AI
Smarter data, happier shoppers: Why good customer experience starts with AI
When evaluating new technologies, it’s easy to get caught up in the promises and flashy buzzwords. However, the best solutions should prioritize accuracy, speed, and scalability.
December 5, 2025 by David Greschler — Co-Founder & CEO, NomadGo
With shifting consumer demand and rising tariffs, staying competitive in retail means embracing innovation. It's no surprise that one technology stands out as having the potential to shape the future of retail – artificial intelligence. And the data backs this up — one-third of retail executives already use AI to forecast and analyze demand, and 34% expect it to help sustain or increase profits over the next two years.
Retailers use AI to keep ahead of consumers by predicting trends, optimizing pricing, and accelerating time to market. Responsive pricing (20%) and speed to market (14%) top the list of merchandise planning investment priorities, proving that agility is essential in unpredictable environments, especially in the supply chain.
Beyond forecasting and pricing, supply chain automation powered by AI is becoming a game-changer, helping retailers streamline operations, cut costs, and deliver a superior customer experience. Some retailers are only starting their journey to AI and automation, but even a few initial steps can make a huge impact. Here's how AI technology can help improve customer service in retail.
Accurate data drives smarter retail operations
Real-time, reliable data is essential in retail, whether the goal is to improve planogram compliance, prevent stockouts or reduce carrying costs. Without accurate information, even the most advanced supply chain strategies fall short.
Accurate data enables precise ordering, smarter product placement, and more efficient resource allocation. In contrast, inaccurate data can lead to costly disruptions, from higher operational expenses to unhappy customers. For example, imagine a retailer's customer app shows that the trendiest holiday toy is fully stocked on their shelves. In reality, none remain. Customers head to the store expecting to make holiday dreams come true, only to be disappointed and forced to shop somewhere else, possibly permanently. That simple data error results in missed sales and hurts customer trust and loyalty.
By using AI to improve their inventory accuracy, retailers can ensure the data is timely and trusted, driving increased efficiency and responsiveness across the business.
Turning shelf data into sales
AI is also improving how retailers approach visual merchandising and product placement, ensuring every shelf delivers an optimal shopping experience. Using image recognition, AI can verify that products are displayed according to the planogram — aisle by aisle and row by row — and can automatically flag items that are missing, misplaced, or products from other brands. The result is a store that is easy for shoppers to browse, while also performing better.
Beyond compliance, AI provides a new level of insight into how products move. By tracking sales from end caps, feature displays, and regular shelves, retailers can see which placements drive the most conversions and shift inventory or promotions to those spots. This level of visibility helps optimize space, maximize sales potential, and ensure shoppers find what they are looking for.
Taking the first steps
When evaluating new technologies, it's easy to get caught up in the promises and flashy buzzwords. However, the best solutions should prioritize accuracy, speed, and scalability. At a minimum, inventory solutions should deliver accurate data, more frequent counts, and work seamlessly across all locations.
While adopting new technologies can sound challenging, retailers can start small. This means integrating AI and automation into everyday pain points to anticipate customers' needs such as intelligent inventory management for real-time visibility.
These small steps will help retailers work faster, reduce waste, and deliver a superior customer experience. Because at the end of the day, AI won't replace retail's human touch, it will create a consistently better experience for every shopper.
About David Greschler
David Greschler is a serial entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience building and leading successful tech ventures, including Softricity (acquired by Microsoft). As CEO and co-founder of NomadGo, he is transforming inventory management through AI, spatial vision, and augmented reality to make the process faster, more accurate, and easier to use. Known for his strength in product strategy and go-to-market execution, David holds seven patents and has a track record of launching category-defining innovations that simplify complexity and drive real-world impact.
