AI
Embracing the future: Why retailers and employees are warming to AI
AI has transformed from a promising frontier technology into an indispensable tool across various industries, particularly retail. Although we are seeing a positive shift in attitudes to, and adoption of AI, it still poses challenges.
April 2, 2025 by Tal Barmeir — Co-Founder and CEO, BlinqIO
Artificial Intelligence has transformed from a promising frontier technology into an indispensable tool across various industries, particularly retail. In my experience, this shift is particularly palpable across the states where employers and employees alike are increasingly open to integrating AI into their daily workflows. Although we are seeing a positive shift in attitudes to, and adoption of AI, it still poses challenges.
The first would be the ability to overcome initial fears. Historically, AI adoption has been hampered by concerns over job security and privacy. Yet, throughout my years in software I've observed a significant change in how people view AI's role in the workplace. This shift is largely due to its proven potential to augment human skills rather than replace them. Educational initiatives have also played a crucial role in demystifying AI, making it less of an unknown and more of a powerful, collaborative tool. Retailers are starting to embrace AI and technologies, with self-service tills and bot staff.
A double-edge sword
Another challenge would be AI's integration into the workplace. It truly is a double-edged sword. On one hand, AI-driven tools in testing, such as those that improve accuracy and reduce maintenance costs, clearly demonstrate AI's capacity to enhance work efficiency. On the other hand, these tools require employees to adapt to new ways of working, which can be a significant hurdle. There's a delicate balance here — I think that communicating these pros and cons effectively is key to addressing employee concerns and setting realistic expectations about AI's impact.
When used correctly, although adoption may prove difficult, I believe generative AI will revolutionize how retailers think about productivity. This technology is not just about automating routine tasks; it's about opening up new possibilities for innovation. For instance, in testing, generative AI can automate entire processes from script creation to execution, allowing human testers to focus on more strategic tasks. This shift is improving both the speed and quality of testing, ushering in a new era of productivity. The challenge here is training staff to utilize AI to the best of their ability to complement existing roles. A 2024 report by PwC indicates that workers are embracing AI to alleviate workplace pressures and unlock personal growth opportunities. Among those using GenAI daily, 82 percent of people expect it to make their time at work more efficient in the next 12 months. Furthermore, over 70 percent of users believe GenAI tools will foster greater creativity, with 72 percent saying it will enhance the quality of their work.
AI-first software development is another barrier. I see the 'AI-first' approach as a transformative shift in software development. This method, which embeds AI at the core of application design, is making software more adaptive and intuitive. It's exciting to see how this strategy is being implemented, especially in testing, where AI significantly cuts down the time required for routine processes for retailers and enhances overall software quality.
Measuring ROI
Although not overly challenging, for retailers taking the time to understand AI and how it delivers value can be difficult if not familiar with processes. However managers are warming up to it through its ability to dramatically reduce the time to market, whilst improving product quality. The 'JIRA effect' that I've seen — where testing becomes as seamless as project management—allows R&D teams to focus more on innovation and less on mundane tasks. The ROI from AI in testing is not just theoretical; it's measurable in cost reductions, faster release cycles, and higher quality outputs.
As the U.S. slowly embraces AI, I think that the keys to successful integration are education, transparency, and ongoing dialogue about the technology's benefits and challenges. By viewing AI as a tool to enhance rather than replace human efforts, we can navigate the future of work more confidently. I believe that by retail staff staying informed and adaptable, they can leverage AI to both enhance productivity and foster workplace innovation.
About Tal Barmeir
Female entrepreneur Tal Barmeir is an expert in software testing, development and AI. Currently CEO and co-founder of BlinqIO, she successfully helped to establish Experitest, otherwise known as Digital.ai in the US. As ex-founder, she helped to provide both manual and automated testing for web and mobile applications, and worked with a host of Fortune 500 companies, including Barclays UK, HSBC, Bank of America, JPMorgan, TD Ameritrade and United Airlines among others. The established businesswoman has also held various leadership roles in Accenture and Comverse.
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