Where retail technology investments impact margins the most

by Sathananthan S — PM, Ciklum

The retailers that pull ahead in the next few years will be the ones disciplined enough to spend where the P&L actually moves, to fix the data and platform…

Touchpoint Talks Karlsruhe: How Retail Data Connects Store Touchpoints

Retail data, staffless stores and smartphone-controlled shop windows: impressions from Touchpoint Talks Karlsruhe 2026.

Prepango scores with FIFA souvenir vending machines

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Automated retailer Prepango used its airport network, remote monitoring and regional sales data to put official World Cup products within reach of travelers…

Wegmans testing revamped carts

August 13, 2026

Wegmans is piloting redesigned shopping carts at two Pennsylvania locations.

NRS, Krasdale hold annual customer appreciation day

August 12, 2026

National Retail Solutions, which provides a point-of-sale system and payment processing services, and Krasdale Foods welcomed more than 250 merchants and…

Fast brands, slow systems: Why retail's biggest players are running out of time

by Glebs Vrevsky — Co-founder and Executive Board Member, scandiweb

The biggest cost of legacy systems is not the technology itself – it's how people are used within the organization.

Frank Mayer taps Michael Mayer as ops director

August 10, 2026

Frank Mayer, which provides custom kiosks and retail displays, has promoted Michael R. Mayer to operations director.

Defining the role of agentic AI in the retail customer experience

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

It’s rare to go more than a day without industry insight or retailer news that doesn’t involve agentic AI. Despite its great potential to impact CX agentic AI…

Michael’s ‘Ask Mike' AI helper fuels nearly 75K shopper conversations

August 7, 2026

Michaels, a hobby and crafts retailer, launched an AI assistant called "Ask Mike," in the spring and it has fueled nearly 75,000 conversations since its May…

NJ governor signs law banning surveillance pricing

August 7, 2026

Surveillance pricing, which is using data to set and changes prices in retail establishments, is now illegal in New Jersey.

Costco teams with Trinity Energy in quest for commercial energy independence

August 6, 2026

Costco Wholesale is going off grid in launching an independent, on-site energy system at its Port St. Lucie, Florida distribution center.

Topgolf debuts prototype venue in Wisconsin

August 5, 2026

Topgolf will open its first location in Wisconsin on August 14 and the golf entertainment venue will feature the company's newest store prototype.

Robotic food kiosk market expected to hit $1.75B by 2036

August 3, 2026

The global market for robotic food kiosks and vending systems is projected to grow from $188 million in 2026 to $1.75 billion by 2036, representing a compound…

Epson showcasing retail tech at industry event

July 31, 2026

Epson will showcase retail solutions, from receipt to label to back-office printers, at the upcoming RetailNOW 2026 event.

Partner Tech showcasing AI self-checkout, kiosks, POS solutions at industry event

July 29, 2026

Partner Tech, a provider of retail technology solutions, will be showcasing several updates on its AI-powered self-checkout, POS platforms and kiosk solutions…

Toshiba leader talks customer experience, mobile-first strategy

Eric Williams, senior account executive at Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, shares insight on changing customer expectations, the value of a mobile-first…

Presented by Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, Inc.

Amazon ‘Hear’ audio shopping features offers real-time chat

July 29, 2026

Amazon has launched an AI-powered shopping feature called 'Hear the highlights' where consumers can ask questions and get real-time answers.

The hidden price of retail tech failures

by Shash Anand — SVP of Product Strategy, SOTI

Ultimately, the cost of unreliable technology in retail is not defined by isolated failures, but by the cumulative effect of small, recurring disruptions that…

Nominations open for Top Women in Retail Technology awards

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

Connect Media is honoring the brightest and best women in retail technology leadership roles who are driving innovation. Get those nominations in! Deadline is…

Ulta Beauty taps Kelly Garcia as CTO

July 24, 2026

Ulta Beauty has named Kelly Garcia as its chief technology officer effective August 31.