven pricing boosts margins and agility, but nearly 4 in 10 U.S. consumers mistrust automated price changes without explanation. Learn how retailers are balancing precision with perception.
Empowering the Frontline
AI tools are most effective when they reach store teams. See how solutions like YOOBIC cut routine tasks by up to 40% and free associates to focus on customer service.
The Responsive Store Model
Checkout, Reimagined
Responsible Intelligence
From Automation to Closed-Loop Planning
Featured Experts
Andrew Laudato
Executive Vice President & COO, The Vitamin Shoppe
Andrew Laudato serves as EVP and COO at The Vitamin Shoppe, where he leads digital transformation, supply chain, and operations. A champion of practical innovation, he is focused on empowering store teams with technology that supports both productivity and personalization.
Matt Redwood
Vice President of Retail Technology Solutions, Diebold Nixdorf
Matt Redwood leads retail innovation at Diebold Nixdorf, helping global retailers unlock the power of AI across self-service, checkout, and in-store operations. His team is focused on scalable, transparent technologies that reduce friction while enhancing shopper trust.
Andrew Blackmore
Global Vice President, VusionGroup
Andrew Blackmore leads global strategy and innovation at VusionGroup, where he oversees the integration of data, shelf technologies, and retail media solutions. With a focus on real-time visibility and decision-making at the edge, Andrew is advancing how retailers use AI and IoT to drive both personalization and performance.
Fran O’Malley
Product Marketing Team Lead, YOOBIC
Fran O’Malley leads the Product Marketing team at YOOBIC, the AI-powered store performance platform trusted by 350+ global retail organizations. With nearly a decade of experience in retail technology, Fran is dedicated to helping retailers elevate performance by empowering frontline teams, and creating customer experiences that fuel loyalty and sustained growth.
Andrea Leigh
Founder & CEO, The Allume Group | Former Amazon Executive
Andrea Leigh is a former Amazon executive and the founder of The Allume Group, a leading digital commerce consultancy. With over 20 years of eCommerce experience, she advises global brands on pricing, personalization, and the future of AI-powered retail experiences.
Jenna Posner
Founder & CEO, Chief Digital Agency
Jenna Posner is the founder of Chief Digital Agency and former Chief Digital Officer at Solo Brands and SNIPES. A retail tech strategist with over two decades of experience, she helps retailers and vendors translate innovation into action—bridging tech capability with real-world application.
Jennifer Chaffee
Retail Technology Leader, Retail Women in Tech
Jennifer Chaffee is a seasoned retail technology strategist and contributor at Retail Women in Tech. With deep expertise in retail operations and systems integration, she focuses on helping brands bridge the gap between planning and execution. In her article, “From Automation to Adaptation: Unlocking Retail’s Closed-Loop Potential,” she explores how unified platforms, orchestration layers, and intelligent forecasting tools are helping retailers turn strategy into seamless execution. Jennifer advocates for responsible AI adoption and practical innovation that drives real-world performance across the store.
Kaarthikeyan Subramaniam
Director of Digital Experience Platforms, Mars Global Services
Kaarthikeyan Subramaniam leads global digital experience platforms at Mars, where he focuses on leveraging AI to enhance customer journeys across physical and digital retail. In his contributed article, “Checkout, Reimagined: The AI Balancing Act Between Speed and Empathy,” he examines how AI-powered checkout, computer vision, and emotion-aware design are transforming the final moments of the shopper experience. With a background in enterprise tech and a passion for empathetic retail, he brings a human-centered lens to AI-powered innovation.